Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-03-27

handsome place, opposlte the Outnerlanu d on
Wabash avenue"
"And what is her name?" eneuired Eglin-
ton.
"Her name is Mrs. Ravenswood. She is
creating quite sensation in the Sutherland
circle. You can judge for yourself, as regards
her remarkable beauty; but this is not, after
all, essentially her chiefest attraction. 1t con-
sists in grace and natural sweetness of man
ner unequaled. She is, indeed, in movement,
repose and in gesticulation, (for she gestures
good deal even in ordinary conversational
the most exquisitely graceful woman I ever
saw. And when she gives you direct glance
from those voluptuously melancholy, magni6-
cent eyes, oh by all the saints, it transports
you into the seventh heaven of Elysium |"
"Bainbridge has evidently fallen victim
to one of those powerful glances," said Eg-
linton, laughing.
"Well, I have" said Bainbridge, good hu-
moredly. "I'll own up to the soft impeach-
ment And if you do not want to be caught
in the same predicament, I advise you to keep
at proper distance"
"But why have we never seen her beforeY'
questioned Phillips.
"Mrs. Sutherland says she refuses almost
all invitations. She does not court society,
though society is now her assiduous slave.
The day after the Sutherland ball, am told,
she received upward ofan hundred visits from
gentlemen and ladies whom she met there, and
who were fascinated by her manners and ap-
pearance. Ibelieve she is an improvesatrice,
or an amateur in the histrionic art, or some
thing of that sort, and studied under Delsarte,
in Paris. But Mrs. Sutherland says she never
performs in public, only in private among
friends. She says Mrs. Ravenswood is a wo-
man ofgenius. lam trying hard to cultivate
that state of friendship which will enable me
to fall an heir to the pleasure of hearing her"
The grand orchestra here struck up, and
the gentlemen hastened to their seats, ere the
curtain rose.
Several times, during the course of the even
ing, Mrs. Ravenswood caught the earnest gaze
of very handsome pair Of blue eyes, belong
ing to a gentleman not far distant from her.
In return for these admiring, but by no means
impertinent glances, which were always in
stantly removed on perceiving they attracted
her notice, Mrs. Ravenswood, in return, found
it very difficult to keep from staring at the
gentleman. He was a man apparently about
thirty, tall and powerfully built, with blond
hair and moustache, and complexion whose
texture and brilliancy of coloring, many a
belle might have envied. Mrs. Ravenswood
was positively certain she had never seen this
striking face, nor this vigorous form before,
and yet, looking at his regular features, catch
ing the expression Of his fine countenance,
and feeling the influence of an indehnable
something, in the noble lineament and distln'
guished air of his whole appearance, there
was haunting memory in her heart for which
she could not account. She was confident, at
one moment, that she had never seen him,
and the next instant she was equally certain
she had but where, and when? This ques-
ton was puzzling her brains, when, between
the second and third acts, Mr.. Bainbridge
came up to pay his alteration to Mrs. Ravens
wood. Chatting with him, she met again
that haunting face, those deep blue eyes, but
now much nearer; for the owner Of them was
couversing with General Sutherland. The
General leaned over, whispered few words,
begging permission to present his friend, etc.,
and permission being granted, introduced
Doctor Eglinton. Mrs. Ravenswood felt the
hot blood surge to her face in a burning
blush, and then felt an utter contempt tor
herself, that she should be so unaccountably
foolish and nervous at the presentation of this
utter stranger But who was this man, whose
very tones are familiar to her ?-whom she
has seen before, and yet whom she is positive
ly sure she never has seen betoref But the
curtain is rising, and Doctor Eglinton having
made few remarks, returns to his own seat.
The last soft note has died in sweetness on the
primadonna's lips, the last grand chorus has
been sung, and the last great crash from the
orchestra vanished into nothingness! The
opera is over, and the brilliant audience wend-
ing their way from the hall.
General" asked Doctor Eglington, "can
I assist you in handing the ladies to the car
riage? There is such press, and"
"And one woman is as much as one man can
manage" laughed the would.be facetlous ex-
Confederate General.
"What pity" said Mrs. Ravenswood, ac-
cepting Doctor Eglintons arm, "that there
are any last acts hope I shall die listen
ing to PATHS voice."
"Your remark reminds me Of Mirabeau,"
said the doctor, "his last words were, Let me
die to the sound of delicious musc.'"
take seat with us, Doctor" said the
General, as having deposited Mrs. Ravens
wood in her seat, Doctor Eglinton was bowling
his adieux; fright on our way, you know, to
drop you at your door,"
"Thank you," said the doctor, his face COL
oring slightly; "but-I-have an engagement
Can not go home just yet"
"Sorry," said the General, "you did not
come to the ball another engagement, 1 sup
pose !"
II called and gave my excuses to Mrs.
Sutherland" said the doctor, appealing with
gesture to that lady.
"Well, good night. Let us have another
call soon" The doctor bowed deeply and
hoped to do himself that pleasure very soon,
and also would be most happy to pay his re-
spects to Mrs. Ravenswood, if she would al