Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-09-04
MISCELLANEOUS
THE LITTLE WIDOW IN MAUVE.

In one of the rooms of the ST. Charles
Hotel, New Orleans, a young lady was reclin.
ing on lounge. AS soon as the porter had
deposited her trunks, shawls and belongings,
she changed her travelling dress for light
dressing gown and again threw herself on the
lounge.
.'Send word to Mr.. George" she said to
the chanlbermaid, ''that my head is so much
worse that l will not go down to dinner, nor
can | see him again this evening""
The girl went and soon returned with n
message from George that he, too, was little
| ailing-that he had sent for a cup of tea and
a piece of toast, and that he would retire
early.
Miss oodville-that was her name-let
her thoughts run, snd they started on thus:
'Poor, grave, serious George! l expect
he is rather glad than otherwise to be excused
from entertaining frivolous little creature
like me. Now he retire early to his
hearts content, after slipping his tea and nib
bling his toast, like Miss Nancy, as he is
What humdrum man he is / suppose he
should be liked because he is so very good.
But how Maria can ever think of marrying
him is more than l can tell When my time
comes, l don't want a middlc>sged, church
warden like Mr.. George. Give me a young
man who is not saint on earth, and I'll
answer for him.
Her reverie on the young man who would
not set himself up as "gruel and grits"
Christian went OH and on until she fell asleep,
which was the very best thing she could do
for her headache.
She is petite, pretty and intercsting-but
am not going to describe dropping eye
lashcs and re'rouSse nose. | will not~argue
the question whether her hair is reddish gold
For nI-sb 10
to do with my story.
Miss Woodvile is travelling with Mr..
| George because he is engaged to marry her
best friend, Maria Mears, and she is to be
brides mad-thcy are on their way to Mr..
Mears' house, where they are to spend three
weeks previous to the wedding
They have reached New Orleans, where
they are to stay over night and then in the
morning take the cars for Mearsdale, about
! seventy five miles from the city. When Miss
Woodvilo awoke, she would have found her.
! self in complete darkness had il not been for
tho faint streak of gas light which came in
| over the top of the door.
"What so late that the gas is lighted 2"
she exclaimed.
She induged in two or three yawns and a
| stretch to wake herself thoroughly and then
she struck n match and looked at her watch.
"Can it be possible that it lacks only few
minutes to eleven ?" she cried "yet stay !.
What is that l hear? Music at this late
hour 2"
She Immediately went to the door and
! listened:
"Music and dancing, I do declare. This
must be very gay place !" and away went
room to the sound of the violin down stairs.
She peeped out in the hall. No one was
to be seen.
Everybody is down stairs, and l feel so
lonesomer r' She leaned over the balustrade
of the staircase.
Along with the enhancing music and even
tread of feet came the subdued murmur of
the dancers merry voices.
First one little slippered foot and then her
other became uneasy, and Miss Woodville
actually ran to the room for fear they would
get the better Of her, and make her go whirl~
ing around the hall.
But in FIVE minutes she was out sgain.-
She traversed the intricate winding of the
hotel corridors, aud at last succeeded in find
ing "bell- boy" snoozing in corner. The
magic touch of money aroused him from his
dream of broken bell>wires.
From him she learned that some benevolent
society was giving ball for the benefit of a
charitable purpose in the rooms of the hotel
But what impressed her most was the in
formation that it was a masked affair.
''Boy, run quick. ant, send a chambermaid
to number forty-six," Miss WoodvilIe com,
manded and then said, under her breath
'sWhy not have half hours fun ?"
All traces of headache had disappeared
indeed she Was under the influence of a reac
tion that made her brilliant.
There was whispering and money chang
ing hands-running here and there-morc
whispering-aud perhaps more money, and a
length the maid might be heard to say
Miss, I'm afraid you'll think it Tathc