Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-06-20
A BALL AT THE PARIS OPERA
HOUSE.

While was amusing myself with watch~
ing the clearing of the house at the last
ball, my attention was excited by lady
seated alone in corner; it was evident
from her manner that she was waiting im-
patiently for some one. She was in black
domino, but the elegance of her tournure,
the rich lace that bordered her robe, and
last, though not least, the beauty of an en-
broidered pocket-handkerchief, which she
frequently applied TO her eyes, convinced
me that she was a person of Distinction
Using the freedom of the place, I approach-
ed her and said, {" You are waiting for
some one.i"
Yes answered she, quietly, shave
you seen a tall, fair young man, with a
white rose in his button-hole'"
Ireplied in the negative. and added some
commonplace compliment, but she turned
from me with gesture Of Impotence.
continued to walk up and down for some
time, casting every now andtnen glance,
OF the corner where sheF was seated, but
she never moved. i.At last | was myself
forced to retreat, but the interest she had
excited made me liiiger till saw her come
out, accompanied, 10 my surprise, by ny
old friend, Doctor, -, so celebrated
for his treatment Of the insane AS he
passed me, heard her say, " No, he has
not been here am sure of it, | have sought
for bin all the night in vain The tone
Of sadness in which these words were ut-
tered, vent TO my heart. / fastened TO tho
house Of my Ole friend as soon as thought
coald see him, to inquire into the cause
Of this poor unfortunate malsdy.
She is" said he TO me, =" unfortunate
indeed married al eighteen, and against
her Wll, to man old enough TO he her
grandfather, she was Tor two years the most
vfr,uons and exemplary of wives. No one
ever knew, or even suspected, what il cost
her to struggle with the passion with which
the young aud handsome Vicomte de -
had inspired her considerable time before
her marriage He had moi had an oppor-
tunity of ayowng his love for her, hut from
his manner she was convinced that their
affection was RECIPROCAL and from the mo-
ment of her marriage, she avoided him
with the greatest care. Al twenty she be-
came widow, and mistress of large for-
tune. The Vlcompte was then absent from
France, but before her year of widowhood
was over, he returned, pronoscd,, was ac-
ceptcd, and the day fixed for their nuptials
=" Near as she believed herself TO happi-
ness, there was always something in the
manner OF Gustavus, which struck at times
secret terror to the heart OF Madame do
----, and this was more particularly the
case the night before. the contract was to be
signed. They bad proposed To 90 togelh.
er to the ball of the Opera, bit she was in
disposed, and, couldnot accompany him
He was gloomy and agitaied, and 10 her
surprise, made no offer of remaining with
her. As they were parting, she presented,
him with white rose. Wear this through
the night she said. TO remind you Of mel.
He went and at the ball he met with an
old mistress, dancer at the Opera; he had
been passionately fond of her, but she had
broken with him previous to his engage.
ment with Madame de ------, In quar-
ter of an hour the white RISE was ,rampled
under foot before morning the guilty pair
were on their way to England, and by mid
day the poor widow was deprived of her rea-
son.