The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-03-19
From the ". o. Delta.
A PREDICAMENT

No; let the eagle change his plume,
The leaf its hue--the flower its bloom.
But ties around the waist were spun
That could and would and were undone'
Many evenings have not elapsed since music.
with Its voluptuous swell, resounded in one of
our public saloons, and
Bright lamps shone DER fair women and brave
men,
ay, women fair and men as brave az ever as
sembed TO pay court to Dame Terpsichore. 1t
was on the occasion of one of our public balls and
all that galety and variety prevailed which are
so peculiarly characteristic of elegant intercourse
and refined society in New Orleans. In that sci
danced the dark-eyed Creole of the languishipo.
dreaming look, whose movements were as GRACE
fnl as the fluctuations of the wave at eve time in
summer; In thus the blue eyed girl of the North
with auburn locks and agile motion. AS gene-
raj rule the dresses were aultless: at least thew
were fashionable, and great taste was bestowed
on the dressing of the hair. Of the male MEM
0ers present 1t Is unnecessary to speak at any
length; they were as neat and as spruce as pol.
lshed patent leather shoes, kid gloves, and white
vests could make them.
But among the fairer portion of the party, there
was one whose evident unacquaintance with CITY
life, ard apparent unsophisicated artlessness, at
tracted the attention of more than one locker on
IN Vienna She was still in her teens-iust
verging into womanhood-
A rose with all its sweetest leaves vet folded,
Her dress was such as a Partisan modesto would
not turn out; and though somewhat awkward
she danced not ungraceIulIy. The fact is she
came from the eastern part of the State to paw
visit TO some city cousins, and they, without
much making up for the occasion, prevailed on
her to accompany them to the ball for which thew
had tickets Of invitation. Native beauty she
wanted none, though she certainly stood in need
OF that easy elegance Of manner which intercourse
with refined society alone teaches A proud mem
nyless, would be a member of the upper tbop
sand noticed her in dance, and looking at her
through the quizzIng glass, had the ungalantry to
remark in an audible tone of voice, that altho'
tolewable good looking, she is the most ignowanl
awkaw'd cwetaw have evaw SEEM
Hush said the person to whom he spoke.
that is Miss -, from -, the only child of
the richest planter in the Siatel'
Aw, SAID empty purse, that altaws the
case. should not have any objection miself
to NAVY plantation and hundawd of nep
woes. D-n me. shall engwage her for the
next set?'
When Miss - had finished her dance and
taken her seat, this gentleman in search of wife
went over to her. and after making the most OBJ
sequious, or as he thought polite bow, he asked
her if he could not have the peashaw of dane.
ing with her in the next set 2
She replied, with much inpenuousness Ger
talnly, for IN truth she seemed to like the amuse
ment.
Places were ordered to be taken for the next
set and he led out the unsophisticated heiress
She danced with great spirit till about the middle
of the third figure, when she abruptly and pre-
clPitatey retired to her seat, leaving her partner
alone IN his glory.
lie was thunderstruck-could not account for
such conduct; for little as he gave her credit for
knowing. he had not anticipated that she would
serve him such trick as that Following her
over to where she sat, he addressed her in tone
Of dlspleasure, saying, Madame, to what NAV
attwl6u'e conductsnch as you have just been gull
ty of? You accept me for pawtnav. and then
in the very middle Of the dancewun off and leave
me standing in the middle Of the woom, a mawk
To- the sneaws and aughtaw Of envy one in tho
wOom y
Hush said she, hush putting her hand IN
to his mouth, my hustle has all hitcjted round
10 one side
IL.