The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-05-28

iess themes OF admiration. His WhisEers were
- uI'eAceplionablc,-his mousache was the
49,, .o~ vi Cupid, and when some one ven
lu!ea 10 mint that if his features were examined
eIHicaily, his nose would he found to be little
Nv, ~ dq"''ne,-a little too nearly approaching 10
'io jewish conformation, tho suggestion was re-
csiVed with such merited scorn as envy should
Always receive. l gazed on him long time
WIN mat dubious feeling Of INTERROGATION.
Wnich sometimes haunts us like remembered
dream. l could not recollect that l had ever
oeeh III company with the Duke, and vet was
sure that his face was not unfamiliar to me.
inc ballroom. His highness did not dance, but
amused himself with watching the many lovely
forms that foated amid the rnazcs of the be-
wtchng waltz Many bright eye grew bright
er beneath his glance-many II fair check blush
ed celestial rosy red' as the dancers gossamer
robe brushed the velvet trappings OF the noble
stranger
The next day the Duke exhibited himself on
horseback, and thus afforded US un opportunity
of observing his small and beautiful foot. His
form was evidently dminutive, but the graceful
cloak which seemed his constant companion, for
Dade us 10 discover its proportions, and all were
willing 10 believe, that where the head was so
fine, and the extrenities well shaped, the fig
ure also must he good. As he rode slowly away
the sanie vague feeling of recognition passed
through my mind, AMI as he disnoupted after
his return discovered the mystery. His horse,
alarmed by some unwonten sound, turned short
round as he was about alighting, and TO avoid
an appearance of awkardness, he was COMPEL
cd to dismount, with the sun full in his eH es.-
He raised his head, and met the full blaze of
light without momentary dropping of the
eyelid; and this simple incident at once dissi
pated all my doubts. He was the strange indi
vdual had met on board the steamboat-ihe
handsome stranger.
My suspicious once aroused l determined TO
watch the noble Duke very narrow WHY, uDd di s.
nT ia
ing nicta,norphose. l found him gradually ma
king himself acquainted with the loveliest among
the females, and The richest among the men,
His cquipage and servants were ALWAYS at the
command of the ladies whom he honored with
his admiration, and their brothers could not be
so unle reasonable to object TO an acquaintance
with man who displayed the decorations of in
Vulnerable orders of knightood-who limited
his consanguinity with the royal blood of France
and above all who lost his money ct billiards
with so much grace and dignity.
Among the bellies of the season, Matilda las.
ton, she orphan heress Of n Southern planter,
was conspicuous. She had visited The springs
under the protection of her aunt, u Sentimental
spinster of the old school, who doated on the
productions ofthe "Nlinerva Press" and expect
ed all kinds of romantic Improbabties from
the charms Of her bewitching niece. Matilda
was certainly splendid creature, and with
little more selt-distrust would have been very
lovely woman but born at the South, and sur
rounded by slaves from infancy, she had learned
TO look upon herself a sort Of earthly divinity
whom men ought TO worship rather than pre-
sumo TO love. She was just twenty, and in ac-
tual possession of her immense fortune it was
no wonder, therefore, that the Duke singled her
out as the object of his special a,tt nton. The
undisguised delight with which Matilda enjoyed
the triumph over her rivals, first made me doubt
the better qualities of her nature. /, using the
privilege OF my years, endeavored in vain to a.
rouse hel suspicious and awaken her to full
sense of the danger she was mourning in this in
timacy,-but she was too self willed to listen TO
an old mans caution, and nothing was left to
me but TO look on while the game was played.
Ia the course Of short time the billiard play
ers found that the stranger could ION. money as
amably,as lie once lost it, and many precipitate
retreat from the summer abode OF Fashion might
be attributed to the grace with which the noble
Duke presided over the table of fortune. Many
u young dandy, who had dealt out the highest
enco,niums upon his Highness affablty, was o.
blged to add his regrets that a republican purse
was quite insufficient to support SO aris,ocraiic
an acquaintance. In the mean time The singu-
lar beauty OF his countenance seemed 10 serve
him instead OF letter Of credit, and wherever
he went he was sure Of being well received -
IVY ny does ne always wear that cloak - ask
ed OF Matilda, TO whom he professed to have mar
rated many incidents in his life. "Oh, there is q
very romantic story connected with it," replied
she, "but 1t was related to me under u promise
OF secrecy can tel! you enough however TO
account Tor lis always wearing it. While trav-
cling through Calabria he was fortunate enough
&c rescue "A Spanish prince from the hands of
banditti in the sudden impulse of gratitude, The
Prince threw lis own cloak, with Its splendid
diamond clasp, on the Dukes shoulders, and
| extracted from him q promise never 10 appear
without il until they should meet again. Glow
long since this romantic adventure occurred"
asked. about three years." "The Duke has
been extremely careful Of his royal gift if he
has been able TO retain its gloss for so long, said
L; but Matilda deigned no reply to my inuendo
and questioned her no farther ] remained an
axious, though not interested spectator Of their
| proceedings, until ] learned that Matilda had
broken off an engagement of years standing
with her cousin, promising lawyer Of Charles
ton, and then in disgust, quilted the Springs.
had been but few days at my old winter
lodgings at the City Hotel, when / found the
Duke OF Piombino was among us. Matilda hat
returned TO her splendid house near the Battery
and the Duke took up his abode in the vicinity
IL, II