Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-06-21
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HOW SHE LOST A HUSBAND.

Il
A very select party congregated
at the house of Mrs. Belville to cele-
brate the birthday of her daughter,
the Youngest of four, the fair Henri
eta, who at the time we write, had
entered into her nineteenth year.
She was beautiful, accomplished,
and, of course, amiable although
she had no fortune, she was a jewel
in herself. But to return to the
birthday party. Henrietta played
the piano divinely.
William Pierson, the younger son
of a country banker, looked very Sc
rious as the music proceeded. Mrs.
Belyille noticed the gravity of the
young gentleman, and, doubtless to
divert it, desired Henrietta to sing.
Henrietta obeyed, and sang in the
finest possible taste. Had she been
wound up for the occasion, like a
musical box, she could not have ac-
quilted herself with more precision,
or with less vulgar impulse. Every
note fell from her lips as if it were
chiseled. And then her execution
Poor William Pierson his heart
was dragged up and down the ga
NUT until exhausted, when, at the
last three-mlnute shake of the song
stress, it fell into a thousand little
pieces.
There was general burst of ap-
plauSe, followed for a moment by
profound silence. Mrs. Beyille looked
proudly at the young bachelors, but
favored the younger son of the banker
with look entirely for himself.
In this pause voice cried out
and it seemed as if accompanying the
glances of Mrs. BeIvile:
"Does nobody offer 2"
A litter deepening into laugh,
went round the room, and Mrs. Bel
vile and Henrietta turned scarlet.
"Oh !-ha J! ha ]" observed the ma
ma, evidently restraining excessive
laughter, "that teasing bird, which
Eddy's godfather brought him. How
came it here ~ and the servant was
Immediately ordered to secure the
intruder.
But the parrot was an auctioneer's
bird-a social bird, and resolved not
to leave the party hence, after many
Intellectual attempts TO catch it-for
its leg, though weak, bad been bound
by some Samaritan-the bird was
suffered to remain.
1t was downright cruelty to ask,
but "would"-thus spoke the bankers
son-"would Miss Belville sing his
favorite song, the''-
Certainly p answered Mrs. Belville,
for her daughter and the favorite
soDg-we forget its title-was execu-
ted with incompatible power.
'Your only unmarried daughter ?"
observed William Pierson, in d low
tone, to Mrs. Belville.
"All married, except my dear Hen
rietta, and believe it would break my
heart to part with her. Eyes, sir"
said the mother, affected, even by the
probability Of a separation, "Henri-
eta, sir, isis"
"The last lot gentlemen, the last
lotW cried the parrot, and the guests
burst into uncontrolled laughter.
Henrietta, with fine presence of
mind, struck the keys of the piano,
and, as though quite unconscious of
the interruption, in minute or two
was in the midst of a furious battle
piece.
eff might aspire to the notice of
Mrs, BelviIIe," said the bankers son
to the mother, Il hope that"
Going for an old song, gentle
men!" cried the parrot, and again its
words were greeted with shout.
at is too much--the creature
where could it have learned such
words ?--should be sent from the
housew Such was the sentence pro-
nounced by Mrs. BelviIle and with
some little difficulty carried into exc
cution. But the charm of the evening
was gone Mrs. Belville was irritated,
Henrietta languid, and William Pier
son-whether the last declaration Of
the bird had "given pause" we do not
kDow-not once, for the remainder
of the evening, ventured to speak of
Henrietta. She died maid, victim
to the intrusion of truth. What
would become Of the world if truth
nterfered in every marriage?
"