Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-01


with even Joyous readiness, and the exuberence
of her happiness found expression In sucn
sprightly MEASURES, that her flying fingers soon
outstript the common time Of the dancers, and
many GREATNESS calls for moderation were sent
towards her from the scampering and despair
ing performers. Then would she laugh and
blush, and shake her head in playful sell-re-
proach a: her own lawless performance, and for
a while, very little while, the restless fingers
were restrained 10 slower movements. Once
or twice she looked towards the dancers, as ii
with vehement longing TO spring up and nnn-
gle with their gay eyolutions; butthese chances
were monetary, and her eyes dropt again up
on the ivory keys; but such a smiling and half
exulting playfulness lurked about her mouth, as
she were anticipating some hour Of future glad
ness, when she shoult join hands once more in
the merry dance with the companions Of her
youth, on the earth--the lovely green sward, OF
her own dear country Whatever were the
fond reveries Of poor Blanche, it is certain that
her musical task was so unequally performed
that evening as TO cause much discontinue "a
mong the dancers, at length desparingy mani.
tested in their relaxing exerlions, and in the te-
dious, lounging pauses between the sets. Dur
ing one of these, a small knot Of gentlemen
5 God conversing with Mrs. l.. close to the piano
forte, on which, mingled with music books and
manuscripts, lay several pamphlets and news
! papers. One OF the gentlemen, caielessly glanC-
Ing his eye over the miscellaneous heap, caught
up paper with suddenly excited interest, ex-
| claiming: "Ah! here is already public account
| OF the melancholy occurrence OF which my let
ters from Madras made mention" Then ra-
pldly he read aloud the paragraph, which stat
ed that "the regiment de Meuron, being under
orders for Europe, had been. safely embarked
| on board the transports provided for its recep-
ton, all bu the last boat consisting Of the lieu
tenant colonel, his lady, and their family, and
two young officers OF the reg iment when by
some mlsmanagement the boat was suddenly
upset in the tremendous surf, and notwithstand-
ing the eXerllons OF the natives, on their attend
ing catamanons, every soul persisted, except
the wife and youngest daughter OF the colonel,
and one of the young officers, lieutenant D'Aldi."
Then followed the names of those who had
found walery grave, and the gentleman ran
them quickly over, Till just as he had pronounc
ed that of s'Horace Vaudreul,'a sudden crash
of the piano keys caused general start, and all
eyes turning simultaneously towards the young
musician, who had been awaiting the pleasure
Of the dancers IN silence, patient and unnoticed,
il was perceived that she had fallen forward on
the instrument, her face and arms resting on
the keys, and almost hidden by the redundance
Of fair soft ringlels, which had burst in rich
disorder from the conhnlng braid.
She was raised up and conveyed TO sofa in
state Of ieath-like insensibiity, from which, af-
ter long applications of various slimulants, she
revived only to relapse into successive Paintings
The aniiy apothecary being summoned, by his
direction she was conveyed 10 her chamber and
TO her bed, and his prognoslcs were unhappily
verified towards morning, when she awoke from
sort of trance, in which she had lain some
hours, in high paroxysm of dellrous fever
Great was the CONSERVATION ocCasioned in the
family of Mr.. l.. by this sudden seizure of the
young creature, whose personal importance in
the establishment, except in relation 10 the la
bors Of the school,room and the piano, had hi
therto been very subordinate TO thai of the Mac
caws and Persian cat.
A peculiar horror Of all contagious and in
fictitious disorders amongst the many pc
culiar horrors 10 which the sensitive lady of
poor Mr.. l.. peculiarly liable. 1t was in
vain that the worthy man himself, having ascer-
tanned the decided opinion o. the apothecary,
again and again assured her, that "Mademoi
sele's disorder was brain fever, which, howe.
yer likely to terminate fatally, was not of ma
ture to be communicated even tolhe attendants
Of the sick chamber" These assurances, back
ed by all the apothecary's assertions, were in
sufficient TO allay the lady's horrors. off no,
no,o infectious, the disorder might become so:"
and then she convinced ''nH fevers were
catching;" and "if he was so Indifferent to her
safety, she could not think of her children, and
emulate his heroic composure. Not for worlds
should they continue in that house two hours
longer; and she fel! it her duty as mother, to
be careful, for their sakes or her own life, and to
accompany them from that dangerous spot t.
1t was madness in him stay there. If he
would be persuaded. But he was not to be
persuaded. SO, after conscentiousIy fulfilling
her duty as wife, by pathetically warning
him OF the probable consequences OF his obsti-
macy, she babe him farewell with admirable
frmness, and after last parting injunction
from the carriage window, to fumigae all let
tiers he might addresssto her from that house,
she was driven from the door, and safely and
uxurantly lodged before evening at her hus-
bands Richmond villa with her children and
Miss Crawford. Great indeed, unspeakably
great, "she assured all her friends, was her anx-
ety on her husbands account, and they might
conceive how agoni7ing it was to her feelings |
to leave him in SO perious situation. Had
she followed the dictates of her heart; but these