True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-08
gyJjstellapyg,
THE TWO ISABELs.
BY MRS. S. c. HALL.
OR COQUETISH SEVENTEEN.

Too cold, or wise, for woman's eyes
Again to set it glowing ?-MooRE
The General put on his spectacles, and
looked steadfastly at Isabel for at least
wo minutes. "Turn your head he said
at last--"there, to the left"
Isabel Montford, although an acknowl
edged beauty, was as amiable as she was
admired; she had also keen appreciation
ofcharacter jppl, though somewhat piqued
was amused by the. ..uddity of her aunt's old
lover. The General was fine example o.
the well-preserved person and manners Of
the past century /, beauty always recogni'
zeS beauty as a distinguished relative; and
Isabel turned her head, to render it as at
tractive as it could be-.
The General smiled, and after gazing foi
another minute with evident pleasure, he
said--"Do me the favor to keep that atti
tude, and walk across the ROOM"
Isabella did so with much dignity; she
certainly was exceedingly handsome her
step light, but firm; her figure, admirably
poised her head, well and gracefully pla.
ced; her features, finely formed; her eyes
and smile, bright and confding She
would have been more captivating had her
dress been less studied; her taste was ev-
identity Parisien rather than classic. The
gentleman mpttered Something, in which
the words, Charming" and "to be regret
ted" only met her ear; then he spoke dis
tinctly:
"You solicited my candor, young lady
you challenged comparison between you
and your compeers, and the passing bellies
whom | have seen. Now, be so kind as to
walk out of the room, re-enter, and curt.
sey."
Had Isabel Montford been an uneduca-
ted young lady, she might have founced
out of salon, in the obedience to her dis
pleasure, which was very decided but as
it was, she drew, herself to her full height.
and swept through the folding-doors. The
General took very large pinch ofsnuff.
"That is so perfectly copy ofpoor aunt"
he murmGred ;-"just SO would she pass
onward, like arufled swan; she went after
that exact fashion into the ante-room, when
she refused me, for the fourth time, thirty
five years ago"
The young Isabel re-entered, and curt
seyed. The gentleman seated himself, lean
ed his hands upon the head of his beautiful
inlaid cane--which he carried rather for
show than use-and said, "Young lady,
you look a divinity! Your toufaeure is
perfection; but your curtsey is frightful
A dip, bob, a bend, a shuttle, slide, a
canter-neither dignifed, graceful, nor self
possessed! A cdrtsey is in grace what
an adagio is N music only masters Of
the art can execute either the one Or the
other. Why, the beauty of the Duchess
OF Devonshire could not have saved her rep
utation as graceful woman, if she had
dared such a curtsey as that"
I assure you, sir" demonstrated the Of
Tended Isabel, "that Madame Micheau--"
"What do I care for the woman p ex-
claimed the General, indignantly. "Haye
1 no memory ?"
"Can you not teach me?" said Isabel,
amused and interested by his earnestness.
81 teach you Il! No; the courtseys
which captivated thousands in my youth
were more an inspiration than an art The
very queen of ballet, in the present day,
cannot courtscy."
"Could my aunt p inquired Isabel, a
little saucily.
"Your aunt, Miss Montford, was grace
itself. All there are no such women now
a-days.,'
And, after the not very fattering obser-
walton, the General moved to the piano.
lsabel's brows contracted and her cheeks
however, she glanced at the look
lng-glass, was comforted, and smiled. He
raised the cover, placed the seat with
the grave galantry Of an old courtier, and
invited the younglady to play. She obey
ed, to do her justice, with prompt polite
ness she was not without hope that there,
at least, the old gentleman would confess
she was triumphant. Her white hands,
gemmed with jewels, flew over the eyes
like winged seraphs; they bewildered the
eye by the rapidity of their movements
The inStrumentthundered, but the thunder
was so continuous that there ,cas no echo !
The contrastwill come by-and,by ~" thought
the disciple of the old school-"there must
be some shadow to throw up the lights"
hunder-craSh--thunder-crash-drum
rattle---a confused, though eloquent, run
ming backward and forward of sounds, the
rings flashing like lightningl Another