Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-11-08
CHAPTER XII.
At the Ball,


At the Ball.
The hours intervening before eve.
ming dragged like lead, but the day
ended, as all days do, though | held
myself we'll in hand until ten O'Clock
when ! got into my costume, which
draped me from head to foot. But first
i belted on my rapier, for would not
go unarmed in New York's streets at
night. And 30, a little later, / set out,
and 1t was nigh eleven when ] came
before No. Broadway.
That the affair was a great social
event was shown by the motley mass
gathered before the door, which was
guarded by soldiers.
There were link-bearers, though
these were hardly necessary on such
brilliant night, for the full moon was
high; there were footmen, fairly
dressed onlookers, maskers in coaches
or making their way afoot, pushing a
passage through the rabble, which was
mostly from the burned district. ]
slipped my mask over my face and
plunged into the press, with fine dis.
regard for the right of others Chat
being the manner of the time) until
reached the door.
There was nothing to deter my en-
trance into the brilliantly lighted
building, the guards letting me pass
without a challenge, my costume pre-.
supposing an invitation: and | found
myself in the great hall, surrounded
by great whirl of color and gaiety.
From the ballroom beyond came the
crash of band; perfume hung heavy
on the hot air, and the loud hum of
many voices was now and then broken
by a peal of laughter.
Though being for the time safe
enough, | was ever on the alert, and
thanked fortune that my costume per
mitted me to wear my sword conceal.
ed, though every second man had one
dangling at his hip, be his dress what
it might. To the reception room
gave wide berth, though in passing
its open doors / knew that Agnes
must have arrived; for / saw the tot.
tering governor, clad in yellow silk
tights and looking like a jaundice,
standing by Sir Henry, both being un.
masked. The woman who hung to the
arm of the knight with her infantile
face turned up to Robinson, l guessed
10 be Mrs. Badely.
When ! came to the ball room, the
entrance being well blocked by a
crowd of young bloods in all the fin
cry of the seventeenth century, /
wormed my way through, with now
and then flippant reioinder to some
remark aimed at my plain costume:
but ! saw nothing of Agnes at the
time, she probably being then in the
robing-room. However, / had some
thing of a surprise; for on entering
The conservatory in search of her, ! |
almost collided with another monk |
who was coming out, and to all ap--
pearances, we were both of the same |
holy order.
pax vobiscum, brother!" l said |
lightly, stepping aside TO allow him to
pass: but he made no answer, nor as
much as bent his head as he stalked |
away in dignity, his mask hiding his |
identity. l looked after him in
amazement, not only because of his !
bearing, but because l had thought my
own costume unique at time when |
the gay world made itself gayer with |
plumes borrowed from an earlier ep-
och.
/ wandered about the spacious
grounds for some time. and not until
heard the strains OF dance music did |
i return to the ballroom, and had |
hardly entered it when l saw her for
whom / had long been looking.
Though in some characterdress of |
gauay texture that made her appear
strange. l knew her at once, for she |
wore no mask; but her beautiful face |
was touched with rouge. and her eyes
were like blue stars. She was going
through the dgnifed mazes of the |
mjnuet; and as my eye left her grace.
iul figure for moment and fell on
her yia-a.vis, | startled. for he was the |
haughty monk | had met in the door
OF the hothouse. gave him but little
consideration, however.
Standing behind marble pillar, ]
looked at the grace and beauty of the |
girl unseen by her. and looked almost |
regretfully, too, for thought that this |
might he the last night l would ever