The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-26

Tell me whether dark or bright,
Or little loved or loved Alright,
Is the face of thy lad1e.
It was splendid spectacle, that famous
masquerade ball, which was given as the
valedictory of the old and the salutatory OF
the new year, at the opening of one of the
most brilliant seasons our national capital
had ever seen.
A great war had ended.
A renowned military commander was at
the head of our government, with council
selected from among the most eminent
statesmen of the nation, and diplomatic
corps of the most distinguished ministers
from foreign countries.
Certain illustrious personages of royal rank
or lineage Brazilian emperor. Russian
grand duke, and a Bourbon prince-were
among the transient and houored Bguests OF
the city.
Besides these, there were gathered at the
capital tine usual winter multitude OF noted
politicians, financiers, authors, artists, beaux,
beauties, leaders of fashion and queens OF
society.
Conspicuous among these bright lights of
the world were two who were termed-one
the sslion,' and the other the "belle' of the
season.
They were both young, handsome, gifted,
and one was wealthy.
The name of the first mentioned was Tu-
dor HereWard. He was an accomplished
scholar, an eloquent orator, rising states
man, and although but twenty-seven years
of age, he was already all able party
leader in the national House of Repre-
sentatives. In person he was tall, fair and
stately.
His dress was always faultlessly neat, and
even fastidiously dainty.
His manners were reserved and cold, ex-
cept when he was warmed up 10 debate on
the floor of the House of Representatives,
when he would often seem to be TRANSPORTED
and inspired with plendid and burning
eloquence. Men predicted for him an illus
trions future. He was how, as has been
said, the 'lion' of the season.
The ''belle' of the winter was Leda Won
Kirschberg, the only child and heiress of Ja-
cob Won Kirschberg, head of the great bank.
ing house of that name.
She was beautiful, stately blonde, with a
brilliantly blooming complexion, sparkling
purplish blue eyes, small aquiline nose,
pouting ruby lips, and shining, ripping au-
burn hair.
Her dresses were the happest "inspira-
tons of Worth and of Pingen, and the envy
and despair of her rivals. Her manners were
at once digniaed and gracious.
So much for the social status and personal
appearance OF Inc lion anu Jne 'Delle VI
that Respondent scene and season.
To say that nearly all the young ladies
were more or less infatuated with The Lion
and that quite all the young men were in
love with the "belle" would be but faint
statement of the situation.
And that these two were utterly devoted
to each other was too apparent to all.
But ali for "the course of true love-
there was an insurmountable obstacle
in the way of its happy termination in mar
rage.
The belle of the season was betrothed
maidenl
The fact was not generally known, for it
had not been ostentatiously announced in
the society column of the newspapers, but
Miss Won Kirschberg was really engaged to
be married to Mr. Nicholas Bruyin, mil
lionaire, much richer and very much older
than her own father.
So you see!
The ancient bridegroom-expectanth had not
come with the widowed father and mother
less daughter to Washington, so that few in
the city knew of the great mans existence
and none knew of his relations to the beauty
and heress.
Least of all did Tudor Hereward, her de-
voted knight, suspect the truth. For II be
had done 90, be sure that his fine sense OF
honor would have forbidden HIM to trespasl
on the sacred rights of the betrothed lover