The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-27
THE RED SASH.

Having enjoyed several delightful
weeks in North Wales, | returned TO my
rather dingy lodgings in an unfashion-
able part of London; tor my pecuisry
means at that time were anything but
extensive.
sat down in my arm chair and pro-
ceeded to open few letters which had
arrived during my absence, among which
was one from my friend-aimost my
only one in London-Fred. Davis.
Fred. was the incest fellow L knew,
and | believe was quite as partial to me
as | was to him, and | was delighted to
see his handwriting. Our friendship,
which mad begun at school, was OF nearly
fourteen years. standing, and, in spite
| of the difference in our positions in so.
ciely Fred. was as well and | II nobody,
was as warm as ever; and we met 81
| frequently that five weeks seemed a
| long time TO go without seeing his hand-
sumo smiling lace.
When l opened his letter, / exper-
fenced slight pang OF disappointment
at finding, not as | expected, trIm the
| bulk OF the envelope, II long epls Cle from
my friend, but little scented invita- don
| TO u ball, In Il handwriting perfectly un-
familiar to me, and short scrap only
| from Fred, to tue effect that bis friend
| Lady HarbUr |, the W tier OF the enclosed
note had commissioned him to send it
| TO All eI gible friend OF his VINO was fond
of dancing; and SO, knowing my pre-
! d lection for that exercise, he had sent
it TO me. Twas very fond OF dancing in
hose days; 80, in spite of a certain diff
dence had to go among strangers, ac-
cepteu her ladyship's Invitation.
On the appointed evening Fred. called
| for me Ill his phaeton, ana we enjoyed
tue Grive immensely. Fred. declared 1t
| was shame to 20 into not crowded
rooms and dance away such a lovely
nj ght, but he had previously given me
suen a glowing description of Lady Har-
bord'S balls, and OF the perfection Of
partners III ght expect, thai being only
| tuur-and-tWenty, and still believing in
ballroom romance, l did not snare his
sentiments.
! When we arrived Fred. led me across
| the room and introduced me TO Lady
| HarbOrd, who at once dissipaLed any
! little panic OF shyness had anLiCiP Pated
| in talking to live countess, by receiv-
ing me with the greatest kindness and
| at1abIlity, and converting very muou like
any other amiable and weli-Dfea woman.
| ! liked her very much, especially when
| Fred, in the course Of the evening, took
| the opportunity of telling me that her
| ldu1 snip udu GuaHhSu UIIl lOI III Z
| such d handsome aud interesting adul-
| tiOn to her party. aud that she only lott
| Oft talking with me because sAe could
see was anxious to JOIN the dancers.
THIS was true; Tor, whi.e talking to
her. my eyes, III wandering rounG the
| Di illiautly -liguted room, had rested on
| the most loYeIy vision it had ever been
! their late 10 behOld-a yOung gin, ,appar-
| emily about eighteen, with hair Ike
| burnIshed Golu, and d face 50 exquisite
| ly beautiful that it would be folly to al.
| Tempt TO describe it. Sne was very sim
| ply dressed in white dress with red
| sash, and had no ornaments Whatever.
| | gazed as much as | dared, and felt
| urnle bpwildered and duZZled. | lad
| tie greatest difficulty in giving inteIli-
gent answers 10 Lady Harboru's ques-
| Ions, and at length, Ass uml4g as Inuifer-
| ent voice as | could command. [ in-
qlred some what ABRUPTLY of her lady
| snip who the young lady was opposite
with the red sash. she smiled, and
| iurning her eyes in the direction ! mad
indicated, looked rather puzz ed as she
| answered, 81 really can not Tell you,
| and yet quite thought l knew every
| one in the rooms Tonight; but that
! young lady is an entire stranger 10 me-"
| / bowed, and went eagerly in search of
! Fred. DAVIS, III the nope that ne mi mt be
able 70 procure me an Introduction.
1t was Impossible to get word with
him taen, tor ne WAS dancing; b. | had
to wait. ! was getting very impatient
| was SO AFRAID OF losing all chance of
, anc ng with this beautiful girl, Surely
her card would be full almost directly
Anu yet, while | waited the conclusion
of the dance in which my friend was en-
| Ia
| SAL in despOnIing attitude, with sad,
dreamy eyes; anu 1T occurred to me that
| ,he had sat SO ever since l Aad been in
! The room, and had seen no one address
| a word to her. | looked and wondered
| appareutly | might gaZ5 as much as
| pleased, for she was evidently profound
| is unconscious Of me and OF everything
! around her, and seemed strangely out OF
| D ace in that gay scene. Pernaps-hor-
!, ble thought she might be lame; other
! wise, how else could such lovely being
| be allow ed TO sit out so many dances
| While | was thus wondering, The dance
| came to an end, and l found myself
| Standing close " Fred.
l Immediately made my request to
| him.
SORRY to say 1 don't know the indi-
yidual, old fellow" was the reply; "buL
L Will lulIOuuCe yOu w luo SlIl III SEeCu,
| if you like-WaltZ4s. beautifully"
turned abruptly away. Iielt almost
angry with Fred. for suggesting another
partner; and then, what right Aad he to
call her an individual? l STOOD moOdily
against the door and gaZ4d at my divin-
| Ity. What could do? Neither my host
ess nor my friend knew her, ana every
one else was stranger to me. At last
| resolved to make one more effort, So |
walked quickly across the room TO an old
gentleman with whom | mad EXCHANGED
few words at the beginning OF the eve
ming, and rather astOnlshed him by beg
giug him to introduce me to The young
| lady in the red sash.
Upon my word" he answered, with
an amused smile, 81 would directly,
my dear sir, only l have not the sliS :
est acquaintance with the young lady"
Despair! Did no one know this gli
How did she come therey Did she drop
rom the clouds? This did not seem
unlikely to me, tor thought her more
| like an angel than a human being.
must speak to her-l positively must!
50, after waiting about in q fever, hop
ing Tor something 10 turn up, l was
driven to desperation by the sound Of
another delicious waltz. l made my
| way up to her, hardly knowing what |
| did, and, without waiting to consider
how my conduct might be received, i
begged the honor of her hand without
he Introduction l could not procure.
trembed, and my neart beat quickly as