Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-01-18


liuhilul aud confidential tone-"Dont
Introduce any to me hn, members oi Com
rress." The remnrk puzzled me exces-
siyely, hut ! bowed my acqniescence.
We squeezed through The quadr'llc
with tolerable success and as the gem
y, -, had consigned the
fair lncogn'ta tony charge, di0 90, man.
hi- appearance, | was felic ciiating myself
with the idea that she would accompany
me 10 the supper-room, when slightly
pressing my arm with her hand, she di-
rccied my attention TO a young gentle
man, who had been gezine ut her with
undlsgused symptoms OF admiration, and
asked Il he were not Mr.. K, the
member from New York.
] replied in the affirmative.
ale is quite favorie with the old
Roman he mol 7" asked the lady.
"Undoubiedly, and in the lower house
he j. fast acquiring influence"
'ls he married Z"
"Ye.e-s," | replied, confounded at
the quiet, business like manner IN which
the question was put.
"Then introduce him." said Miss
Smith
Certainly. But why is il that you
are less mcrcilul than that gaunt Indian
chief, who gave such coDnoisscur-l like
glance a, your flowing hair 7"
"lnlerprel.
"IIe contents himself with taking
scalps ; and yon-you must have hearts. "
She answered only by melancholy
smile and shake Of the head and forth
with introduced MIR. K to her.
Puzzled and chagrined, | made my
way TO the supper-ro0m, where was IN
slanlly assailed by u shower Of questions
from the ladies', and Of compliments from
The gentlemen, whose opportunities had
disregarded Nlurmurs, low but deep,
were uttered against me, when il was
found that bad elected nothing from my
late partner that could allay 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 of intelligence as in
volving The subject in proIounder obscurl-
iy. The lady's remark ~ regard Ia
members OF Congress, kept to myself.
A series OF brilliant entertainments,
given by the hospItable and noble-splrlted d
residents Of Washington, succeeded the
bah a, the White House. AT all Of them
Miss ). was present, and at all Of them
she was indlspu,ably the belle OF the
evening. Perhaps the appellation is n
wrong one for, apart from her dazzling
beauty, there was little oiihe self assured
and natcrcd belle in her appearance and
dcmeanor. Her conversation was al
ways cheerful and animated but an IN
trres,ed observer (and | acknowledgt
that soon became onc) could detect be-
meath her apparent gaicty the pre- occu
patton Of heart filled with some secret
sorrow. This conviction soon checked
the tendency ofmy feelings towards aer
and | had mol met her three times beior,
the lover was merged into the friend.
Still the mystery as to who she wa
and whence she came, WAS kept up
All that the most inqulsI,lve observe
could discover was, that she resided II
respectable private family at George
town, The mistress Of which, Mrs Both
well, though she did not 60 into socict.
herself, yet held that position wblcl
would secure an entree to any Young ie
male under her protection. On bcIn.
questioned on The suble Of Miss Smith
Mrs. Bothwcll would reply that she coul'
youch for her respectabity, but beyon'
that, she knew nothing IN regard to he
parentage or history. OF course, thi
halfway intelligence contributed still far
ihcr To p'que public curiosity, and TO ren
der the unkn nown belle still more an ob
iect Of marvel and of interest. The fac
that 10 one among the throngs who dali
visited Washington, from all parts Of ih
Union aud of the world, had ever see,
her or heard OF her before, also adde'
TO the general perpexiiy. Severn
young men attempted to lay direct siege
to her heart, and innumcrable were Tia,
Iaponicas and serenades with which theJ
sndcuvored to facilitate their approaches
but they ELECTED from her no manner q
encouragement. She received their at
tenton with "sad civilHy," aud, rs soo'
as possible, got rid Of them, and exerle'
her powers of fascination over some IN
iluential member of Congress
One morning called upon her a
Mrs Bolhwell's. As ! ascended the
stairs, in advance of the servant, | &C
cidcnlally glanced 81 a mirror ,hrougl
the open door Of an apartment. re-
Election Of two figures attracted my al
tention. One was the lady ] had come
10 visit; the other was yourg man, will
features wan but highly intellectual, ant
somewhat alicnuated frame. Th
hdy'+ hand was run through the ihic
hair that clustered about his pale fore
head, aud she was gazing in his fac
with an expression Of deep and iende
soI,cnude. A sound very much like
Kiss succeeded this momenlary attitude
Being reluctun, TO disturb such nm inter
view, ] turned TO retreat, but accidental
" came in contact with the servant, VIII
innbIing half way down stairs, elieciuall.
Interrupted the aHectionate scene in III
parl0r. Without more ado, after n pre-
llminary shutllng Of my feet TO appris
the parties that some one was coming,
eni isred ,lhe room.