The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-09

q A Singular Story OF a Mnn Who q
q Left q Supper Party at the @
4 Hour Of an Execution. G
One carnival night in 1856. Cartal
and I. pursued BY ennui, found our
selves by chance side by side in q
pcoscenium box at the opera ball. Cur
eyes were idly studying the motley
mosaic formed by the maskers dancing
: to the witching music Of Strauss bow.
when the door Of the box was flung
open and. with silken frou frou. three
masks entered and greeted us by name.
Clio the Fair, Antonio Chantilly and
SusaEnah Jackson were as well known
in tile worlG Of artists for their beauty
as for their wit Cantal gave them
chairs. asking, with smile, "You are
playing truants to the ball?'
suddenly we caught sight Of you!"
cried Antonio Eve will have supper to-
gether, II you've nothing better on
foot"
j seWei and good!', said Cantal, turn
Ing to me. II viii engage the red din
Ing room at once. il you are all agreed" !"
In the midst Of his last words my eye
was caught by the face Of man Of 35
in the box opposite; he had on oriental
pallor. Lowering his opera glass. he
bowed to me. After a moments
thought remembered he had rendered
me trifiing service, such as custom
permits between fellow travelers-in-
formation about a certain brand Of
cigars, If I remember rightly i return
ed his bow. l had hardly reached the
foyer wher the stranger approached
nee. Recalling his courtesy in German.
7 could do nc less. than invite him to
Join us, IL he was quite alone, in the
gay hubbuh. 20
And whom shall / have the honor Of
presenting 10 our merry partyY' I ask
ed. smiling. when he had accepted.
Baron von a." he said. But In
view OF the indulgence Of the ladies',
The difficulties experimentation and the
carnival season. let me assume. for an
hour, another name, no matter what
with q laugh-"Baron Saturn, If you
Ike"
This caprice surprised me slightly,
but I fell ia wiz: sis fancy and an
nounced him formally under the myth
ological title he had hit upon. His fan
tastic appellation was received with
favor. Clio insisted he was king
from the Thousand and One Nights"
travelling incog: .siz
after the preliminary compliments
Susannah jackson; between two FIRE
a.stible yawns, asked, "Wnl the baron
Join Us at supper. FOR the sake Of SYM
metryY' y
II am very s..ry to refuse" said the
stranger. Unfortunately e.rcum-
stance OF capital Importance win call
me away in a few hours"
"a make believe duel?" said Clio.
wita { pout.
"No, madame, rencontre, since you
have deigned to consult me-"
bah! A mere trifle. Not wen
crossing swords over. you may be sure.
Words exchanged at I'm opera ball
Cont count. You are stranger, that's
plainly to be seen"
"Quite true, madame. l am some
what Of stranger everywhere" the
baron replied, with q bow.
"Come. Do you get people to coax
you?''
Every seldom, assure you!" the
old fellow replied. both gallantly and
equivocalIy. Cantat and exchanged
slanccs. What was he driving at: 1t
might turn out amusing, in any case.
Like a child who insists on having
what is refused to it, Antonio seized
his arm, exclaiming, 'You belong to US
ill .dawnw
He surrendered; we left the opera.
So here we were with the prospect be-
fore us Of several hours relative in
t,macy with man Of whom we knew
absolutely nothing, except that he had
played at the Wiesbaden casino and
studied Havana cigars.
Leaning back in the carriage. Clio
called to the footman. ITO the Maison
Doreev The foreigners heavy car
riage was rolling after ours. Antonio,
better known under her romantic nom
lie guerre, ''Yseult," bad accepted his
mysterious escort.
Installed in the red dining room,
Joseph lived strict orders not to let
In a single living being, except the Os-
tend oysters-ando our illustrious friend,
the fantastic little DR.. Florian les Egli-
sottes, If by chance he should come.
A great log roared in the fireplace.
The air was heavy with the scent Of
furs and winter flowers. Wine stood
chilling in silver coolers. Bunches Of
camellias trcmbled CT their fine wire
stems in crystal vases. Outside dense
snow mingled with rain fell, and we
caught mufficd sound Of carriages.
During the sparkling sallics Of the
supper 1 gave myself up to my inno-
cent mania OF observation. l was not
long in drcoverlng that the Saxon
baron was ,eorthy Of study. Our
chance guest was not wildly hilarious.
that was certain. His features and his
bearing were not lacking in the con-
gentional distinction that is passport
to society; his accent was not disagree
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