The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-13
For the National Era.
FASHIONABLE FOOTPRINTS.
BY MRS. BELL SMITH.
Part TX.


The Newport season was at An end. The
cold winds, giving token of coming winter, swept
over the foaming beach and round the deserted
hotels. The gay multitude had fed far to the
South, where soft air wooed flowers into bloom ;
to the West where the last crimson leaves were
falling; North and East, wide apart, and va.
riously occupied, were the many we SO lately saw
thronging the great halls of the favorite resort.
Even the servants were gone. A few still lin.
gered about the vacant rooms, pretending an
occupation by whirling idly broom, or idly
lounging about the fireplace. How changed
was every once familiar article-how very des-
olate country, town, and beach.
Two of our friends yet remained-Albert
Pinckney and his sister-the one, yet an invalid !;
the other, nurse. The wound in his shoulder
had proved serious, and his recovery slow. He
was now, however, able to sit up, and, when the
weather was fair, walk or ride out. These pleas
ant days which sometimes surprise US, almost
after the winter claims her own, were frequent,
and favorable to the wounded. He found infinite
relief from the tedium of sick room by pacing
the shore, leaning on his sisters arm, and fol-
lowed by the ever-faithful John. The very soli-
tude was grateful. One of these pleasant days,
just as the sun was sinking in blaze of glory,
they we're surprised by the appearance of two
persons, who rapidly approached them. The
excl~masisas ef delight were simultaneous, as
Albert and his sister recognised Juliet and Mrs.
Colburn.
"Why, this is meeting" he said, that
nearly takes ones breath"
eyes" said Mrs. Colburn, it is somewhat
astonishing, even to us. But Juliet could not
pass within hundred miles of Newport with
out a look at it."
"Iwanted to see how the place would appear
when deserted" exclaimed Juliet. ave are
going to Niagara in the winter; why not come
to Newport, with SHOWS and without crowd?"
Mrs. Colburn, with Juliet and servants, re-
manned at the Ocean House over week; al
though, save few visits from residents, it would
be difficult to say where the attraction could be
found to detain them. Juliet was willful. They
had been visiting the White Mountains and
Canada, and returning, Juliet insisted upon an
other and most unreasonable visit to Newport
She had not heard that Albert and his sister
were there stil-nor is it likely, had she known
it, that it would have changed her determine
ton. How would Newport look in winter, and
deserted? was question which seemed to haunt
her.
The pleasant days, with their calm sunny
afternoons, continued, and our invalid made rap
id progress in the many walks along the level
sands. One evening, calm and cool, Albert and
Juliet found themselves almost alone, for Mrs.
Colburn and Margaret, earnestly in converse
ton, had wandered from them. They were 81
lent they had been silent for many days. 1t
is astonishing how mute we become on certain
occasions. With Mrs. Colburn and Margaret in
the group, the conversation was animated
Albert eloquent; but the moment they were left
together, silence seized upon them. The next
day they were to part, and Albert had much to
say-not that to this moment bad he thought
of making love to the fair girl, but the feeling was
there, and was prompting world of eloquence
He delayed the utterance again and again.
until ashamed of himself, he said:
$50, tomorrow, we all separate again" 1t
was a common enough sentence, yet uttered
with 80 much hesitation and constraint that Ju-
let made no reply. With an effort, he contin
ued, "This beach, so solitary now, has witnessed
many partings, but doubt whether one frsught
with so much feeling as this"
In his first sentence, he had said too little
in his last too much. Still, Juliet said nothing,
but looked at the sands, walking slowly by his
side. Then followed long pause, which Albert
again broke by saying, quite foreign to his last,
and looking where
"Aong the level sands the sea
Was rolling soft and dreamy'
"The breaking waves gre more beautiful, so
are breaking hearts, when they belong to
poets"
What made him say that was puzzling, and
30 Juliet puzzled with never q word in re,
spouse. He continued
"a short time since, would have parted |
with the busy throng upon this beach with
scarcely q thought, certainly without regret |
but now the separation gives me pain. We all
go tomorrow our various ways. Shall we ever |
meet again?'
Juliet, still silent, looked on the sands, and
they slowly walked along.
l am very egotistical in thus pressing so
unimportant an event upon your consideration
but, to mel feel-how very near -
The fact is, Mr.. Albert Pinckney was uttering
q great deal of nonsense In very confused |
way, and have for him too much regard to
place it on paper. 1t was the unprecedented
expression of feeling too strong for words
and so it is. And let me say to all little maid |
ens who have yet to hear the soimportant
proposition, 70 qouDt al calm, eloquent, we'll
expressed declarations. 1t is the best evidence
tbat the feeling is not gennine-at least, not
yeighty1=the light-winged words carry it along
too easily.the orator Z thinking more Of him.
self than the object of his sdor&tion-more of
his poeticsl essay than of the response on WHICH |
is to hang life's dsstiny.
Albert came stumbling to an end. The
day was deepening into twiight-the stars,
steadily shining in the sky, were trembling in
the clasp of wsves-as Albert's strong love
found answer In the troubled heart of Juliet !: !
and, as he turned from the golden west, he saw