The Shasta courier., 1855-07-28
S SHASTA, 1H1IAssTA, CAL, SATURDAY, JULY %, 1855.


electricity have hurried villages into towns. and
towns into cities Millions OF acres of wild prai
| ries have been reclaimed from the hunting
ground of the savage to the ploughshare. Mil
! lions of Europe's oppressed have found happy
homes in the grand aud glorious land OF Wash
ington All has been change and progress.
In far Southern city is a magnificent hall
brilliantly illuminated. In the graceful meas
ures of that sunny land, many figures are keep
ing time to music beneath The frescoed ceiling
of that gorgeous hall. All the measure is
through, and many sparkling eye speaks hap
piness and Joy, fair women are led back la
their cushioned seats. Obsequious servants pass
to and fro tn administer to the slightest want.
Gallant gentlemen are sueing tor favor IN the
coming Mazourka. All seems merry as mar
riage bell" You are standing in the main en-
trance door; do you see that lovely woman,
sitting half down the long ball, with the white
camilla in her hand See, she IS absolutely tear
ing it to pieces! All, the gentleman who Is talk
ing to her has saved the flower; it has only lost
leaf See he stoops picks up the snowy pc
tai, and gallantly places it in the bosom of his
vest. Now you have fair view OF both Is she
not beautiful Look at that perfect face, with
its rich clear Southern tini-nO peach can rival
the rich blending of the coors on her cheek
What eyes no tame blue OF skyey paleness.
but large, full, dark orbs of ebon, circling in a
lake of sparkling fire, whose scintllati.ns burn
into the soul a brand of happiness or misery
The forehead, too, highly intellectual but purely
feminine. The mouth, whose lips of coral just
part for glimpse Of regular and polished ivory.
The threat and bust rivaling Titian's Venus IN
their voluptuous charms-al combine to ravish
the senses of The most cold and callous! Look
at the man; tall yet slender, no effeminate beau
ty mars his IN My person. His face is not hand
some but there is something in its expression
that tells the beholder there are two separate
beings. an inner and an outer man. Mark the
eye and mouth: one speaks of intellect and
soul !; the other of supreme will He is dressed
in the extreme fashion OF the day, yet there is
not an exception to the taste OF the most fastdi-
Gus, even to the bow in his patent shoe he is un-
exceptionable in his costume He is a merchant
of the great southern metropolis, successful! to
the bent of his most sanguine wishes-he mas
his toadies, too, who hatter for the crumbs that
fall from his liberal hand. He is rich. and hon
ored as such by empty headed and hollow heart
ed. Designing manias have marked him for
their daughters smiles. He is lauded and quo
ted by the aspiring and sweetly smiled upo! by
lovely women. He should be most happy!
All! the music has begun again, and our
beauty is claimed by another for the Polka
The gentleman seems unengaged, and sauners
out the 10 balcony to breathe the fresh
air, perfumed by the glorious magnolia and cape
jeesamine. Let I'd, too, feel the freshening Of
the cooling breeze, and unseen, observe the
man. He has sought the farthest column of the
veranda, and there leans pensive and thought
ful; at length his thoughts take form and tind
words. Listen:
mo it must not be-'tis not my destiny. Yet
surely she hasa deeper feeling than the world
accredits her. She is beautiful-bah that is
one OF my cold Northwestern words; she is
divine! Ha! again that image. Oh. Matilda
thou art ever my good angel, stepping 'twixt
me and misery. What were my person to this
beauty, without spirit lovef she would soon
me, would be damned to misery. Oh why has
fate been so cruel to me why fastened in my
soul boyish passion that may never be OBJ
tanned Z Her love is. or will soon be, anOth.
ers, in my boyhood's land Where now is all
my boasted pride and will Why do not
drive her image from my sOul-forget the wo-
man who has forgotten me Why, as my
senses are won or charmed by some lovely wo-
man, comes up this sw eet plaintive face, to mar
my dream of present bliss7 God can she
love me yeti Is there some mysterious spirit
tie that binds my soul TO hers, and she anothers
bride? No! it cannot be; my letters are most
positive-she has forgotten. and is or Will be
anothers! How well remember her last words.
Pride has given me the power to return III tell
fold the scorp and contumely heaped upon my
boyish head: but alns its success is built upon
tne ashes oi my eartHly happiness. Wo"lu 10
God l were poor boy again happy in her
smiles Pray for me, now, Matilda, for misery
holds the balance with Pride! ~
He ceased, and once more mixed in the mazy
dance, put joined not again the queenly beauty.
Eleven o'clock the morning following the
ball. in richly furnished breakfast room, sal
two men slipping coffee and reading the morn
ing paper; both were young, and one was fair
and handsome; care sat lightly on his face, as
now and then he read aloud some bon mot from
the racked brain of the poor, halt-paid reporter.
The other we saw last night. servant ell
tered and presented OH "a waiter card. Admit
him here, said the merchant, as he glanced his
eye over the name. In few moments the SER
want ushered in gentleman: he bowed politely
and remained standing. My business is pri-
vate." and he cast glance at the young man OF
sangune temperament.
. He is my friend, and you may speak your
business in his presence
The gentleman then drew from his note Sc
a billet and handed to the man. His quick eye
soon translated from the French language the
following purport:
SIR:-The insult of last evening, given be-
cause OF your hated presence, cannot pass unno
iiced. demand the only satisfaction in yonr
power to give. The bearer Monsieur j,
will hear your commands.
s. pu,IrIpr Nj