The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-12-27
The Unknown Belle.


am no lover of mystery. Enigmas are my
detestation. When boy, studying Ovid, used
to regard the conduct Of the Sphinx with un-
intolerable of antique bores, and Edipus pa
tient Ounce. The proceeding of Alexander in
cutting the Gordian knot, instead of puzzling
himself by attempting to mine it, met my hearty
approval. loved him from the moment was
made aware of that incident in his career
But when mystery comes in the shape of a
pretty woman,-that is a different matter alto
gether. My .antipathies give way like blocks
of ice before a spring freshet. Listen to my
story.
Itwas one of the gayest of the gay seasons
at Washington. The first of series of bril-
liant balls at the white house had commenced.
The east room was crowded with all the beauty,
resident and transitory, of the district Foreign
ministers and attaches, with their stars, garters,
ribands, breeches, and silk stockings-members
Of congress with their thumbs in the arm-holes
of their waistcoats-Indian chiefs, deputed by
their tribes, with their plumes and painted
feathers-office -holders, office seekers, idlers,
and lobby y-loungers were the principal coustitu-
ents of the male portion ofthe assemblage Add
to these some hundreds of uninvited guests, who
came because they felt they had a sort of pro-
priety interestin the mansion, and an idea may be
foSned of the density and mixed character of
the crowd.
Half dozen quadrilles and waltzes had been
completed. A number of the more provident
and sagacous of the guests had begun to take
up a line of march toward the supper-room and
the dancers, tired of jostling one another
were endeavoring to retreat, when one of the
managers called upon the gentlemen to form
new cotillon, and at the Same time causing the
ISLANDERS by to fall back, opened circle, and
then led forth from the dense throng, from
which she seemed to emerge like the evening
star from behind cloud, a young and beavti-
full female. A general murmuro Of surprise and
admiration greeted her appearance.
"Who can she bc?-Did any one ever see
her before?-What face!' were the hasty
whispers exchanged among the spectators. So
great was the anxiety to see her. that the space
cleared forthe dancers was almost Immediately
filled up. No one seemed able to give the
slightest information as to who she as,-when
or whence she came. 1t all seemed to me for a
moment fairy-like delusion Was mot at the
ball given by prince Fortunatus, and was not
this Cinderella herself? Iglanced down at her
feet. They we're marvelously small and the
glossy white satin slippers shone like glass
The delusion grew stronger. Never before had
| experienced SO forcibly the potency of imagi
nation. l began to wonder whether or no she
would disappear in coarse attire when the clock
struck twelve
was reused from my revcrie by being seized
by the hand by the manger, (at the moment,
took him for prince Fortunus,) who hastily in
troduced me as a partner to the fair unknown,
and, as | afterwards learned, bestirred himself
to keep back the crowd and create room for the
quadrlle. How dazzlngly beautiful she was!
Ordinary beauties may be described in detail
but Miss Smith (yes-that was the name by
which she was introduced to me) startled you
by the perfect unity of her charms. You could
not pick out one feature or one quality as beaut-
full, because twas part of perfectly beautiful
whole, and was therefore fautless, as matter
of course. Her countenance was lucid mirror
of every passing thought and emotion of her
soul, and if occasionally the expression was
melancholy, it was always lovely, like noun
tain lake, the aspect of which no change of sky
can render less picturesque, but in which every
change develops new beauties.
1t took a minute or two to rally my thoughts
and recollections, and to convince myself that |
had neither walked into the wrong room nor the
wrong century. The lady spoke first. Her
voice touched me like an Eolian harp-it was
so swccty and musically sad. Some young
fops of my acquaintance twitched me by the
elbow, and, by significant wnks indicated their
wish to be introduced. Miss Smith penetrated
their designs, and said to me in a delightfully."-
confidential tone-"Don't introduce any to me
but members of congress- The remark puz-
zled me excessively, but | bowed my acquies-
cence.
We squeezed through the quadrille with
tolerable success, and as the gentleman mana
ger, who had consigned the fair incognita to my
charge, did not make his appearance, l was
feicitating myself with the idea that she would
accompany me to the supper-room, when,
slight pressing my arm with her hand, She d-
recsed my attention towards young gentleman,
who had been gazing at her with undisguised
symptoms of admiration, and asked if he were
not Mr.. k, the member from New York.
replied in the affirmative.
"Heis quite favorite with the old Roman
is he not?" asked the lady.
"Undoubtedly-a in the lower house he is
fast acquiring influence.
sIs he married?"
"I- I-e"e-s," | replied confounded at the quiet
business-lke manner in which the question was
put.
"Then introduce him." said Miss Smith.
"Certainy, Miss Smith. But why is it you
are less merciful than that gaunt Indian chief,
who gave such a connoissuer-lIke glance at
your flowing hair?"
''lnterpret.'
''He contents himself with taking scalps-but
you-you must have hearts"
She answered only by melancholy smile
and shake of her head, and | forthwith intro
duced Mr.. K--to her.
Puzzled and chagrined, / made my way to
the supper room, where was instantly assailed
by shower of questions from the ladies and
of complaints from the gentlemen, whose i'm
portunities had disregarded. Murmurs low
but deep were uttered against me, when it was
found that had elected nothing from my late
partner that could allay the general curiosity in
regard to her. All that could communicate
was, that she was Miss Smith-and every one