The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-13

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 tho 70
steps which separated him from his
room Ho opened the door with great
difficulty, and with yet moro no sue
ceedcd in lighting candle.
Then tho struggle began He had
never worn a helmet before, and in his
haste to go to the ball hnd not been
careful to find out how 1t should be
taken off.
He walked to and fro, incloscd thus,
tried everything that looked like O but
ton, buckle or spring, but to no avail
The helmet seemed to cleave to him
Then it occurred to him to call in aid
But whom? All tho neighbors were
sleeping, and it would have been the
greatest intrusion to knock at ono Of the
rooms
Ho stopped near tho door to consider.
He thought no heard steps Some one
was coming up stairs
1t was indeed Paco tho mason, an old
neighbor of the house, not overindustri-
GUS, but great night rovoler That
night, doubtless, because it was Satur-
day, the measures Of rcd wine had been
passed around all too freely, and conso-
Quently the mnn seemed now and then
to loso his balance.
"Pnco, called Gcrvasio And Paco
suddenly halted, much frightened, upon
hearing that cavornous voice and catch
ing sight of n specter which no could not
quite mako out.
1t is 1, Gervasio.
II am afraid" said Pace.
mo, man, don't be frightened. Come,
help mo take this off, for can't do it
alone"
"Wen, all right"
And, staggering, he entered tho room
after Gervnsio. But as Paco understood
just rs little about arntors, and, Oh the
other hand, was not very steady, he did
not improve the renewed efforts other
wise than by two or three ittlo scratches
which tho mason inflicted Oh tho trou-
badour' neck with tho edges of tho he'll
met
but how did you ever get yourself
inside of this?''
Ultl IlOt SCG lHlO IT. 1nlS opens.
1T may open, but 1 do not sec the
trick Of it Now I'm sleepy. I'm going
to bed now, and tomorrow I'll see if
Mrs Nicasia. tho porter's wife, can't
take this off of you, for she understands
those things, since her husband was a
matchmaker i'll Jctafc before it became
municipality.
Gcrvasio had to resign himself to his
fate
IN have to go to bed with this he'll
met, suppose And no stretched him
self out OH the bed That, too, was IL
torture, rs he turned and twisted But
for great evils there are great remedies
He sat down III III armchair and sadly
waited the dawn of day. What a long
night it was!
Since only tho punishments in the in
fcrnal regions arc eternal he slept at
odd moments under the holmct Then
again lie thought of how costly were
the glorics of man and suffered still
more from the trials Of pianist who
lived i'll the third story, who never took
any rest herself nor allowed her neigh
bors to rest Finally he heard the door
open and saw Mrs Nicasin enter with
the breakfast
The good porter wife nearly dropped
the cup of chocolate at the strange sight.
But she had been informed Of it all and
began to try her luck
at about 1 O'Clock the next morning.
when the baron arose. his valet brought
him IL letter bearing the word "impor-
tant-
"When was this letter brought?" the
baron asked, opening tho envelope
'"This morning at about O.
VERY we'll.
Aud in that letter it said:
Pardon my boldncss but beg of you TO do
me the favor of sending over your valet 10 take
off the helmet, us have not been able to do So
| am almost mad. | passed the night in an
armchair 1t Is very necessary for me to go TO
my Office write under great difficulties and
was hardly able to take my breakfast. "Bcso
Sill mano," yours in despair, GERvAsIo.
By Jovo!" cried the baron, what
time is it:''
The valet looked at the clock on the
small table ''It is 1870, sir. E"
Then go quickly to Gervasio's
house. He needs you But hurry"
At IL o'clock sharp the troubadour
was relieved of the helmet and was on
the point of fainting for joy.-Chicago
News.