The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-07-08
Selett gtnrw.
MISS AUBUSsoN.
the Galaxy.

From the Galaxy.
She dropped down upon US suddenly
az star from heaven. And, indeed,
she was beautiful enough to have come
from some other, kindlier sphere, where
the more genial elements favor high
er degree of physical perfection than
is common in this bleak, half-.amed
world, full of east winds and north
winds, and icy cold and sultry heat, of
sorrow, and wrong, and work, and
cares.
We were rather an aristocratic set
at the Thornton, priding ourselves up
on our delicate tastes, our genuine e
high breeding, our appreciation OF
modest genius, and our scorn of gild-
ed ignorance. Parisian dress and an
opulent purse were not enough to Sc
cure admi,tance to our coterie. Shod-
dy We utterly refused to tolerate. One
or two nushroo m millionaires had tried
to enter our charmed circle aud retired
in dismsy from the difficult task. OF
nnlrotect, d women, fascinating women,
unattended by masculine relatives, we
were. shy to the verge of ciscourtesy.
For do not our hotels tecm with ad
Veoturesses in search of a fortune, q
POSITION, husband
Accordingly, when weread Miss Au
busson's name on the register, and
learned that she bad taken the pretty
suite of apartments just vacated by
Vlguette, the artist, we shrugged our
sholders, smiled increduIously, and re
carded it as another proof Of the amia-
be weakness of cur host, who, in spite
of frequent disastrous experiences.
could never refuse eredencc to charm
ing woman.
) Carl aud L had a parlor which we
used in common. Miss AubussoD' s
apartments were on the opposite side
Of the corridor. Carl was my half broth
or. He was given to music | was an
artist in an humble way. We had
both passed the rough places which
guard the approaches to every profes-
sicn, aud had won leisure from success
And SO it happened that We CHANGED to
be sitting in our parlor after the five
o o'clock dinner, while Miss Aubusson's s
people we're bringing up her baggage.
Beside the porter, who was temp
<arily in service there was a d, sicated
French.looking maid, who called her
mistress "Mees," and tall, shabby
man, who seemed to have the oversight
of the removal. The man growled as
one heavy trunk after another came up,
and the maid scolded vivaciously in BRO
ken English.
The ventil lsor between our room and
the entry was open, and madmoiseile's
sharp Gallo accents reached US at in
tervals.
"It is you, Monsieur, that is of the
most shameful behavior. Why do you
not go away when ask you? 1 Shall
tell it TO Mecs."
"Norine y,
1t was an exquisite voice that inter
rupted the discordant French tones,
fine, vibrating, round and soft, having
a flowing grace and rhythm about 1t,
as if it would fall easily into song.
"Pray don,t make any disturbance,
Norine. Please go away now, Mr.. Cum
berland!"
There was a muttercd reply-he was
but boorish fellow, surely-and then
HS tidbPSu HSdNl1J uOmh ohdiio-
"What and who is Miss Aubusson,
I wonder z" I said to Carl.
ga lady, certainly" said Carl. "Can
she have the gift of beauty That voice
is dover enough for one woman"
laughed. Carl bad touched upon
one of his pet fancies. He was indif-
ferent to those facial peculiariiics that
indicate character. To his misty short
sighted, Saxon blue eyes, the werld of
faces was much the same. BDt his fine
musical ear, his magnetized organiza-
zion, were curiously alive to sounds.
And impressed by him, I too, had fall
len into the habit of judging people by
the voice.
I had faith in Miss Aubusson from
this time. But when we met her the
next day in the drawing room, her
beauty surprised us. Nature had been
almost too munifcent.
A petite creature, she hoated into
the room with a wonderful, indescriba-
BILE grace. She had an ETHEREAL face,
fair and pure; little rings of blonde
hair .curled around her wide, calm fora.