Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-11-11

trO0uCe0. MISS Smltn penetrated lnelT de
signs, and said to me. in delightful and
confidential tone-"Don't introduce any &c
me but members Of Congress" The re-
mark puzzled me excessively, and | bowed
my acquiesencc.
We squeezed through the quadrille with
tolerable success; and as the gentleman
manager, who had consigned the fair incog.
nta TO my charge, did not make his ap.
pearance, | was facilitating myself will,
the idea that she would accompany me 10
the supper-room, when, slightly pressing
my arm with her hand, she directed my
attention TO a young gentleman, who had
been gazing at her with undisguised symp-
toms of admiration, and asked ME if he
were not Mr. K, the member from
New York.
replied in the affirmative.
"He is quite favori,e with the old Ro.
man--s he notl" asked the lady.
Undoubtedly, and in the lower house
he is fast acquiring influence"
as he married."
"Y-e.e-s," / replied, COMPOUNDED al the
quiet, business-like manner in which the
question was put.
Then introduce him." said Miss Smith.
"Ccrtainly. But why is it that you are
less merci!ul than than gaunt Indian chief,
who gave such connosseur-llke glance al
your flowing hair!"
"interprei."
"He contents himself with taking scALPs;
but you-you must have HEARTS"
She answered only by a melancholy
smile and shake of the head; and forth.
with introduced Mr.. X to her.
Puzzled and chagri ned, made my way
10 the supper room, where | was instantly
assailed ny a shower Of questions from the
ladies' and of compliments from the gentle
men. whose opportunities had disregardcd.
Murmurs, low but deep, were uttered against
me, when it was found that had elected
nothing from my late partner that could
aIIay the general curiosity in regard to her.
All that could communicate was, that she
was Miss Smith--and every one seemed TO
regard this piece ofintelIigcnce as involving
the subject in profounder obscurity. The
Iady's remark in regard to the members Of
Congress, kept to myself.
A series of brilliant entertainments, giver
by the hospitable and noble-spiritcd resi-.
dents of Washington, succeeded the bal
at The White House. AT all of them Miss
s. was present. and at all of them she wa:
indisputably the belle Of the evening. Per.
haps the appellalion is a wrong one, for,
apart from her dazzling beauty, there was
little of the self.assured and fattered belle
in her appearance and demeanor. Her
conversation was always cheerful and ami.
mated, but an interested observer land
acknowledge that | soon became one) could
detect beneath her apparent gaiety the
pre-occupation of heart filled with some
secret sorrow. This conviction soon check
ed the tendency of my feelings towards
her, and had not met her three times be-
fore the lover was merged in the friend.
Still the mystery as 10 who she was and
whence she came was kept up. All that
the most inquisitice observer could discover
was, that she resided in respectable prl-
vae family at Georgetown, the mistress Of
which, (Mrs. Bothwell.) though she did not
90 into society herself. yet held that posi-
ton which would secure an entree to any
young female under her protection. On
being questioned on the subject Of Miss
Smith, Mrs. Boutwell, would reply that she
could avouch for her responsibility; but,
beyond that, she knew nothing in regard
to her parentage or history. OF course.
this halfway intelligence contributed still
farther to pique public curiosity, and to
render the unknown belle still more an
object of marvel and of interest. The fact
that no one among the throngs who daily
visited Washington, from all parts Of the
Union, and of the world, had ever seen
her or heard Of her before, also added to
the general perplexi'y. Several young
men attempted to lay direct seige to her
heart, and innumerahle were the japonicas
and the serenades with which they endeav.
ored to facilitate their approaches; but they
elected from her no manner of encourage
ment. She received their attentions with
''sad civlliy," and, as soon as possible got
rid Of them, and exerted her powers of
fascination over some influential member
Of Congress
One morning ! called upon her at Mrs
BnthwelrS. AS ! assembled the stairs, in
advance of the servant, accidentally
glanced at mirror through the open door
of an apartment. A reflection Of two fig
ures arrested my attention. One was the
lady | had come to visit; the other was a
Young man, with features wan but highly
intellectual and a somewhat attenuaied
frame. The lady's hand was run through
the thick hair that clustered about his pale
forehead, and she was gazing in his face
with an expression of deep and tender So
lici,udc. A sound very much like Hiss
succeeded this ,mentary attitude. Re,
luctant to disturb such an interview,
turned 10 retreat, but accidentally came in
contact with the servant, who, tumbling
halfway down stairs, effcctualy inter-