American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-10-13
I II T. f. l. O p f NJ + n T
BY EDWARD POLLOCK
CEAPTER /.


"Herehy hangs 4 tale. ''-ShGisgcuYe.
The soft light of an August moon was strea-
ming down on the city Of Philadelphia. The
sky was serene and clear, the air was soft and
halmy, and TO any one who stood on some lofty
eminence, and surveyed the city asleep at that
solemn hour Of midnight, nothing could have
been more strkingly and strangely beautiful
than the scene before him. The long row Of
houses from winch every evidence or the in
habitants had disappeared, the immense ranges
Of smokeess chimneys, the silent and deserted
streets, the white silvery light, lying like flood
oa the house tops, and struggling down over
cornccs and through the tops Of trees into the
re2esses of lanes and byeways, and above all the
consciousness of the Joy and sorrow, pain and
Misery, 2enary and crime, happ ness, plenty and
innocence with all their attendant causes and
blessings which lay shut in within those sense
less walls, hushed and soothed into torgetful
slumber by the still small voice of nights
could scarcely have failed to affect the behold
ers with deep sense of awe and solemnity.
But although the warning had gone forth from
bells innumcraDle, that another day had rolled
off into the vast abyss of departed time, yet the
light streaming from the windows of a stately
mansion in Chestnut street, told that all had not
yielded to the summons Of night which bid
the weary to repose. Before this house some
1iterers yet fingered, and with shoulders
eaned against lamp posts and tree boxes, SEEM
ed to he drinking in the sounds that flowed har-
Enormously out from under the half ghted sash.
The incessant hurrying of servants up and
down the marble steps, the sweet sr .ins of
music, the occasional glimpse, which the OBJ
server caught through the parted curtains, tf
light, airy figures, whirling by in the evolutons
Of the may dance, and now and then the APP
pearance of some lovely head at the window,
casting momentary glance up to the quiet sky,
and then vanishing again, proclaimed the inte-
rior to be the scene of gayety and joy. The
night was, in truth, the anniversary of t1e birth
of the eldest daughter of the opulent proprietor,
(ahi as she on that evening completed her sew
enteenth year, the occasion was one of nc COM
mon festvity.
The whole available fashion of the city, that
could be gathered at this questionable season,
was crowded into the rooms. Fat ladies OF for
by, in rouge and pearl powder; rusty bachelors
and gay blooming girls; portly papas and care
ul calculating mammas, together with pIen-
ful sprinkling of youthful, fashionable for
une-hunters,-tor to her personal attractions
Miss Elton added those of an heiress--all con-
ributed to the making up of the motley crowd.
Through this assemblage Marian Elton glided
;eedng loneliness, and graceful as the bodiless
reation of dream, she seemed the very soul Of
Pnderness and feeling. Her large blue eyes
hone with a bewitching splendor, and as she
poYed along, murnurs of admiration and fiat
, reached her cars from every side. Was
lie not happy? How could she be else than
Apply III such a situation? And yet to Il care
Il observer there was something in the manner
which from time to time she turned her eyes
|nxiously toward the door, that betraye feel
q not at all 81 ted to the OCCASION.
On went the music and the dance; taste.
Ian ever flew the feet, keeping time to the
berry strains; no pause, no rest IN that whlrl-
pol of delight; maidens who, but few MN
ties before, were led TO their seats sinking with
tgue, are by some strange magic again al
elr posts, as fresh and vigorous as ever-lea-
ems! is it possible that the votaries OF pleasure
III impose on themselves labor, from winch
zen the sons and daug hters Of toll would al
ost shrink! From the vortex Of human bo-
es Marian gradually disengaged herself and
approaching one of the windows drew aside
Ie heavy curtains, A hand was laid lightly
Ia hers as she did so. She started back with a
light cry, but the moonlight from without
roaming in, discovered to her the features OF
young man, which when she saw, her terror
appeared, and after casting slight glance
fhind her irresolutely, she seemed to gather
Aurage, entered the enclosure, and the cur
ms fell behind her.
"How did you procure admttance?" was her
st exclamation, as she disengaged herself
pm the young mans ardent embrace.