The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-29
COPYRIGHTED, 1897. BY WILLIAM LIE oUEUx.
CHAPTER x.-MAsK AND DOMINO.

CHAPTER X.-MASK AND DOMINO.
The world .famous Battle of Flowers
had been fought in brilliant, ciouciess
weather along tn Promehauo ues a
vIaiS and Lame riding alone in Victoria
e.,q,ar,oS Win yIolets and ribbons, had
bean awarded prize banner, Whlie
Z,rtbo his coach adorned 10y MaTeehai
NiaI roaes AMI white lilac, entertained a
naytv and WAS conspicuous hgufe IN
the picturesque procession Inc CROWD
was enormous the number OF decorated
carriages greater than ever Deiore known,
and as the contending parties, made up
of people in oarriag s decorated with flow
ers and coloured ribbons, passed slowly
along on either side of the broad drive,
tbey kept ND brisk fire Of small bou-
Duets. AS they went by the occupants
of the tribune poured bfoadsidas into the
carriages, anu the battle ragged every
where hot and furious. Lame, sitting
alone eTnbowered in violets flushed with
the excitement of throwing liandfuls OF
flowers at all and sundrY lInd hersell
more than once In the thick OF the
FRAY and was pelted until har hair escaped
from its pins and she felt herself horrloly
untidy. r.
BROKER had excused himself from
forming one of Zsrtho's parry anu ,au
acme for long walk into the country
but that night, he reluctantly accom-
panied them to the great Vegllope at tne
opera, where a!lw were In gpotesQue cos
tues. both Zertho and himself wearing
hideous masks with enormous req noses,
while Lame was attired in the beauIiiui
costume of an odalisque who at Aertno
desire, had peen speolaIiy ossigheu l ;n
her in Paris Folly reigned supreme IN
that whirlwind of thousand brilliant
colours. and although dancing was almost
impossible In conseq uence OF the croWueu
state OF the beautifully decorated Sale
de bal, yet the fun was always Ias5 anu
furious. and the first saffron streak hau
already showed over the grey misCy $50
before they entered phelr caFii"s W ~
homeward.
Variety had now become Lame S very
life. excitement the source and sussenance
of her existence. Within the rev Gays
which had elapsed since the evening when
her father had ureed her to marry Lertho
a complete change han come upon heI.
No longer was she dull, dreamy, ana
anathatie. but eager 10 EN- brace any OPP
portunity whereby her thoughts might be
turned from the one subject which preyed
upon her mind. She entered thoroughly
into the Carnival fun and frollo, anG
Zertho, believing that her gale,y arose
froa, contentment, felt t1attereo, congrat-
ulating b. M elf that after all sue was noS
SO ayerss 10 his companionshlp as ne nad
once believed. Knowing nothing OF love
or sentiment he had no suspicion that her
bright amused smile masked weary bit
terne7s. or that, after dancing half the
night radiant and happy ana charinl" g
the hearts of men with her light coquebrv,
she would return to the silence OF ner
own room before the wave-be beaten shore,
and there lie weeping for hours, murm ur-
ing the name OF the man she loved. 30
skilfully did she conceal the poignant
sorrow wearing out her heart tnat none
b. but her father detected it, and he, signing
within himself, made no remark.
Through the warm sunny reign OF Hing
Carnival Zsrtho and his handsome COM
panion were prominent figures every
where although the Captain, who had
grown dull and reckless, seldom &C
COMMANDED them Since that night, when
beside the sea Z4rtho had told her OF MS
love, he had noe again mentioned the SUB
jcct, although they were OFTEN alone To-
gether Sometimes he would accuse
her of furious filtration, but always with
a good. hun. CURED, amused air, without any
sign of Jealousy in his L amer truth 20
tell he felt satisfaction that she should
be the most univers lily admired girl In
Moe He remembered 100 thai her success
was due TO him Tor had he not paid for
the costly COS uIneS ana n1l41nef mar
vels which saltea her beauty so we'll?
The bright cl9udiesS days passed, ull
of lr yolity. Inc King Of + IL s reign
was snort therefore the excitems ut while
it 1t SEED was k pit up at rever-Eei6, the
grand climax OF the many festivities De-
ing reached by the Corso Carnavalesque
and Battle of Confetti which took place
on Sunday, ten days alter the g1AanGlc
effigy of the Monarch of Alirth had been
enthroned On the Place Massena in his
Moorish pavilion of rose and gold.
Ali the confetti conflicts, pre- ty and Wig
orous as they had been were but prellmi-
nary scrimmages 80 the genuine battle
fought with pallets of grey chalk. veri-
table bullets SO hard are these that it
is unsafe to venture out without wire
mask, therefore Zertho and Liane. in as
Stunning their costumes that aft no IN, did
not neglect the precaution. Zf.no wore
the white dress of a pierrot, with large
velvet buttons of pale rose; while Liane,
In domino of pale rose satin trimmed
with red-the colours which were de
rigeur-wore a downs hat of rose. Both
carried, 8 raped across their shoulders.
capncious hays con aiming confetti, and
q small tin scoop with which to throw
their missiles. The masks of fine wire,
like those used in fencing schools having
been assumed. they both entered the VIC
toria and were driven down to the Jardin
Public through which the Carnival pro.