New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-04-28
The TWO 1sABELs; Or coquettish Seventeen

BY MRS. $. C. HALL.

BY MRS. $. c. HALL.
2 i iSTs III GEs s, oys @ Ggs 9y ., H. h dizziness
And those folles going,
And is proud heart growing
Again to set it t.iowinri TsloorS
The General put his spectacles. and looked stead
fasty at Isabel for at least two minutes Turn YOU
hcad.' he said at last. there, to the left
Isabel Montford. although acknowledged beauty
was amiabe she admired she had also keer
appreciation Of character and though somewhat pqued
was amused by the oddy of her aunts old lover The
General was fine example of the well preserved person
and manners OF the past century beauty always
nzes beauty as distinguished relative; and Isabe
turned her head to render it attractive could be
The General smiled and after gazing for another min
ute. with evident pleasure said Do me the favor t.
keep that attitude and walk the room.-;
Isabel did so with much dignity. She certainly was
exceedingly handsome her step light but firm her figure
admirably poised her head well and gracefully placed
her features finely formed her eyes smile bright and
her dress been less studied her taste evidently Pa
rsian rather than classic. The gentleman muttered
something, in which the words charming and to be
regretted. only met her then he spoke distinctly
You solicited my candor. young lady you challenged
comparison between you and your coznpeers anu the
passing bellies whom have seen Now be so kind as 10
walk out OF the room. re-enter. and courtesy;
Had Isabel Montfo1d been uneducatei young lady.
she might have tounced out of the san in obedience
her displeasure which very decided but. as il was
she drew herself to her full ght swept through the
folding doors That is so perfectly copy of her poor
aunt - he murmured; just SO would she pass onward.
like ruied Swan: she after that exact fashion,
into the anteroon when she refused for the fourth
time. thirty-five years ago
The young Isabel re-entered and CONTESTED The gen.
teman seated himself leaned his casped ha DIS upon the
head Of his beautiful inlaid cane-which he carried
rather for show than use-and said Young lady you
look divinity! Your ionT1iene is perfection but your
courtesy is frightful! dip. bob, bend. shuttle
slide, canter-neither digned graceful nor sepos-
sessed Acoutesy is in what cdagio in music
only masters OF the art execute either the
the other Why. the beauty Of the Duchess of Devon
shire could not have ved her reputation graceful
woman. if she had dared such n courtesy as that =
assure you. SIR demonstrated the offended Isabel
that Madame Mcheau-''
What do care for the woman " exclaimed the Gene
raj Indignantly. . Have not memory -
Can you not teach me - said Isabel amused and in
terested by his earnestness.
Fteach you No the courtesies which captiyatrd
Thousands in my youth an inspiration than an
art The very queen of dais in the present day can
not courtesy"
Could my aunt - inquired Isabel, little saucily
:" Your aunt, Miss Monttord. grace itself All
there such women a-days!''
And after the not very iattering observation. the
General moved the piano Isabels brows contracted
and her cheeks flushed however she glanced at the
ookinggass was comforted and smiled He raised the
cover placed the seat with the grave gaantry an old
couier and invited the young lady play She obeycd
to do her justice, with prompt politeness she
confess she was triumphant. Her white hands, gemmed
with jewels flew the keys like winged seraphs they
bewidered the by the rapidity of their movements
The instrument thundered but the tunder was so cont
nuous that there echo The contrast will come
byand-bye," thought the disciple of the old school,
there must be some shadow to throw up the lights,
Thunder crash thunder crash drum rattle-a
coniused though eloquent running backward and for
ward OF sounds, the rings flashing like lightning
Another cras-louder-a great deal of crossing hands
violent strides from one end of the instrument
otherprodgious displays of strength part of the
fair performer-a terrific shake What desperate exer
ton . thought the General, and all to produce a soul
less noise Then followed fea1 full baudti of octave
another crash louder and more prolonged than the
and she looked up with Il triumphant snile-a smile con-
Of Il
after most wonderful ;.ror tie
Do you keep a tuner in the house. my dear young
lady - inquired the General.
