Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-07-25


| am disepeaged for the third waltz Shall
! have the honor-?' M
eCertainlyP cried Constance, delighted
ly. sCroton, how do you you like my
dress |?
Mr.. Croton Poole turned lazily round on
the stairs, which he was just ascending
glanced calmly over the .fairy-fike figure
that stood below, waiting so anxiously for
his fat:
91oo many roses Y he said 1T last. and
leisnrely was ,ed VaRstairs, lesyiug poor
5'~w ',s'a0sT fsasa Y a.is s.sddsal
-----v-s-unry insfun, She said TO me, half
apologetically, while the tears stood in her
eyes. You can't think how funny Croton
is when he likes
| thought, as we went into the room to-,
gether again, that master Croton was in
all probability the dashing young archer,
against whose arrows even Madame Can
can s roof was not safe.
The ball was splendid one. Flowers
seemed to have been rained over the rooms.
Tae soft light of the myriads of wax tapers
lent charm even to the most tender com
plexions; and splendid silk brocades, and
innocent torletane skirts, rustled against
each other in the crowded rooms with a
voluptuous sound.
'The German commenced at one O'clock
and then it was that Croton Poole appeared
in all his glory. Up to this period he had
condescended to few dances. His waltz
was languid his polka redowa indolent.-
In the intervals, he leaned against the
scagliola pillars, and watched Constance,
who never seemed to tire, swimming thro'
the rooms. But when that universal move
ment began; when that bringing of chairs
down from unknown and mysterious cor
ners in the fourth story commenced when
the bad male dancers began to look hot
and anxious in the search for partners
when the plain young ladies, who had not
been asked, assumed an expression ut
terly condemnatory of dancing, indicating
that if they had thousand offers of part
ners they would not so condescend; in
short, when all quiet nom n-dancing people
were ruthlessly routed out of their corners
in order to make room for the performers,
and the German contillion reigned. trium-
phant, then it was that Croton Poole awoke
from his lethargy, and became the life and
soul of the revel.
He instantly enthroned himself upon a
dictatorial eminence, and ruled everything.
lie made people sit closer, whether they
would or no, in order to form the circle
He ordered the musicians what to play, and
self Then, saizifg in ggaoEEtfR! Etfg! KaYE.erer him
stance, he whirled her for few turns round
the room, and proceeded to lead the first
figure of The GERMAN.
What mazes he threaded, what intrica-
cies he invented that evening! People,
without knowing how, or why, or where
fore, found themselves suddenly forming
wreaths of flowers and arabesque patterns
upon the floor, from which some simple
evolution was to evolve them. Then there
were figures in which pretty bright-colored
flags foated about the room in the course
of being distributed to the various dancers.
The lady held one set, the gentlemen the
, other, and each set corresponded IN patterns
and numbers to the other. The lady gave
, her flags to the gentlemen, and the gentle
: man gave his flags to the ladies, and then
: each gentleman rushed about eagerly tc
t find the lady who held the flag correspond
ing to his, and having found her, they both
3 whirled off in a wild waltz or q determined
It polka.
Q Throughout this wonderful performance
of which he was the director in-chief, Gro
/. ton Poole maintained splended self-pos
v session. Nothing seemed to disturb tn
h equanimity of his temper, There was
i dogged Englishman, who did not under
,e stand the dance, and who, true to his nat
ional prejudices, would hold on when b
le was told to let CO. and let 60 when he wa
/? told to hold on, and eventually involve
d himself in such a maze of difficulties, tina
at the only way he had left to get out of ther
i, was to stand perfectly still in the centre c
3 the room, and collect his scattered senses
u even over him Croton Poole seemed
possess some magical influence, for L sa
n. him absolutely assist in the basket-fgur
er without blunder before | went away.
10 Of course it was easy for any one to 81
th that Croton Poole and Constance Brevl'
would precipitate themselves into what tt
at WOTlu Calls du GuSdSCACAO' ClOVOA ="
up rich, dashing, and good-looking; Constan
nd would in all probability get very lart
c fortune from her father; and AL the wor
ed knows that these are all the items whi
modern society deems necessary to the co
- stitution Of happy marriage. Constant
Is, however, loved Master Croton. He had
certain sort of affection for her, | thougl
nd but his calmness was SO sublime, his Sc
ch, possession so perfect, that | doubt if
md could ever feel anything even approach
'ou to passion.
MS 1t is not, however, with Constance b
,et- vier's golden moments that have to de
The terrible lesson that read in her
IRA is only to be found in those darksome d;
sh- that followed so quickly upon the sunsh
ned of her youth.
/, to Mr.. Brewer failed, compromised W
his creditors, and for brief time seen
ked to- rise beyond his difficulties, 1t was a
on eeitful calm. New York was paralyzed
on morning when it learned that Mr.. Bre'
all, had issued million of false stock IN
ask Crambambuli Railroad, of which he
director and had fed the country. He
ole, less to the last, he had left his daugt
,sed penniless and alone. The splendid pal
me and its gorgeous furniture were sold,
81 Constance had to descend from lf