Cañon City record., 1902-10-02

signoras and signorinas together.
goodly number of the cavaliers, as well
rs some of the danes, were masked,
and there seemed to have been a con-
test among the company as to which
might wear the most gaudy and di-
verse hues. As they passed to and FRO
or mingled in the maZes of the dance,
brilliant and dazzling Kaleidoscope or
color, exclaimed to myself that l had
never seen sight more goodly.
AT one end of the salon, upon raised
dais, sat p. score of musicians, with
lot of quaint old musical instruments
called viols and rebecs and fidels. from
which they produced strains SO crude
and simple and untaught that shook
with laughter every time | listened 10
them Near by, with his attendants.
stood the little fat duke. with smile
upon his jolly red face so broad that
one standing behind him might have
seen the ends of It. Not far away from
the spot occupied by this corrupt yet
amiahle potentate there was another
group. which seemed TO be composed or
the court beauties. and we-that is TO
say, Brother Ambrose and |. for we
had left Clan .Iacopo with the other
lackeys in the anteroom-drew near to
them. thinking that we might behold
the dukes daughter.
When we had come close. | noticed
that one Of the damosels, lady who
wore Il close fitting dress of velvet and
a magnificent coronet of diamonds, was
so much more beautiful than her fel-
pretty girls they yet seemed but as
crows or magpies beside her, and i'm
mediately guessed what Ambrose whis-
pered in my ear a moment later-thht
she was none other than the peerless
Lady Ippolita, the dukes daughter.
had never before seen such statue
like and symmetrical form, such quaint
and lovely features, such n great mass
of raven hair. such large. dark, dreamy
eyes. such soft and snowy whiteness
of skin or perfect rounded shape OF
neck and arms. She was Il maid or
eighteen or nineteen years. slender, yet
of precocious maturity, and with
most sweet and gracious and noble
manner. attitude and gesture. Had
she been a saint | would have wor-
made it my business Immediately to
fall completely and desperately in love
with her. | really fell in love at first
sight. didn't 20 to the whole depth
at first. but | fell, and then i COM
menced TO sink and sink until there
seemed no bottom to the intensity OF
my passion.
Fortunately was masked and could
approach her with impunity. l put a
bold face upon the matter and came up
to her as Romeo came up to Jnliet at
old Capulet's banquet.
"Wilt trip a measure with me. fair
LADY," asked in my most courtly
tones.
She looked at me in some surprise
and hesitated somewhat and acted al
together as though she wanted to do it.
Perhaps there was some magnetic in
huence at work in her-an induction
from the current with which l was so
highly charged. She cast pretty glance
toward the duke. who stood few feet
away. as though asking his permis-
sion.
NAY. never look at me. wench," he
called over to her. Thou knowest that
thou woudst dance with the knave IL
it pleased thee though | bade thee not
hundred times. Away. then. with thy
cavalier. whoever he may be, and kick
mp thine heels to thy hearts content"
She blushed with displeasure at the
coarse but good humored speech of the