The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-09

in order to devise measures to prevail on
him to ningle in the gay and Joyous throng
Atlength, after much deliberation it was deci-
ded, that free ticket in compliment should be |
request from the managers, that the honor of
this he politely replied, declining the honor. Af
terwards the Young ladies and gentlemen per-
fectly besieged him, while he, aware of his in
fuence over them, treated them with cool in
difference by reason of their forward presump-
ton in thus approaching him; finally, after be-
ing fattered, entreated and begged, he with
much seeming reluctance agreed to grace the
dancing assembly for brief period, and per-
chance participate in moderate way.
He entered the ball room after all had as
sembled. tastefuly attired in his new clothes,
and was during what time he remained the lion
of the evening. His dictum on affairs of taste
and fashion was regarded as supreme, for he
was considered a travelled gentleman, having
spent, as he said, winter in New York and
Philadelphia besides having 'traversed por-
ton of queen Victora's dominions in Canada,
as polishing finish to his education. When not
engaged in the dance, those of the ladies and
gentlemen who laid strong claims to politeness
and elegance, surrounded him in groups and
whispered to each other, what an advantage
Gus Improvement, the society of the village
had acquired in the acquisition of his settle
ment. Every thing he said and done such
was the enthusiasm lie had created was
thought according to the universal opinion Of
the company to carry with it a high tone ofln-
tellectual refinement; yet it is worthy OF notice,
amidst the overwhelming torrent of adora-
ton showered upon this distinguished stran-
ger, that there were some who concluded he
acted and spoke ridiculously silly, but these
views were exceptions to the majority. r#
The cautious and reserved manner he had
used when trading with Mr., at the ball was
relaxed, in fact the change was SO great, that
| lie seemed an entire different man. He had a
remarkably singular way of playing with his
whiskers, and would from time to time hold up
his little finger, SO as to display gold ring on
! it, then again he would occasionally exclaim,
"Mother is very old-it is not possible i'll the
ordinary course of nature for her to survive
long. yet how it would grieve myself and sis
if she were to die-true the property would be
fairly divided between myself and sis, but that
would be poor compensation for the loss Of our
only true friend; yet such melancholy events do
and will happen, and we must bear it the best
way we can The whole listening crowd on
1 hearing this burst of sentiment, admired his
delicacy of feeling, and freely commingled
their sympathies, as a means of consolation.
. After limited pause, he broke out in a more
cheerful way, he alluded to sis-that she was
very pretty and accomplished was just
\ sixteen when she finished her education at
Misses Lambert's fashionable young ladies Sc
minary, in Baltimore, and that was last May
He had never till lately thought any thing o1
sis's marrying till now, but mother was old and
she might die, and he might also die, and sis
), would have no one to protect her nor her pro-
perty-he was anxious for her to marry some
one she loved, it mattered nothing if they shoule
be poor, provided they were fashionable ant
: accomplished; for above all nuisances common
, to the social state there was none he displset
more than to be affronted in public, and an
noyed in private, by vulgar pebian brother
in law. He said that sis and himself woule
not have much property, compared with some
at mothers death; they would only have ont
: hundred and twenty negroes and about thirty
thousand dollars in money between them both
5 yet that would do tolerably well for two young
5 people to startin life and try to make living
All the time he was talking in this interesting
, style, he was borrowing in jest from the adie:
and gentlemen their gold rings, pencils, ane
watches, and some little sums in money. play
fully saying he would keep them till next day
then again he would laugh so natural, and say
, that he had sufficient assortment of jewelry
to open a store in town. All of them looked up
on this as innocent diversion, or at least Gus
| e.,
lie stated he had been accustomed to- move, anc
that he would return them if not before, at the
breaking up of the ball; however, with all this
frivolous talk, which he administered in unmer
cful doses to the green ones, he was very par
ticular how he addressed people of sense ane
, experience, nor was he neglectful in gaining in
. formation in relation to the business and occu
pations of the various gentlemen, also thei
!, means, and having discovered rich old bach
eor, who did not mix in the giddy crowd
, therefore, as soon as the dance commenced he
careessy moved towards him, and sat dowr
unconcerned as if accidentally on a seat ad
,, joining him. The old beau having heard of the
old woman the mother, with the fortune. anc
> expected to die soon, but being more particu
larly interested in his lovely sister, began pro
pounding questions about the family; the young
gentleman had half anticipated this and was
accordingly prepared to respond; consequently
after leading him on a proper distance, unit
some illusions were made in connection with
his sister, he opened his mind confdentially
to him in relation to sis's marriage.
He observed it had long been the wish o
mother and himself that sis should marry an
old man Of fixed principles and steady habits,
for they were afraid, that her share OF the pro-
perty would causea young man to be wild and
prohigate; that he had taken special pains to
instil this idea into her head when child, SO
that row, since she had ripened into blooming
womanhood, she would not allow under any
consideration young man to wait upon her,
indeed in her sober way Of thinking and act
ing, she did not feel they were her equals, that
he verify believed, she was in feelings differ
ent from other young ladies, and really prefer
red old mento young. Havicg now reklndled
the decaying embers Of love in the old beau's
bosom, he thought it was then in season to be-
gin his professional services upon him, he jo-
cularly told him Of the rich fun he had enjoy
.s5., IL, 4