Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-11-02
CHAPTER xI.

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
/ belted on my rapier. for would not
20 unarmed in New York's streets at
night. And so. little later, set out,
and II was nigh eleven when ! came
before No. / Broadway.
That the affair was 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 a 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
1t might. To the reception room
gave wide berth, though in passing
its open doors l 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
arm of the knight with her infantile
face turned up to Robinson. guessed
10 be Mrs. Badely.
When / came TO the ball room, the
entrance being well blocked by
crowd of young bloods in all the fin
cry OF the seventeenth century, /
wormed my way through, with now
and then a flippant rejoinder 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 surprise; for on entering
the conservatory in search of her, |
almost collided with another monk
who was coming out, and to all APP.
pearahces, we were both of the same
holy order.
PAX vobiscum, brother!" | said
lightly, stepping aside to allow him to
pass; but he made no answer, nor as
oh as bent his head as he stalked
W in dignity, his mask hiding his
yitity. l looked after him in
Jazement, not only because OF his
bearing, but because 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
l return to the ballroom, and had
hardly entered 1t when ! saw her for
whom had long been looking
Though in some character-dress OF
sauzy texture that made her appear
strange, ! knew her at once, for she
wore no mask; but her beautiful face
was touched with rouge, and her eyes
we're like blue stars. She was going
through the dignified mazes Of the
minuet; and as my eye left her grace
full figure for a moment and fell on
, tr vis-a-vis, startled, for he was the
Nghty monk | had met in the door
III the dollhouse. ! gave him but little
consideration. however.
Standing behind a marble pillar,
looked at the grace and beauty OF the
6hi uusccH ny ueTt anu lOOhtu dlUOSI
regretfully, too, for thought that this
might be the last night would ever
see her.
The dance progressed. In a passage
Of the minuet her partner, a Charles
II, made an awkward misstep, and I
saw the spur of the pseudo-monarch
catch in her light dress and tear away
q scrap of lace the size of her hand.
She did not notice 1t until the monk
hAnt and picked II from tie floor;
,SN, with gesture IL which there
more ostentation than good taste,
essed II to his hidden lips and
Ut in his hempen girdle. I saw
Che girl turn red under her rouge, but
otherwise she made no sign as she
gave her partner her hand to lead
her down the gllttering line OF dan.
GERS.
The room was bewilderingly beau.
tiful to me. Brass blared and violins