Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-08-06
MIS- CELLA NEoUs.
THE LlEuTEYiNT'S BRIDE.
BY HELEN ASHTON.

III was tne annual Dan at vest IoInf. ne
room elegantly decorated with flags hung IN
festoons sabres formed into stars, and all the 9th
er paraphernalia of military glory. The floor
was crowded with officers Of the army aud navy,
Of every rank, from tho mIdshipman and cadet
upward The military baud Of the post occupied
The orchestra. Never, perhaps, hua there been
assembled at West Point pruudcr 1850 rnt!a &c OF
beauty than that which then eniranced The be-
holders. There were dark bruuette5 from BdltI.
more; golden haired lrbes from Charleston
stately beauties from FhadclphIa; gay bellies
from the more ostenta:Inu1 New York and even
the fair blonde daughters o! New England, with
their blue eyes, their clear compeXions, their
proud dignity Of Gnicu. Bat among that brilliant
array there was one prc-cmIncnty beautiful
Tall and shapcIy IN her figure, she moved through
the room wlth the stately motion of swan. ell
citing admiration from every bCholIcr. Her
dress simple, yet costly and beautiful. Ii was
evident that The soVcresl taste presided over the
toilet Of the fascinating Ellen Beivolr; for tascI-
mating every Que felt her TO be Who had listened,
though bat TOR moment, 10 her gay saiiIes or
her subducd sentiment. Her every look, word
and motion, grace itself. She possessed that
combination Of qInliIcs which constitutes
the lady, IN contra distinction 10 tho mere pteten-
der. Bat 1t was not her fnlnneTs alone that rem
dercd her ller po'itcuess was that Of The
heart. She 40 mere aulomaton; she would
have been cq Iaiiy atinblc and kind had she
been IN "a cottage. Bat hiasi il the nisfor>
BILE family, and she h4d been brought up with
hgl, notions OF the superiority OF blood. la this
originated trait of her character Which Is shar-
ed by too many of her scorn for all who
could not trace their lineage to an equally noble
origin with hers Bat now, surrounded by ad-
mirers. and excited By the gay scene around even
Ellen b ;lvotr had forgotten her preludIccs.
''Who ~ that elegant mau?" SAID she 10 her
cousin, during an intermIssIon betwIXt the sets,
glancng towards noble looking officer in the
IN The room n fall half hour. and yet he has not
asked To he introduced to mo. declare,' she ad
ded gay, Il am quiet piqned al his iud'tier"
cnce."
"Ah! coz vou will make him repent Of II yet,
laughngy rcpiIaI her cousin, .'or mistake ' our
sex. But see ha IS coming this way. lie Is an
old mass;nate of mine, aud | will introduce him
ali! Capt. Stanley, glad to YOU" aud adj
vancing from T. lens side, her cousin grasped the
baud Of the approaching officer. The saiu'a hon
was warmly returned, aud while the Two friends
were enjoyed IN talking of the events that had
transpired to each since ihey met last Al length
Sanley's eyes happened TO fall on the spiritual
fuce Of Miss Be!voIr, aud from their locks OF ad-
miratiJn, her cousin knew at once that an intro
duction would be considered a favor. lie accor-
dinghy presented the young officer to l. len, and
nler few reuaIks, sanntered across the room
leaving her cousin and Stanley together.
What is SO favorable to love as "a CAV ball room?
and what bali room is dangerous as that of
West PoIni2 b I'll Ei!en and Stanley were soon
lost to every thing except each other. They
danced together, and prumcuadeJ III company, un
Ill they became the objects of whispered though
general remark. Before the festiv tiles Of The
evening had termlnltod, 1t was universally gos-
s,pped about that tho beautiful Miss Delvoir. and
the hilbert, heart-ftee Captain Stanley, had fall
lea mutually III love Some affected 10 sheer /
II; some wondered how 1t dad happen bu, al! l.
greed that the the finest couple in the
room, and admirably fitted for each other
The gossip of bal! room was for once, right.
Ellen Bel vow had passed three winters since her
Coming out, without meeting with one to sub
due her virgin heart; but from the first moment
she Stanley. she felt "A strange interes, IN
hum. .llls gallant bearing, his polished manners,
his fine conversational powers. and above all Il
certain frankness of department toward her
different from the sickentng tlttterv daily poured
INTO her ears, Appealed al once TO her fancy, aud
suhdued her Judgment. She felt that Stanley
to whom she colld lock up aud she knew
that only such Il character could possess her love
Ills eloquent tones vihratet in her long after
they had parted for the night. add even in her
dreams she his manly form bending adni~
rlngly over her.
Stanley had been equally charmed with his
partner. Years had elapsed since he had been
appointed To Of the stations on the far west
and during that period ne had been completely
excluded from refined female society. He occu-
pied the time IN pIcturIng 10 himself the beau
ideal of being such he could choose for a wife
On his return 10 the cast he had met many love
" teIngs, whose attractions his friends thought
him incapable OF resisting; but nearly year had
passed even less susceptible than his return.
lie had sought IN vain 10 realize his romantic
dreams, and finding it impossible, was content to
enjoy the reputation of confirmed bachelor
Now, however, he thought he had met the divini-
" which he bad So long adored IN secret; for. in
Ellen Bevoir, he faucied be saw every trait which
II hay m "A he hs~a mo
more confirmed IN this first impression. and after
aior:night's solourn at West Point. where Mss
neisoir had been passing the summer, Stanley be
came completely IN love. Nor was Ellen Tess
ehamored OF the Young officer, whose gallant
gearing attracted every eye. and whose services
10 the led had already won frr him On enuiahlo