Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-12-05


from that bright hour when the heart of the
young SpaniaId beat highest, to this peri the
Dolphin, its passengers. and its crew have never
been heard of; darkness rests upon their fate,
but fearful surmises conoborated by one chain
of evidence, create belief, that their end was of
a nature too horrible to dwell upon.
CHAPTER IV-The Ball Room.
Twelve months after the loss Of the brig Dol
phin, on a gala night, a ball room in New Or.
leans where maskers most did congrega,e, was
the scene Of much Gajety, There is not peo
| pie in the world who enjoy themselves more
! during the winter season Than do the denzeus Of
that city, that portion Of the year more partcu
Iary however, the time Of the Carnival, is one
continued scene Of excitement and the ball rooms
are the temples at whose shrines the gay v1taries
Of fashion delight to worship. There are in
New Orleans several ball rooms OF distinct aud
marked characters. Some few are so select that
suspicion dare not enter; others are open to all
except the quatroon; but the quaGoon ball room
is open TO all without distinction or classified.
ton Of shades If color or character--n fact, the
latter was, at the period Of which we speak,
the most (requented. The quaroons are dis
tinct class, yet SO wild and romantic in their
attachments, so passionate, withal, that the scene
Of their amusements is the centre of attraction
TO ALL nor is the complexion OF their beauty less
ened by the tincture Of blood which, although
1t debars their marriage with the creole, strength.
ems the ties Of love. This portion Of the history
OF the place would afford US materials for vol.
une. But to our story.
The place 10 which we invite the attention Of
our readers on this particular night, was what
is called the "Quatroon Ball Room" 1t was,
! and &c III H. IL I.
! Youth and beauty, love and pleasure, regned
throughout; all were happy, for all were pleased
In a corner Of the vast saloon, unknown and
unnoticed, stood AdoIphus Fernandez. The
memory Of the lost one, so wildly loved, had
cast a shade Of sorrow over his manly brow
He was drawn to this spot this scene of festvity
and joy, in the vain hope that excitement would
drown recoIlections, but alas
Through the shadowy past,
Like tomb searcher Memory ran,
Lifting each Shroud that time had cast
Der buried hopes
His eyes were fixed on the walters, but his
thoughts were on the ocean linking in imagna.
ton that chdinleSs element to the memory of her
he had loved, and whom he now mourned. Me.
chanicaly his eyes followed the figure Of one,
simply because there was in her every movement
grace and action; the mask, too, was SO placed
as to show more Of the brunette than the qua.
troon-Horror What meets his eye, what bias.
ilisk charm has she about her to cause such a
4 glare in those eyes-he stood petrfed, and for a
moment the whole scene passed before him like
a tabled vsion-what was it
As soon as the dance was ever, he sought the
figure, and grasping it by the arm with nervous
power, he drew it to one Of the rccesses "Speak,
on your life speak the truth; if you prevarcate,
or attempt to scream-death, aye, dea,h--hore
amid flashing lips and brighter eyes, will be your
inevitable doom this dagger | will sheahe in
your heart-Scream-it will be your KEEL for
f eternity. | am mad-craz4d- one word
speak before reason quits its seat--whete--wherc
did you get that chain?
"Ths chain!"
"Aye, hiS chain that now grasp, and have
grasped Oft belore-speak woman, how came
you by it, and who are you! Not a moments
delay"
"Hush, sir-are there no listeners? this chair
, is linked with the name Of one it would be dan
gerous to repeat here"
''Woman, fend, torture me not; how CAME
3 you by this chain?''
The masl;er gazed around, there was no one
near them, the dagger was still in the hand oil
the Spanard, and was so held as to be only seen
f by hetseIC-hiS eyes gIared wildly upon her with
a fearful brightness "Draw nearer, Sir let me
whisper in your ear-This chain belonged t,
one"
"Speak--what Of her--el me her flte?"
"Death-Ihe fate Of the passengers and GREY
OF the Brig Dolphin"
..Graci1us Heavens, murdered, and you WI,
are you, and how came this chain into your pos
session -
sit was present. an the mistress Of La
fite, the Pirate ofhe GuiEM"
Zone groan of anguish, and the unfortunate
: youth fell PROSTATE at her reet--'Fool," NUT
tered dark figure with strange mask, ''h
! recognised the chain on your neck, it belonged
- to one he fondIy loved, poor fool, ha ha! ha
- But | forbid your wearing it; GU! of my sight
it he recover, and it is a pity he should, W
are !ost.".--h tcaS LqGte'
The music ceased, noiseless feet passed oe
the floor, the lights were extnguished,, all wa
hushed-. .Adolphus Fernandez araS c0rpse'
PHnADELpnIA, Sept. 1880.
MoDEsry-We agree, says the Picayunt
with the old EXERCISE that modesty Is