The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-13

listrionc or oratorlcal honors, while spoutlng
Shakespeare or Sheridan The second week. the
irst three days were devoted to the distribution
If the premiums, and the last four to public
great dinners, suppers, and dancing
parties The grand ball was always given upon
he last day of the festival, and followed by
public breakfast the next morning, after which
the company dispersed, the students returning
with their friends TO spend the holydays, and the
people Of the neighborhood going quietly home to
keep Christmas on their own farms. The season
Of the annual festival now approached. 1t was
the lst of December Already the village and
neighborhood were filling with strangers, and the
sOlemnities of the examination had commenced.
The family at Mont Crystal and at the Isle of
Rays had received tickets Of invitation. Of course,
the Stuart GOrdons decided at once not to appear
in public at such time and under such circum-
stances.
Mrs. Armstrong resolved to confront the world
as well TO mortify the Island family as to show
her naughty defiance of public sentiment Mrs.
Armstrong signifed her wishes to her daughter.
At first Louise was surprised and distressed at
the proposition, or rather the command, but soon
rejecting that she might meet Louis there-that
there he had been educated, that there he had al
%agS appeared sD8 that there he would almost
certainly be-Louise cheerfully consented to 60
The evening of the ball came. Louise was
dressed with great care. She wore a white gauze
| over rose-colored satin, with open and falling
! sleeves. Her fair arms and neck were bare and
adorned with pearl necklace and bracelets Her
hair was arranged in madonna bands, and encir'
! ced by a wreath of white roses. White kid
gloves and white satin slippers completed her
toilet These two delicate colors, rose and white
suited the fair and soft beauty Of the young wo-
man, and never had Louise appeared so lovely.
Mrs ARMSTRONG; wore q Oarnet-cOlOred velvet,
her still rich black hair banded on her temples,
and surmounted by white gauze turban adorn-
ed with bird of Paradise
At eight o'clock precisely they entered the car
riage, attended by Kate Jumper, and were driven
to the Prince of Wales Academy
The halls saloons and lecture rooms Of the
! Academy were converted into d ncing, card, and
supper rooms The studies of the grave profess
sors were metamorphosed into ladies and gentle
mems dressing rooms The president himself
was master Of ceremonies, the masters were man
ayers of the ball and the most elegant Of the
young men stood in crowds at the doors and out
upon the piazzas, to wait on the young ladies as
they were drivep up in their carriages. ..
These things belong TO the past they have
gone out Of fashion along with ruflled shirts
knee brooches, buckles, hoped pettieoats, plumes
and farthingaes-gone out of fashion, yet not
quite Some of this old-school, chivalric gallant
ry mag be found in the interior and older coun-
ties of Maryland and Virginia. We digress.
Ii took Mrs. Armstrong; carriage just two
hours TO reach The Princes School 1t was con-
sequently ten o'clock when the carriage drew up
before the vast illuminated front of the building
A crowd of carriages filled the court yard--a
crowd of young men waited on the pazzas-a
food of light blazed from the hundred front
windows-and thunders of music shook the air
Mrs Armstrong; carriage, winding its way among
the crowd, pulled up close by the steps of the
piazza, Immediately in front of the principal en-
trance
Several young men started forward to open the
door and let down the steps but, on recognising
the carriage drew blackstone with frowning
brows and scornful lips-some with flushed
cheeks and downcast eyes. Not one advanced
even to hand the ladies from the carriage The
coachman-an unprecedented thing in that neigh
borhood-had to get down from his seat to assist
the ladies in alghting Arrogant as she was,
Mrs Armstrong; brow crimsoned as she gave her
hand to her coaehman, and alighted to see crowd
Of youths standing still, with averted or downcast
eyes, any Of whom, six months ago, would have
felt but TOO highly honored in rendering her fam
lily the slightest attention. Throwing a sweeping
glance Of scorn over the assemblage, and gathering
the ample folds Of her velvet mantle around her
she threw back her head, and passed on with
naughty and regnant step.
Louise dropped her eyes as she appeared at the
carriage door. Then young man advanced from
among the crowd, and held ont his hand to assist
her III alignting. Luuiso JUse .~iasA h.. ey>- Ia
instant to the pale and haggard face, and lightly
touched the cold and emaciated hand extended to
assist her. as she sprang lightly past, and joined
her mother. Then turning her head to look again
at the gentleman who had assisted her. she uttered
halfstifed cry, full of bitterest anguish, and fell
fainting into the arms of her mother.
The coachman sprang forward at Mrs. Arm
strong's call, and receiving Louise from her arms
bore her into the house, followed by the lady, and
carried her up stairs into Of the ladies' dress
ing-rooms She was laid on the settee Several
ladies-some of them strangers from distant parts
of the State--hurried to her aid but Mrs. Arm
strong coldly declined their proers of assistance
and despatched the coachman to hasten the arrival
of her own confidential attendant, Kate The
mulatto soon entered, and, with her help, Louise
soon opened her eyes.
Oh, mamma, was he living or dedd?o were
the first words faltered forth by the blue lips Of
Louise.
collect yourself my daughter
But oh, mamma, that-that spectre was Lou
is!D
GO down stairs, Kate, and bring me glass of
wine" said the lady, still bathing the head Of
Louise.
"Oh, mother, to meet Louis so again-again
So changed | did not recognise him at frst-so
changed! Oh, mother, when we met him on the
hill and he passed me with a gentlemanly bow
bowling to the pommel of his saddle-hoding his
hat off till he passed meme, his wife, his own
Louise thought the spasm of my heart had
killed me! But now--but now-to meet him
again, so Unexpectedly; to have him bow and
coldly hand me from the carriage-m., his own
Louise-fOr charity, mother, because no one else
would do it; to see him looking so i'll to merely
touch his hand as sprsng past him-that enact
ated hand-which, had | recognised il, | should
have covered with tearsn
"You are excited, phrensied, Louise; here,
drink some cold watero
" How long does it take heart to break, moth
er?-how long? Oh, it is such a slow-slow-
slow death between the pangs there are so many
intervals Of ease, or forgetfulness, or nioey!n
The dressing room was now quite deserted, the
ladies having all completed their toilets, and gone
down into the ballroom.
Weeping and talking will generally exhaust a
fit of grief leaving sort of weary calmness Cold
water is a great sedative Under all these iniu-
ences, Louise after little, became quiet.
At this moment, Kate entered with the glass Of
wine.
at will not do,p said the lady besides,
have changed my mind about giving 1t to her ,
for, though wine may raise the spirits Of a dull
person, IL win mako the grief Of a sorrowing one
too eloquent. No. ifyou please, bring her cup
of very strong coffee; there is no mistake in the
effects of that"
Kate again left the room. Mrs Armstrong
bolted the door and then assisting her daughter
to stand up, she arranged the folds of her dress,
smoothed her hair replaced her wreath and, 60
ing 70 one of the dressing tables took n pot of
rouge left there by one of the ladies, and deli
catey touched the lily cheeks of her daughter.
Then she made her cit down and wait for the
coffee, while she went herself and unfastened the
door. Kate soon after returned with the fragrant
stimulant, and, noticing her young lady, the un-
suspccting woman exclaimed, "Why, do declare
she is better, madam! She looks better than