The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-07-17

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During the progress of the dance the piano
had suddenly changed its voice. A German
waltz filed the air with its sweetly- balancee
vibrations. It was as if pure wave of poe
try had flowed suddenly though the waters 0
prose. In this music there was, / do not know
what tender and mysterious drama regrets
sweetened bya smile--vague hopes among
the tears which seemed to pour out from the
heart the sweetness and tenderness of far of
love.
Helene had not waltzed, Tier whole SOU
was distracted. This is why Helene unused
The performer wasa young man whom lie
lene did not know. An old friend of thu
family Gen. O'Brien, took her by the hand
In entering, the new conner had a timid and
almost wild air, which Helene had remarked
The old general kissed her hand The eye
of the stranger, black and profound, turned
toward him, while the shadow of blush
showed itself for an instant upon his pale
face
One would have said that the sight OF
Helene produced in him an emotion at once
sorrowful and sweet. Helene heard him when
he said, in the ear Of the general, 'sIt is she!'
The general made, with his white head, a
sign Of discreet affirmation
The stranger became pale and cold.
among a thousand" said he, as if speak
ing to himself, II would have discovered her
The general perceived the marchioness,
and turned toward her, holding the stranger
by the hand lie presented him under the
named of Mr.. George Leslie. The marchio.
ness gave him a gracious reception, but some
what in the character ola patron.
There are some names which make an i'm
preston upon us, and which come back to us
with singular importantly. It is Ike GER
tain songs Of which we cannot divorce the re-
collection and which repeat themselves te us
in ourselves. Helene was astonished at her.
self more than cnce, in the course of the
evening at finding upon her lips the name Of
George Leslie
She did not look at him again, except for
moment when the piano gave forth the
notes Of the waltz of Weber. Helene raised
the eyes then, and recognized at the piano
Mr.. George Leslie
From the diyan oil which she sat she could,
at one glance, perceive George Leslie and her
affiancea. the Viscount Henri de Nilliers--
George directly Henri BY means Of a mirror
which reflects his person. The contrast
which existed between. these two men appear
ed SO wildly to her eyes, that Helene could
not but remark it.
Henri was Of beautiful form and each
movement discovered the easy grace of a
man of the world The bronzed tint which
his travels had given to his delicate and re-
gular features did not deprive him Of that
appearance which it has been agreed to call
distinction, and which is supposed to belong
to all heroes of romance. Palencss is the first
and most indispensable element Of this So
wished-f for distinction, and the yiscount came
y, sufficiently near to -. LIS .eauisition, lie
had aauiline features; an eye lively hrillai..
remarkably expressive; and easy and specious
manner of speech, grave voice, and high
port. lis black hair, arranged with ncgli-
gence, surrounded his brow. AmoAg a hun
dred barons, ofany age, or in any quarter,
you could not have found enc to pretend that
the Viscount Henri was not charming ca
Waller
Helene, like everybody else, found him at
tractive and agreeable. The idea Of being
his wife inspired her with sort Of pleasure,
mingled with pride. She said to herself
This is undoubtedly love.
The other mantle man at the piano
seemed, on first glance, to be constrained
in his black suit. A white crayat was twist
ed around his muscular neck lis shoulders
were large-his hands beautiful-but so
strong that one was astonished at the vigor
and sweetness Of his play upon the piano
His figure, though bctraying an energetic
character, had not the distinction Of that Of
Henri. His forehead was large and tower
ing His head, Of large size, was covered
with yellow hair, cut close to the skin. Have
you seen those robust heads of the Coyenan-
tiers of tho time of Cromwell? Down to the
eyebrows the head of George Leslie was thus
modelled The line Of his eyebrows, well
defined, made so pure curve that th;y would
have been appropriate above the hmpid eye
Of a woman. His eyes were large, and a
little too deep-s set, but opening upon you with
a generous look.
The tanners of serpents have this sort Of eye.
Under his eyes, the cheek bone projected.
The straight nose, you would have said, had
been sculptured by a Grecian chisel.
The small mouth swclled from the lower
lip down to the projecting chin. which gave
to all his physognomy character of valiant
strength and indomitable will.
Undoubtedly the beautiful Helene had not
remarked all this, as we have done. Her
thought had been this us it possible that
two men, both SO grand, young and beautiful
can be as different in appearance as the Wis
count Henri de Villiers and AIr. George Les
lie 2"
She asked herself this during the waltz
After the waltz there was applause in the
saloon, and it was deserved /; but the hands o.
Helene remained idle, notwithstanding hel
duty as. mistress Of the house, which none
knew better than she.
When Mr.. George Leslie awkwardly, and
very much embarrassed by the compliments O
all present, had stammered, 81 occupied my
self with music in other days, but it has beer
so long a timc," Helene saw nothing in thi
response but simple trick Of vanity Sh,
said:
sHe is a professional player"
Cruel word-which does not inform us a
all Of whom the charming Helene was think
| ing in the solitude Of the saloon, abandoned
| by the dancers
| She unused a long time A sudden 'clamo
which arose in the boudoir, aroused her witt
start of surprise.
'sAh," said some, nthis is too surprising.