The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-13

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this fashion:
| They have brought him here to witness my
disgrace. Or perhaps he has heard of it, and
comes himself for revenge. No, no, no he
dare not. He is too noble for that. at least.
Why, then, has he come? Oh, Heaven But
| will thwart them yet. He shall not see me
cringe, at least. Tonight tonight ,ciU reign,
| soW be Queenl"
But her face, naughty yet calm and placid,
gave no token of the wild conflict of emotion
within her breast.
| Others besides Mrs. Fleming were surprised
to see Gilbert Congreve there, for, though he
had unqualified entry everywhere in our SCI"
he was VIGOROUSLY a recluse from society," and
indeed personally known to but few of the
younger generation present, while none knew his
daughter. In fact, this was Ruth's first ball,
and she was sufficiently timid and dazzled.
She had come to the city only three days be-
fore, at her fathers request, wondering what
sudden notion had seized him, of all men, to
attend grand party, and to take her thither.
iTShe Lad not had much time to give to thought.
however, in the agitation consequent upon the
dreaded novelty, and the hustle of preparation
for 1t and, even now, she could not form an ap-
preciable idea of what it all meant nor how she
came there, standing in a blaze of light, and
having her ears filled with all that wild blend
X. i QaZp0
as she was, there were few faces could approach
hers in beauty or in style, and the word was
speedily passed around that Gilbert Congreve
the authors daughter would be one of the lead
ing bellies, without question. She had observed
her father In earnest conversation with several
gentlemen, and, standing near him, had several
times heard Mrs. Fleming's name mentioned
Was Jaspers proud, stately cruel mother then
present? Oh, how she longed, yet dreaded to
see her And her cheeks flushed up, even at
the suggestive name. "What then p" asks
Miss Sophronisba de lame, was she plump
and round, and rosy, when her lover was gone
away despairing? She could not have loved
him, or she would have paled away in soul
WEAKNESS, and wept herself into stone, like
another Niobe. She did not love him." And
the young lady losses her indignant head until
the curl papers about her pretty temples give
forth sympathic rustic. But ali, my dear
Miss, you will have TO excuse our poor little
Ruth, this time. do it sadly and reluctantly,
but as candid historian | must confess that
Ruths organization was defective. She could
be grieved, and shed plentiful tears, CRYING her
self to sleep, but hysterica passio did not mani
fest itself in her as it does in your exouistely
susceptible nature She could not resort t.
pallor, poetry, and pickles, to assuage her des
pair. She preferred to bear her troubles as
lightly as possible, to 60 about the house at
tending to her domestic duties, to solace her
idle hours with pleasant music and pleasant
books, to wait and to hope, not repining. In
fine, she was healthy, and sensible, where you
, are dyspeptic, and sentimental, and-allow me
with all due Difference, Miss Sophronisba, tc
remind you of so unpleasant a fact-consum
, mately foolish!
Gilbert Congreve had at last finished talking
, with the gentlemen who were gathered abou
him, and they had moved off, apparently will
some object in view, for Ruth saw them talkins
with other gentlemen, and with ladies through
out the throng; and she noticed surprise OF
some countenances, and shocked or angry ex
, pressions on others. Then there was a stir il
, the crowd, and, shortly after, Ruth saw tai
E stately lady, standing almost alone, and mucl
gazed at even, she thought, with insulting smile.
and leers; bat the tall stately lady seemed not t.
care in the least about it, but talked on uncon
cernedly with an embarrassed gentleman, who
was-Mr. Classic Could that be Jasper.
mother? Most like her, certainly, as Ruth was
, wont to picture her in dreams /; and if it icds
her, oh one must fear her, for shewas Queen
in right of her regal brow, her grand eye, hel
statuesque pose! But why was she standing
there alone, on exhibition, as if she were some
noble work of art just completed, which all the
world came to gaze at, standing off, with eyes
of critical observation, some praising, some
,, fault-fnding-the object of every curious lorg
nette Ere Ruth could arrange this question
! in her mind, she was interrupted by her father
!, who, placing her arm within his led her for
ward, telling her he wished to introduce her to
a lady.
The crisis had come for Mrs. Fleming. She
had noticed with quick eye the various ingeni
Gus stratagems employed by the conspirators tc
draw away from her. by simultaneous move
ment, those who surrounded her she had seen
how successfully this was done, and that the
, front line of the circle about her was composed
almost entirely ofthose from whom she could ex
pect no mercy; she felt herself alone, at bay; now
was the time " to do or die " and she felt her,
self equal to the emergency. Against all sights
: and sneers, she would 60 on calmly in her way,
and they should never have it to say they had
made her falter, or caused her confusion She
kept Mr.. Classic by her, conversing with him
in an animated tone-not that the poor fellow
heard anything she remarked however, for his
startled eye was running round the room as he
wondered at this sudden desertion, asking him
self what it all meant, and wishing himselfa thou
sand times back at the lodge among his books,
or anywhere else out of this social thunder
storm.
"Mr Classic, they are forming sets for the
floor You must ask me to dance with YOU"
Il, madam y His surprise and dismay
were ludicrous in the extreme. Save and
except the figures reported TO have been moved
through By the choral bands at the Bacchic
festivals know naught whatever about dane
ing
"Oh, can show you the steps. You must
ask me see, they are clearing already, and it
would never do now for me to be without a
partner"
Plato groaned and rubbed his head in utter
despair. /" But is it absolutely necessary for
you to dance?"
at isp
Then" said Plato, rejoicing that he had
found way OF solving the difficulty, A" ! will go
and request one Of those young men to take
my place. 1t will be an infinitely more agree
able arrangement to all parties, am sure ; -
with which ungallant speech he was about
hurrying OF, when rough voice growled in his
ear:
Stay where YOU are, you fdgety old coward.
What are you good for, anyhow"
Plato turned and saw Mr.. Digest. That
worthy gentleman, who was exceedingly spruce
and smiling approached Mrs. Fleming gallant
ly, and asked her. in sufficiently loud tone, il
he might have the honor of leading her out in
the first dance. There was a momentary flash
of grateful light in Mrs. Fleming's eve that won
derfully fattered the lawyer She nodded as
sent, and was placing hssfnand in his, when a
stir and murmur, lessb ominous, made her
pause.
/ Stay said she to Digest, as if making a
simple remark about the weather, "stay-do not
I interfere--it is corning!"
i "What is coming?" asked Plato who was
again close at her elbow.
Mrs. Fleming had guessed rightly The bat
tie awaited her. Mrs. Morninglory, accomps-