Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1898-01-05


jewelry, which, added to the family
gems she already possessed, might
have furnished the dowry Of a prin-
cess.
The day at length arrived for which
all this extraordinary preparation had
been made; and the baron, not content
with charging his daughter to apparel
herself in a suit, which, by its exceed
ing splendor, seemed to have been par
ticularly intended for the occasion, and
to wear her most costly jewels; also
commanded her maidens to tax their
wits in onamenting and setting off,
to the best advantage, the charms of
their young mistress.
And now after having arranged all
things, and being promised implicit
obedience by his daughter the mystery
of all his magnificent proceedings was
partly unraveled by his telling that
they were that night to expect the ar
rival of the Earl of Ormisdale; be,
moreover, presented her with a mask,
and informed her that he had given
orders that each of his guests should
Pht w q NASOl DG4Olt lltg tnltlth liz
ball room, after they left the banquet
hall, and that he had done this for her
sake, that the eye of idle curiosity
should not read in her features what
was passing in her mind when she
first met her betrothed. 1t was in
vain that the afflicted Lady Isabel
pleaded most knowingly for more pri-
70 o.. E.
to her entreaties, while he affirmed
that his precaution of the visor would
do away with all objections; and was
so peremptory in the matter that. as
usual. she acquiesced.
How different, however, were the
feelings of his daughter on this momen-
tous subject, and sore averse was she
to meet the man she was sure that
she could never love; and many were
the tears she shed, and many the re-
solves she made to retract all her
promises and live and die in solitude.
But then she bethought her of the de-
spair of her poor old father-of his
tender, though mistaken love-of the
few remaining years Of his life en-
Uttered by superintendent his
death probably hurried on through her
means. All this was too much when
laid on the balance with only her own
happiness, and she still sustained The
character of a dutiful daughter, by
heroically determining to sacrifice all
selfishness at the altar of filial duty
and affection.
But though this was her ultimate re-
solve, we need not be surprised that
when decked in her splendid attire,
and presiding in the gorgeous banquet
ing hall Of her father, she looked and
felt as If assisting at a funeral feast,
and that she even then would have
been the better of the visor to prevent
many conjectures on what her sad
dened looks might mean. But the
time for assuming the mask arrived,
and the mobiles of the land, with their
naughty DANES, and many knight
and many damsel fair, bedight in silk
and cloth of gold, and blazing in jew
els, graced the tapestried ballroom, on
which a flood of brilliant light was
poured from lamp and torch. And
each in joyous mood, cheered by the
merry MINISTRIES, and by the sound of
harp and viol, impatiently awaited the
commencement of the dance, when
they were informed that it was STAYED
for an expected and honorable guest.
But presently there was a flourish of
the music, and the cry of the ushers to
make way for the noble Earl of Ormis-
dale; and the large doors at the foot
Of the hall were flung wide open, and
the gallant young earl, masked, and at
tended by train of young gentlemen,
all his kinsmen, or picked and chosen
friends, advanced amid murmurs of adj
miration to the middle of the hall.
Here they were met and welcomed by
the baron, who led the earl to his love-
ly daughter and having presented him
to her the guests were presently graft
fed by seeing the gallant young noble
man take the hand of the Lady Isabel
and lead her out to dance. Nor were
there any present whose eyes did not
follow them with admiration, though
the measure chosen by the high born
damsel savored more that night of
grace and dignity than lightness of
either heart or heel. Meantime, the
old baron was so full Of joy and delight
that it was remarked by all, as he was
still seen near his daughter and her
partner.
But their hearts were both quaking
tho unhappy Lady Isabels with
thinking Of her promise to her father,
and that of her betrothed with fear
known only to himself; for he had
heard that she had loved. and now OBJ
served her narrowly. And, not con-
tent with this, he asked her, as he sat
boeida bar MANY willy question. till