New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-12-19


talent was dazzling and rarely cqualcd, for there
was assembled in one room all that represented
the intellect. fashion and wealth of noble State,
and as the full swell of music rose upon the air.
and perf,lmed tresscs noated. over white shoulders
in the dance, and the expressive eyes that said 80
much in IL glance flashed their various messages to
and fro, none save cync at heart, or one consul
tuted by nature unimpressible as stone, but would
have acknowledged the magic of the scene
May with her quick, apprecatve temperament
excited by the surrounding brilliancy, was unit
sually animated, and in her splendid dress OF gilt
tering white silk with its tlonnces and trimmings
of rich and costly lace and profusion of dropping,
graceful flowers, was dazziingly TAR.
Judge Hawthorne himself seemed to catch youth
and aror from the OCCASION for never since his so
journ in Montgomery had he been so entire and
impressive in his devotion to female beauty.
There was present lady of well-known and
w,lcly-admred personal charms and talent, the
widow of man distinguished in his State--wealthy
and not at all unwilling to attract and win Judge
Hawthorne.
As she that night found him SO constantly at hcr
side. her lustrous black eyes flashed with triumph
ant glance, and her superb form was proudly lifted
to a more stately hight, while she used every fas
cnation of voice and micn and intellect to enthra
him more entirely.
As the evening drew to close, May and Alfred
were participating in the last dance, the privilege
of which he had claimed, when i'll one OF the
pauses, glancing across the room to where they
stood in conversation, he said to May, it must be
confessed with somewhat covert design,
"What splendid looking couple, and what a
Suita HE mntph Mrl Rlaudn and .fulpe Ha tbnrpn
would make
A jealous suggestion of Mays own heart had
said the same thing repeatedly during the evening
and when it received confirmation from the obscr-
walton of another, it struck like keen knife to the
deepest center of her breast but with womanly
pride she lifted her head and said, unhesitat-
ingly-
Eyes.
The triumph of nature, though, was complete
for second after, Alfred felt her weight increase
on his arm, and as he turned to her. but for his
supporting clasp she would have sunk insensble
to the floor
Yes, she who never tainted in her strong, he alth
full life BEFORE was struck down by what seemed to
her a death-blow.
Sweet young flower! could she have seen how
quickly the syren was abandoned-how unhcsitat
ingly he made his way through the crowd-how he
would not even leave her in Alfred's supporting
arms, but lifting her as child, asked way to the
door, and bore her to the privacy and fresh air OF
the dressing-room--c she have seen the speech
less tenderness with which he hung over her and
pressed back the wealth of ringlets from her white
brow-eould she have felt that her hand lay in his
clasp until the remedies employed caused evidence
of returning animation 10 ha va at
all that remained of love in this world for Clarence
Hawthorne was centered in herself.
This she did not see and know though: and as
there were many assignable causes for her sudden
indisposition-" the heat of the room,'' .fatigue "
and so forth; and as he, in punishment for having
yielded to his sudden and overpowering fears
forced himself to conduct her to the carriage with
an appearance of nothing more than ordinary in
terest and attention. they came no nearer together
for the convincing proof that each had had of the
existence Of an earnest and absorbing love for the
other.
The next morning the carriage and baggage.
wagon were prepared for the homeward trip, and
that night they assembled once more under the
shelterng roof of River Home.
CHAPTER vi.
Just at this period the alarm notes were sounded
of the Mexican war, and. as too many desolated
hearth-stones can yet show, and too many grief
scared hearts can yet testify, the flower and
chivalry of our young men eagerly volunteered to
fight their country's battles.
Alfred Livingston, with his enthusiastic aud I'M
pctuous temperament, soon woke to the desire to
seek fame in the shadow of the national standard.
and few in haste to place his name OIL the enroll
ment list.
The military afdor which lies dormant in orr ntii-
tartan bmt patriotic breasts, increased to fever
heat, and everywhere was to he found tile recruiting
officer, everywhere to he heard the fnspiriting
music Of the drum and fife, and many a fair sward
was graced with the white tents and paraphernalia
Of incipient warfare.
The time Of departure for the scene Of action
soon rolled round, and Alfrcd's regiment, which
TO descend the river to Mobile, and there en-
bark for Vera Cruz, was to leave Montgomery in
two days.
He had procured leave of absence to say his
farewels and as the spring moon, at its glorious
full, lifted ITSELF large and round, above the hori
IONS verge, to find its prototype in the blue waters
of the Coosa, he stood with May and Judge Haw-
thorne on the steps at River Home.
After few minutes conversation relative to his
departure, Alfred turned to May and said
"There is one place ] have not visited. The
summer house on the rivers side. Put your shawl
around you, and come with me to it, have fancy
to carry spray OF the honey.suckle blooms that
cluster on it, as fragrant memento."
May hesitated she had seen the fire in his blue
eyes, and purpose fix itself in the lines of his
flexible mouth. She cast about her for an excuse,
but Judge Hawthorne after he had once walked
the length of the gallery, seconded AlIreds re-
quest by saying in low tone as he drew near
them:
1T is the last time, May, probably for many
months that you will visit it with Alfred for COM
panion.' -m-
"Possibly the last time forever" said Alfred,
with deep feeling, and as Judge Hawthorne placed
around her the shawl he had stepped into the hall
to procure, Alfred drew her hand in his arm and
they went slowly wandering down the broad walk,
and finally disappeared in the tangled maze of the
shrubbery.
As Judge Hawthorne watched them down the
path, and then turned and paced the gallery he
obtained over himself an entire self conquest and
believing, as he did, that Alfred sought the inter-
view alone with May for the purpose of the more
explicit arrangement of their engagement and
future plans, he prepared himself for the abnega-
ton necessary to give them his consent and appro.
baton.
An hour passed away, and Judge Hawthorne
awaited their return, yet still another, and even a
third, and the grand old moon had wheeled Itself
mai in ticnlf u into mid nd of 1;,to,