The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-08-20
Tragedy Of a
Masked Ball
By MARGARET c: DEvEREAux

The legend Of one selling, bis soul to
Satan was centuries old before Goethe
took it for the theme Of bis immortal
poem. Since the idea has been thus
embodied 1t has been very popular h
various forms. Soon after it appeared
a masked ball in Staffhausen took
place, ut which young girl named
Catherine Hauser took the part Of
Marguerite. Herman Geiss. who was
in love with her. learned through his
sister that Catherine was intending to
be thus costumed. and he took it into
his head that he might press his suit
under the guise of Faust. Carl Hau-
ser, GATHERINGS. brother. who was to
escort Ter to the ball, was to 90 as
ValentNe
Without knowing Of the adoption Of
these costumes. Hans Ritter, rival Of
Herman's, decided to attend the batl
as Mephistopheles. 1t never came out
whether Ritter in his action at the ball
played a devilish part or, finding him.
self related by costume to the others
who were all we'll known to him,
thought it would be a fine thing to
make bad blood between them. intend
ing toAundo what be had done before
any trouble should arise from 1t.
Be this as it may. Herman Geiss no
sooner saw girl dressed as Marguer-
lite than he asked her to dance with
him and paid her marked attention for
the rest Of the evening. The ball was
In full swing when Ritter, seeing Carl
Hauser (Valentine) standing near
curtain. concealed himself behind it
and Kissed. Look out for your sister:
she is in danger"
Havser looked around. but the room
was crowded. and Ritters'managed to
escape without being detected. Carl
was wrapped up in his sister and. be-
ing a hot blooded fellow, did not stop
to consider that the words he had
heard might have been little per-
Torrance aside, to make the attentions
Faust was paying Marguerite more
realistic. he did not know who Faust
was. but proposed to stop his attentions
to his sister. Going to the couple, who
we're in the midst of dance. be or
dered Catherine to come with him.
Geiss. not knowing that he was her
pushed him away Indignantly.
Catherine remained with Geiss. and
going away, found friend
whom be sent to Cess with chal-
enge. Hauser was at the time stu
lent at a university, member Of q
1ueling corps and an expert with the
mail sword. When Cess received the
challenge he had left Catherine. and
The knew nothing of what had hap
,ened.
Had each one Of these persons
;nown who the others were doubtless
What followed would not have &C.
urred. Another unfortunate feature
vas that Ritter. who had whispered
he words that caused the trouble. had
'een drinking good deal of German
vine. Whether he thought the matter
4 no great importance. whether be
orgot to take precautions against trou-
lie liable to arise from what be had
aid. was not satisfactorily explained.
There were those who believed that he
lad acted either through sheer malice
r from a desire to injure Geiss in &C.
uring the hand Of the girl he him
elf wanted.
After the bali Geiss and Hauser met
n a forest near the town. There was
| full moon, and they crossed swords
" its light. Each were the costume
le had on at the ball. Those who
'laim that Ritter acted from malicious
motives aver that be In the red and
black costume of Mephistopheles wit
lessed the fight from behind the trunk
# tree. forming a perfect picture of
he arch fiend watching the result OF
lis devilish work.
Both the contestants were excellent
but the light was very |
BAD for such a trial of skill. Hauser
vas the better man at such work. but
he tight flashing on his enemy's sword
bothered him. The result was deter
mined by Geiss not seeing perfectly.
for in trying to wing his opponent and
thus end the duel without tragedy he
Internationally stabbed his opponent
IN the heart.
Meanwhile the affair. so closely re-
sembling the story Of Faust and Mar.
guerite. was talked about. and at the
last moment a report Of 1t reached
ears. She was getting ready !
for bed when she heard that duel
was about to take place and hurried ut
once to the place CT tie combat. When
her brother fell she was still some DIS
lance from him. but, staggering on.
reached him Just in time for a last
look between them before he died.
AS soon as Hauser fell Geiss ran to- /
yard him, and In the face turned to
the moonlight recognized GATHERINGS
brother. He saw at once that be not