The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-03-03

How rcvelcd in those bright balmy
days, and the Partisan manners of those
whom VIC met, so different from the cold
formality of my Northern home, sur.
prised aud delighted me. On sunny
afternoon We were riding on the Bouie.
rdrtIe, as tho French call Canal Street,
when my aunt complained of fatigue
and requested the driver to stop at the
!Ndison Dorcc, an elegant establish
mcnt, one Of the best in the city, noted
for its almost princcly restaurants. The
apartment that my aunt and myself Gu
tered was small and luxriously furnished;
the walls were hung with curtains of
amber colored satin, and the Turkish car.
pet betrayed no football. A curtain
partly looped back with gold cord divi.
ded the apartment, aud as we thus sat
a door opened upon the hall outside aud
some one entered. My Aunt Ethel's
sofa was too far back fer her to notice
the stranger, but from my seat, near
the window, l could see him very plain
ly. lie was man Of perhaps fifty
years, and Of somewhat naughty bear
ing. Sitting down at a small table, he
appeared for few moments lost in
thought. A noble form a little above
the middle height, handsome English
features, and mouth sweet in express
sion as n woman's.
Unconsciously, l, as usual, began in
my foolish way to weave romance upon
the spot My gentle Aunt Ethel, and
my unknown hero, as he sat upheeding
my scrutiny, ruthlcssly gnawing at the
corners Of his moustache (that inevita-
blesign ola man in perplexity or trouble, }
might they not in some way be connected
in each others thoughts ! While was
delightfully."- INDUCING in my "Castles
de Espagna" a waiter entered and the
gentleman addressed some remarks to
him.
happened to glance towards my
Aunt and was startled by the grey pal.
lor that had settled on her face.
"Oh i. Lola ~ she moaned, "let US 20
away. Surely it was his voice ~
In that moment my castle loomcd up
an edifce of fair proportions. Here was
my Aunt Ethers mystery revealed. l
glanced again towards the apartment
but the stranger had left it. With a
prayer in my heart that in some way
connected with him, the roses would
again bloom on her pale cheek, l fol.
lowed her out into the carriage.
The st. Charles was filled with guests
and there was no lack Of gayety, but my
sole pleasure aud care was for Aunt
Ethel.
One evening | left her for an hours
promenade upon gallery opposite the
Academy of Music, where D. Albert's
most exquisite arias were attracting
many persons. A strange feeling of
unrest seemed to haunt me, and as the
notes of Lucia di Lammern,oor Aoated
out on the moonlit night, the feeling
deepened into gloom. Why was ths
world SO full of brightness and Joy, if
human hearts should SO droop 10 sorrow?
Would mine be the lot of those who
fmake idols but to fnd them clay ~
All! how like a mockery seemed the
gayly dressed groups around me, when
| thought of her whom l had left SO
white and still few moments before.
In the midst of my reveries a voice
startled me, aud looking up / met the
gaze of the person whom l had seen at
the Mai'on Doree. He appeared deeply
agitated, and as he placed small pack
age in my hand, asked, in a voice of
deep emotion, off / was the owner of it."
1t was small velvet case enclosing the
miniature of Aunt Ethel that had lost
the day before.
"Tell me-" he said, after begging
pardon for his apparent rudeuess, ''does
this picture belong to you, and why do
you have IL, for ! saw you drop it almost
in this very spot"
confess | was rather frightened at
the manner of the stranger, but re-
piled as quietly as possible:
Yes, it is mine, aud l am very
grateful 10 you for finding it. Il is my
Aunt's picture"
ETHEL Clare" he repeated, :" it is
the picture of my wife; and young lady,
as you value the happiness of human
being, do not triae with one who would
give all on earth to meet the original of
that picture"
was too much surprised to speak,
but as soon as could do so interrupt
ed HIM;
"No, my dear sir, you are mistaken,
my Aunt was never married. Still my
words did not seem to have any effect