The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1905-07-20
FEBRUARY
ROSES
D, CAMPBELL MACLEOD
Copyright. 1901. by d c. Mcleod
apsrtcht. fgqs. Dun D c. MeLeod

Inc frencn OperH House WIS aDlaZe
: with light. Outside an eager crowd
drank In the beauties that allghied
from carriages and ran lightly up the
stairway TO a gorgeous palace of light
within. Suddenly there was Il str.
Nine. Lafayette drove up. Her gray
haired eoachman climbed ponderousiy
down and threw open the door for mad
am to alight. In her ancient black silk
dress, with its yo.umlnous train and
decorations of rare old lace she might
have passed for a dowager duchess.
She was followed by a slim slip of a
girl In q white dress that bespoke mad
ANS antebellum ideas of style.
"Ah, there ees L.uclen now" madam
breathed in an agitated tone of relief
as an old man quickly pushed his way
through the crowd to her side. The
three passed up the broad stairs and
disappeared within.
e.
None of the carnival balls Ia more
gorgeous than Proteus. And to the
girl who was seeing 1t for the first time
the scene was of arabian Night
splcndor. She was leaning on her elbow,
drinking in all the tropical beauty In
the ballroom below. The maskers Tit
ted to and fro, bestowlng favors on ex-
pectant maidens waiting to be called
out
A very gorgeous young Romeo leaned
against n friendly column near tue
throne on the stage below and sur
yeyed the crowd with indifferent eyes.
1t was such an old thing to him; he
was tired of it all. Buds, buds. buds,'
he muttered to himself. "The years
come; the years CO.
Suddenly his eyes rested on stately
Nine. Lafayette. 1t was the first time
in ten years that she had attended n
carnival bail. What did 1t mean?
Since Gerald, her youngest son.. die1
ten years before she had rot crossed
her threshold 10 go out Into the world.
Gerald had been his dearest friend.
He must hasten to pay his respects to
madam. And then his eyes fell on the
girl beside her. II was n face like n
wild rosc-a face that told its own
story. This was her first carnival ball.
and she Vas living only In seeing the
others enjoy It.. She leaned far Over
the railing Of the box and kept time un-
consciously with the music of the
waltz. Madam's old pllce had been
usurped. Ten years ngp her box woIld
have heen crowded. Nov 1t was emp.
ty. except For The three herself. her
ancient brother end the young girl.
Romeo RAW 1T a glance tia, madam re-
GREETED having come.
He forgot his cnnuI in the sudden
schone that presented itself to his
mind. He would make the little wild
rose enjoy herself. lie beckone1 to
an usher who knew madam and on
fided in him. y whispered eonsulta-
ton provided for a possible disappoint-
mcnt. Then the sympathetic Old man
who had "called out so many bellies
wended his way upstairs to bring the
little Will rose down.
Madam remembered him. Had he
not been on tie committee for years:
Sc preacnted HIN to her niece. Ea
genie Del Fcie. lie delivered his mes
sage. lie had been commanded by
Romeo OF the most noble houe of
Montague TO oon,c for the .aras lady
who accompanied madam. Surely she
would not disarpeint 50 roale a youth
whose o~vcning's pleasure lay in the
prospect OF being allowed 70 honor Ter
with his attentions. Madam was al
smiles. 'gie girl rose. half tIridly,
playfally tapped by madan.'s fan. and
encouraged hy mAaam's sudden rise Of
spirits 10 accompany him.
But this l. such m unexpected hon.
or she murnnrcl 10 the friendly old
guide as they descended the steps.
"Belleve me. | came only rs a speeta-
tor
ut is nattering TO be singied out in
so much beauty" be replied. Ind
Romeo Is considered n connoisseur,
mam'sellc. The queen herself would
be gratifcd Mt his admiration
Romeo bowed IoN before her, and
more than one turned to smile indul-
gently ON the contrast they made. he
splendid in lavender velvet and pink
satin and she 50 unconscious of her
quaint beauty In her simple White
frock.
"You viii dancer he asked in an
eager voice that he might have recog-
nizcl as his ten years ago, but
which now sounded strangely unfamii-
lar. ~ person with your eyes couldn't
resist that music"
She hesitated, toying with her fan.
lie understood her momentary confu-
sion.
1T Is the privilege Of a maskcr," be
explained Quickly, ito pay as many
compliments as he wishes so long as
they are true, Juliet. ! may call you
Juliet. may l not?"
Between the dances Tom McGrath,
blase bachelor that he was, had not