The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-06-13
WE'LL HELMETED.

uWdlltu Oll0 VI VII
Saturday there was to be ball at the
Alhambra under the auspices of the So
ciety Ell Mochuelo. 1t was to be mas
querade, and it would be his first time
to appear in disguise. He had made the
engagement with several friends, and
besides intended to make formal deela-
ration of his love, long and silently cher
ished, to Pepita, a very clever girl, the
daughter of prominent merchant who
lived in the Gale del Ave Maria. The
occasion would be propitious because
Pepita would attend the ball masked,
and Gervasio knew exactly what her
costume was going to be. He had al
ready bargained with friend to intro
duce him to her father in order that he
might obtain permission to dance with
the young girl, for whom he had al
ready destined a fine box of sweets,
bought for this express purpose at the
shop of La Pajarita in the Puerta del
Sol
Gervasio was good fellow He had
obtained government position, mod
est one, to be sure, but his income suf-
feed to cover all his expenses, and as
he had no family and lived alone in a
small apartment and had good relations
he could call himself happy man.
That ball aggravated him. He lived
upon his illusion of appearing in the
costume of troubadour, which he had
adjusted to his form, and as climax
to his good fortune Baron de las Rosas,
who had many fine armors at his house,
had promised him helmet, an ancient
breastplate and a sword.
How many nights the good Gervasio
dreamed about that beautiful costume,
the compliments from his friends and
the covetous glances of some pretty girlsl
Surely Pepita would not be able to
resist him and would at least ON that
night write chapter on hope in the
history of her love affairs
AT last came the nights so long looked
forward to. Gervasio arrived at the
house of the baron when the latter re-
turned from the theater at about 1890
o'clock. He was already dressed for the
ball and lacked nothing except the he'll
met and breastplate. OF course he did
not wear a mask.
"Who would think of IA mask, " said
he, when one can pull down the visor?
One can see and breathe much better,
and, above all, the beard and neck will
not show -
"But, my friend, said the baron
while his valet was putting the helmet
on Gervasio, "you are going to be very
tired indeed. This weighs too much to
be worn all night long. "
mo, sir 1t is all right. -
Every we'll, do as you wish. "
And Gervasio was an armed knight
He returned to his cab and drove to the
Alhambra.
Gervasio entered the ballroom, carry
ing himself like a veritable troubadour.
What a martial and elegant aspect
he imagined himself presentingl In his
imagination he saw himself, as in a
mirror, walking about among similar
costumes, and red, blue and yellow
dominos of percaline. He elbowed his
way among the testers, who gracefully
donned the embroideed manila man
ties, and passed haughtily by the girls
disguised as babies or virgins whose Co.'S
tunes looked as if they were "home-
made - He thought himself the object
of the admiration of all and was him
self dazzled by the reflection of helmet
and breastplate in the rays of electric
light. He sought Pepita, and finally,
after great trouble, succeeded in meeting
her The friend who was to introduce
him to the girls father kept his word.
They began waltz, and the troubadour,
offering his arm to Pepita, promenaded
in the salon.
But there he soon found out that the
baron had spoken as by the mouth of a
prophet. He could scarcely hear what
he was saying under his helmet. His
voice sounded like hollow echo. The
heat was something uncomfortable. Shut
in, as he was, with the visor tightly
fastened, in an atmosphere impoyer-
ished by the heat and the presence of SO
many people, he could scarcely catch
his breath.
Pepita did not hear a word he said.
He wanted to make a final effort and
began to waltz, but that, too, became
impossible. He saw nothing. The he'll
met jogging about on all sides bumped
his Uranium at every turn, and he mar
rowly escaped falling down in the mid
die of the room.
Finally he was forced to abandon Pep
tia and to discard his incognito. 1t
was necessary for him to get some air,
to wipe off the perspiration which bath
ed his countenance and to see where he
was going. But he found no relief in
spite of his lifting the visor, for he
could neither put in the handkerchief
with his hand, nor did the weight he
carried on his head cease paining him.
Then raging and desperate, having lost
his fond illusions, without being able
to propose to Pepita, and what was
worse without any one having taken no
tice of him, he determined to return
home, and like one contemplating sui
eide he left the theater, after having
spent one hour there, exhausted in body
as we'll as in spirit Neither mind nor
matter had been able to support q he'll
met of the tournament ON the night of
the ball.
He arrived at his home, but speaking,
as it were, into large earthen dish and
being unable to uncover his head, the
watchmen refused to let him in, and
entreaties, arguments and signs were
necessary to convince the dubious man
that it was the real Mr. Gervasio
When this first difficulty had been
overcome, he went stumbling up the 70
steps which separated him from his
room. He opened the door with great
difficulty, and with yet more he sue
ceeded in lighting candle.
Then the struggle began. He had
never worn helmet before, and in his
haste to go to the ball had not been
careful to find out how it should be
| taken off.
He walked to and fro, inclosed thus.
tried everything that looked like but