The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-12-29

about to see me with the mask off. But
let it not be my hand that shall open
PandUra's box. Receive through youi
own the punishment for your foolish
impatience.
"Perdition take the knot can't un.
tie it. All, my knife--that is it'll
Beauti'--
could not finish the word, such was
my surprise, amazement, terror. What
a nose What nose oh, what a nose
/ would not have believed that nature
was capable of arriving at such degree
of pleonasm, hyperbole, amplification.
The sonnet of Quevedo, "Erase un hom-
bre una nariz pegado," (There was
man attached to nose), would be poor
and colorless to paint it. This was no
human nose. 1t was beet root, cor.
nerstone, an Egyptian pyramid. If it
is just to condemn everything unseason-
able, everything exaggerated, why is it
that law is not given against the ex-
aggeration Of noses?
In the midst of the horror which this
mournful discovery caused me wanted
to withdraw myself from the large
nosed mountain girl without mourning
a rude remark from her. Imade inored-
ible efforts toward some expression of
gallantry. Impossible. II l could have
had mirror before me, am sure
must have seen foolish face.
Fortunately for me, the mountain
girl-who doubtless had learned to re-
sign herself to her deformity, likewise
to all its effects-laughed quite good
humoredly, whether at my conflict or
at herself did not know. This gave
me courage to rise, under the pretext Of
going to greet friend. And, without
daring to look at her again, / took my
leave with formal Farewell, senori-
ia. "
Shame gave wings to my feet; wrath
blinded me; the ground failed me in
my fight. / stumbled over furniture,
against persons, over myself, and would
have walked home without waiting for
the coach or to get my overcoat. l flew,
| then, to the refreshment room, took
possession Of table, snatched up the
bill of fare, asked what they could
bring me the quickest ate, now, not
with appetite, but furiously, from four
different plates, and they were about
to bring me the fifth, when / beheld
seated in front of me-divine justice =
the same mountain girl, or, rather,
should say, the same nose which had
Mortified me shortly before My first
impulse was to rise and run, but the
merry girl petrified me by saying with
Internal sweetness:
"What! Are you not going to invite
me to SUPPER
felt troubled and looked sheepish
The nose laughed, and SO, to my dis
comfort, did the gallant who accom-.
panied her. would have liked to wreak
my rage upon him.
"Senorita"-
1T shall not cost you muoh-a glass
of wine nothing more"
Such impudence stung me keenly,
and 1 resolved on being revenged by
mooking her,
II shall have the greatest pleasure
in complying with your demand, seno-
rita, though fear that your nose will
prevent you from putting a glass to
your lips. If you cannot take it Off as
you did your mask, do not know
how
"You are rude, sir, but shall be
gracious. l will remove it. "
"How? What do You say? Then
AT this instant her hand darted up to
her nose and she tore it off
Alas, it was false 1t was pasteboard,
and it left her real nose revealed, no
less graceful and perfect than the other
features of her face.
How shall l depict my shame, my
desperation, on beholding such an ev-
quisite creature, and the remembrance
of the levity, the discourtesy, the in
iquity of my conduct was going to
beg a thousand pardons, to lament my
error and prostrated, kiss the dust at
her feet, but the cruel one took the arm
Of her escort, disconnected me with a
severe look, and, initiating my cold
manner of short time before, said,
Farewell, senCrv and she burst into
a peal of mocking lighter.
never saw her more.-From the
Spanish For Argonaut.