The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-06-06

dress, with its voluminous train and
decorations of rare old lace she might
have passed for a dowager duchess.
She was followed by slim slip of
girl in white dress that bespoke mad
ANS antebellum ideas of STYLE
'Ah, there ees Lucien 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.
None of the carnival balls is more
gorgeous than Proteus. And to the
girl who was seeing it for the first time
the scene was of arabian Night"
splendor. She was leaning on her elbow,
drinking in all the tropical beauty in
the ballroom below. The maskers fit
ted to and fro, bestowing favors on ex-
pectant maidens waiting to be "called
OUT
A very gorgeous young Romeo leaned
against a friendly column near the
throne on the stage below and sur
veyed the crowd with Indifferent eyes.
1t was such an old thing to him. he
was tired of it ALL Buds, buds, budsw
he muttered to himself 1.-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
carnival ball. What did it mean?
Since Gerald, her youngest son, died
ten years before she had not crossed
her threshold to 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. 1t was a face like a
wild rose-a face that told its own
story. This was her first carnival ball,
and she was living only in seeing the
others enjoy it. She leaned far over
the railing of the box and kept time I'M
consciously with the music of the
waltz. Madam's old place had been
usurped. Ten years ago her box would
have been crowded Now it was emp
ty, except for the three-herself, her
ancient brother and the young girl
Romeo saw at a glance that madam re
GREETED having come.
He forgot his ennui in the sudden
scheme that presented itself to his
mind. He would make the little wild
rose enjoy herself. He beckoned to
an usher who knew madam and con-
fided in him. A whispered consulta-
ton provided for a. possible disappoint-
ment. Then the sympathetic old man
who had "called OUT so many bellies
wendell his way upstairs to bring the
little wild rose down.
Madam remembered him. Had he
not been on the committee for years ?
She presented him to her niece, Eu-
genie Del Fete. He delivered his mes
sage. He had been commanded by
Romeo of the most noble house Of
Montague to come for the young lady
who accompanied madam. Surely she
would not disappoint so noble a youth
whose evenings pleasure lay in the
prospect Of being allowed to honor her
with his attentions. Madam was all
smiles. The girl rose, half timidly,
playfully tapped by madam's fan, and
encouraged by madam's sudden rise of
spirits to accompany him.
But this is such an unexpected hon
Or" she murmured to the friendly old
guide as they descended the steps,
Believe me, 1 came only as a specta-
tor"
1T is fattering to be singled out in
so much beauty" he replied. And
Romeo is considered a connoisseur,
ma~l'selle. The queen herself would
be gratified at his admiration"
Romeo bowed low 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 so unconscious of her
quaint beauty In her simple white
frOck.
You will dancer he asked in an
eager voice that he might have recog-
nized as his own ten years ago, but
which now sounded strangely unfamil-
lar. "a person with your eyes couldn't
resist that music"
She hesitated, toying with her fan.
He understood her momentary confu-
sion.
1T is the privilege of masker," he
explained quickly, "to pay as many
compliments as he wishes so long as
they are true, Juliet l may call you
Juliet, may l not?'
Between the dances Tom McGrlth,
blase bachelor that he was, had not
time to realize what was happening to
his heart Somehow this girl, with her
soft gray eyes, affected him in a way
he had not been touched for a long
time. An hour ago he was tired of the
world. He was voting the universe a
bore and carnival balls in particular a
nuisance. Now he was listening and
interested-while the girl told him
about madam's yellow roses that were
trying to bloom themselves to death in
the garden In the middle of February
"Oh, yes, l remember" he interrupt
L
since l have been to see madam, but
remember that garden. The wallis it
there yet? And is it as steep as everl
Steve and l have sacrificed many
kneecap trying to climb over it,
1T is under the wall that the roses
grow" she began impulsively. Don't
you remember that little corner where
the wall is grayest with age
There used to be a marble seat
there" he interrupted boyishly, "and a
Cupid with a culver and bow"
"Such an old, old Cupidr' the girl
laughed softly. 1.-The years have made
him gray"
THAT Cupidr' he said. Il should like
to see the old fellow again" He was
looking down into the face beside him.
you are from madam's old home up
the river, aren't your he hazarded.
You are going to be here some time,
are you notY The bachelor had fed.
A little boy was begging little girl
not to go home for awhile.
Possibly a month" she replied. ''She
is so lonelyi" with glance up toward
the balcony where madam sat.
I'VE must show her a better time"
he whispered, you and l."
The house was almost deserted. Far
above, in the highest gallery. the last
notes of "Home, Sweet Home" We're
dying away. Romeo, still in his mask
and domino, stopped to kiss madam's
hand.
''Ah, madam" he sighed happily,
may l not serenade my love in your
garden tonightT' Eugene blushed and
tried to hurry madam into her cloak.
'That depends''-madam smiled jubi-
lantly, fathoming the secret-'that de-
ponds altogether on who you are, sir"
Romeo, of the most noble house of
Montague" bowling low, "and much
tormented with love for this maid. To
morrow night l shall crave admittance