If a look could have annhilated. he would have
erumbled into ashes but he only returned it with adm
ration thinking How astonshngly like her aunt when
she refused me the second time ~
And that is fashionable music, Miss Montford?
have lived solong out of England only hearing the music
that noise substituted for power and that
cution had banished exp .ession. Dear me why the
piano is vibrating at this moment. Poor thing How
long does a piano last you. Miss Montford2"
Isabel was losing her temper when fortunately her
aun-stil Miss Vere-came to the The lovers Of
thirty years past would have met anywhere else as
strangers The once rounded and queenlike form of the
elder Isabel was shorn Of its grace uty of all her
OF all her attractions dignity only remained
and it that high-brcd innate dignity which can
never be acquired and is forgotten She had not
lost the eght:ofan inch of her height and her gray hair
braided in full folds over her fair but wrnkled brow r
bel ontford looked exactly what Isabel We're had been
that General Gordon was sorely perpexed.
Isabel We're if truth must be told had taken extra pains
before and her likeness to her aunt had recalled the
past that his promised visit to his old sweetheart las he
still called herr had utered and agitated her
she thought possible interview with any could
do she quarrelcd with her beautiful gray hair she cast
off her black velvet dress disa;nfully and put on blue
Moi,e antique (She remembered how much the Captain
no, the General admired blue) She was not CO.
quette gray hair fifty five does cure couuetry
where has exist ed in all its strength but for the sake
Of her dear niece she wished to look well possible
She wondered why she had often refused poor Cor
DOM She had been all her life of too delicate to
be hunter too well satisfied with her position
calculate how could be improved and yet she did
hesitate to confess to herself that in the commence
ment of old age however verdant it might be- she would
have been happier of consequence of more value ms
a married woman. She had too much good sense and
good taste belong the class discontcnted females
consisting of husbandless and childess who seek
to establish laws at with the laws of the Almighty
So il her heart did beat little stify and sundry pas
passed through her brain connection with her old
tdorer and what the future might beshe may be for
given and will be by these not strong minded women
who understand enough of human nature to know that
if yoi heads and old hearts sometimes found
young hearts and old heads. The young laugh tt,
the idea of Cupid and crutch but Cpitl has
strange vagaries and at any time barb his cruchw
the point Of an arrow.
The old people, as Isabel Montford irreyerent,,
,aled them that evening. did not get on well together
hey in great degree disappointed one with the
,ther They stood up TO dance the in de Ia cuur and
Isabel We're languished and she had never done
before but the General only wondered how stiff she had
grown and hoped that he i'll used by time as
Mistress Isabel We're had been At first Isabel Montford
but she became interested in the lingering
ourtiness of the little trembled lest her aunt
hould appear ridiculous, and then wondered how she
ould have refused such Gen Gordon must have
)een.
Days and weeks flew fast the General became con-
tant visitor in the square, the heart of isabel We're
lad never beaten so loudly at twenty it did
i've nothing she thought could be natural than
hat the General should recall the days of his youth and
eek the friendship and companionship of her who had
leyer been married while he-faithlesS had been
ity OF two wives during his services in India was
impossible to tell which of the ladies he treated with the
most attention Isabel Montford took especial delight
tormenng him, and he cynical enough towards her
t times Although he frankly abused her piano forte
laying yet he evidently preferred it to the music Miss
ere practiced indefagaby to please him. to the
ongs she sang, in voice which from high Soprano
lad been crushed by time into what might be considered
singular "mezzo.' He sometimes forgot how find
ault with Miss Montfords dancing and than once
ecame her partner in quadrlle 1t evident that
While the General growing young Miss We're remained
- she was Isabel Montford amused herself at his
xpense but he did not-quck- k-sighed and of the
I hoy