Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-12-27
THE
BELLE OF NEWPORT.
BY CHARLES J. PETERSON.


Ocean House was crowded with loun-
gers. Suddenly a young man, with
something Of foreign air, exclaimed
"Heavens, Harry! what a divinity"
He pointed as he spoke, with his
light cane to young lady, who, hav.
ing approached on the side OF the street
was now picking her way daintily a.
cross the dusty road. Her figure was
one Of unusual grace, and her step
light and elastic. When she reached
the pavs she glanced up at the piazza,
but seeing a score Of idle eyes fixed
upon her, she dropped her veil, and ad-
vanced to the ladies' entrance with a
slightly hurried pace.
But the momentary exposure of her
countenance showed that its beauty
justified the general look Of admiration.
The eyes we're lustrous and dark,
rich bloom mantled healthily on her
cheek, and the fresh air blew freely
throughher redundant curls of glossy
raven hair added to this the mouth
was one Of indescrbable lovelness, "a
round the dimpled corners Of which
Love himself seemed to lurk.
"By love !" said the gentleman who
had spoken before, 81 have seen no
woman so beautiful in all my travels
abr Dad. What eyes they seem to
look into ones very soul. And such
a step, free and graceful as fawns
or rather like that of Diana, the maid
en- huntress, herself"
"That, Derwent," replied his COM
panion, "is Miss Stanhope, the belle Of
Newport we call her; beautiful enough
to be su re, but only The companion Of
some rich Southern heiress."
"And half the house, suppose, is in
love with her r.
"No, and yes" replied Harry. "She
has plenty Of admirers, but no suitors
her friend. the rich Miss Arnott, though
as ugly as giraffe, carries the palm of
from her"
81 find my countrymen as mercenary
as foreigners, though without half the
excuse" said Derwent. However,
they cant be blamed. Take my own
case, for instance. Here am | with
just income enough to support myself,
and no prospect of being able to marry
unless select a rich wife, or what is
even worse, 60 to work in earnest at
my profession +! In such a case, one
must either remain single or look out
for an heiress. 1t is well enough to
talk of love in cottage but what can
two people accustomed to the luxuries
Of life do in house no bigger than
and with but one servant,
a naid-of-all-work. However, you
must introduce me to this Miss STAN
hope, l may as well firt with her like
he rest" Thus spoke Derwent, one
Of whose affectations was to seem worse
than he was.
That evening accordingly saw Der
went numbered among the acquaint-
ance of the belle Of the season. She
received him graciously, for in addition
to remarkably fine person, he had an
air of high-breeding while hi, coun-
tenance carried assurance ofthe owner
being something more in both intel
lect and heart. than the ephemeral men
of fashion around him. Indeed, Der
went possessed unusual ability, i'm
proved by book-,tudy travel, He talk /
ed to Miss Stanhope Of England, and
its lordIy demesnes Of Paris, and it,
Of Germany, and the
Rhine Of Italy, and her priceless,
works Of art ; Of Greece, and her tenn
pies, even in decay the wonder Of the
spectator and Of Egypt, the parent Of
all, with her venerable Nile, her Lux
or, her Phile and her pyramids, which
though they hare braved three thousand
years, seem as If they will yet, in the
minds OF the awe-struck Arabs, con
quer Time itself Nor did he con6ne
himself merely to these monuments Of
the past. He spoke Of the manners,
the religious and the social condition
Of the nations he had travelled among,
from the starving operative of England
to the free Bedouin ofihe desert This
style Of conversation, SD different from
lhe empty small talk and insensa,c
-.