University of Virginia Library

5. V.

The young gentlemen sallied forth together, and arm
in arm lounged carelessly along the street towards the
abode of the devotee. It was near sunset, and the
doors, balconies and verandahs of that gay city were
animated with cheerful people, and brilliant with
beauty. Families were gathered in their own doors
or about a neighbor's, standing or sitting in groups
gossiping and taking the air. Young, bonnetless girls
laughed and talked with one another across the street,
or smiled at passing beaux. Children every where
played up and down the side walks; the artisan, his
apron thrown aside, sat in his open shop window and
smoked his cigar, or chatted with a neighbor: all was
cheerfulness, hilarity and content. One would have
thought there was not in the whole town a sad heart.

Beranger bowed to nearly every other pretty woman
he saw in the overhanging balconies, while his elegant
companion drew after him many a dark eye, and
caused many an inquiry to be passed along the galaxy
of beauty, of who might be the handsome cavalier.

They arrived at Rue de —, and Championet
pointed to the residence of the devotee.

“'Tis Emilie!” cried the other. “She is scarcely

seventeen, and though 'tis not two months since she
made her first appearance in public, she has already
had half New-Orleans at her feet. But her mother,
deviating from the usual mode, has left her to her own
choice, of course subject to her sanction. So the lovely
quadroon will not sell her person save to the bold
cavalier who shall first steal her heart. Courage, mon
ami! From what you have told me, you have already
made an impression. You are a stranger here, and
women, if you have noticed, always like strangers.”

The young gentlemen approached the elegant residence
of the fair quadroon, and in one month afterwards
the gay baron Championet boasted the finest
establishment and the lovliest mistress in New-Orleans.