University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.
The Consul's Ball.

Leaving the convict Ruyter to proceed on
his secret midnight expedition, we will now
refer to an event of our story which has
only yet been hinted at in connection with
the little affair of the `Forget-me-not' worn
by Maria in her bosom. The history of that
little flower is the history of a pure and deep
love.

We have said that Maria's extreme beauty
and her propriety in the exposed situation she
had taken in the cigar mart, attracted many
admirers. Some of these were young men of
respectability, who, while they admired her
beauty, greatly respected her virtue and modesty.
Yet she manifested to one and all the
same graceful propriety, in no instance overstepping
the limits of the most perfect propriety.

But the maiden's heart was not made of
ice. The bulwark of reserve and insensibility
which she had from the first thrown around
her, was not strong enough to keep out the
little god Love, who laughs at bars and
barriers. There happened two gentlemen,
an elderly man and a younger one to pass
along Broadway one evening as she was
standing in her place behind the counter.—
Maria never looked lovlier than she did that
evening. The light of the gas burner fell
brilliantly upon her face, and softened, while
it enriched its charms. The young man
caught sight of the beautiful girl and arresting
the progress of the elder gentleman, turned
with him into the shop. With eyes fixed upon
her in the deepest admiration the young
man, who with his companion were evidently
high-bred English people, asked her for cigars.
While with a gracious smile and a
grace that was inimitable she presented to
him the small rose-wood boxes containing the
most fragrant ones, he could not keep his
eyes from her. At length their deep, passionate
gaze was felt by her and with a blush
of confusion she dropped her eyes to the
ground, and while he remained did not once
direct them towards him.

`My lord, did you notice the extreme beauty
of that lovely cigar-girl!' asked the young
man with admiration in his tones, as they left
the mart and resumed their walk.

`Yes. She was remarkably lovely; and
somehow her face has awakened in me a
strange interest.'

`Ah, my lord!' cried the young man coloring;
`do you confess this much. I myself
was about confessing that I had felt something
of the same myself! We must be rivals!'

`Your interest is widely different from mine
my young friend; I felt a sad and gentle interest
awakened in my bosom as I gazed on
her. I thought, too, how many temptations so
young a girl must be exposed, and—'

`No doubt felt very philosophical and parental
my lord,' answered the young man
laughing.

The interest which he felt in the lovely cigar-vender
was not wholly upon one side.—
She had met and felt the passionate yet respectful
ardor of his glance, and it awakened
in her bosom, emotions pleasing yet agitated.
After his departure she did not forget him
with the next customer, but the image of his
fine face, for he was very handsome, and tall
and noble in height and air, lingered in her
thoughts and was carried home to her humble
pillow where it mingled with her dreams.

The first thought she had the next morning
on awaking, was if she should see the noble
young stranger again that day! and a hundred
times her heart bounded as she lifted her
eyes at an entering foot step which she
thought sounded like his. Just at twilight
she saw him slowly pass the door and look in.
Her heart trembled with emotions of hope,
fear and joy. He passed onward and disappeared,
and she sighed and felt a pang of disappointment.
The next moment she heard a
step and looking up saw the subject of her
thoughts entering the shop. She trembled
like a leaf. She was afraid to look up, and
stood covered with blushes which she tried to
conceal, for she feared he would discover the
interest he had awakened in her heart. She
was alone in the shop. In the same breath
she wished and did not wish the proprietors
were present!

With ease and self-possession he approached
the glass case behind which she stood and
in a tone that betrayed a feeling stronger than
mere gallantry asked her for cigars. While
she was waiting upon him he continued to regard
her intently, and with increasing admiration.
In a quiet conversational tone, and in
a manner calculated to win her confidence
(for he saw how embarrassed and confused
she was) he began to speak with her. By degrees
and in the most delicate way he succeeded
in learning from her something of her
history, that is so far as the poverty of her
mother, as she called Mrs. de Ruyter, rendered
it necessary for her to take such a place to
aid in her support. He was charmed with the
frank ingeunousness of her replies, and she
with the kind interest he seemed to take in
her.

`I assure you, Miss,' he said to her `that
the interest I have shown in these inquiries is
sincere, and not mere curiosity. I have had
you in my thoughts, nay, if I dared to speak
it, in my heart, ever since I saw you yesterday.
I resolved to visit you again and converse
with you. You are very good to suffer
me to talk with you. Do you live far from
this?'

`But ten minutes walk, sir,' she answered,
dropping her eyes.

`And do you walk alone?'

`Not always, sir!'

`Will you permit me to wait upon you this
evening when you close your shop?'

`Sir, you are very kind! but you will see
the impropriety of my admitting it. I have
only my fair name, which the least breath of
slander will defame! The proprietor usually
accompanies me; and sometimes I run all the
way alone!'

`I will not urge you,' he said pleasantly;
`but I regret that you are compelled by circumstances,
to be placed in such a situation.
Will you permit me, as a friend, to take steps
to render your mother's condition better, so
that you can remain altogether with her?'

`Indeed, sir, you are a stranger, though a
kind one. I feel grateful for your proposal,
but I must decline it!'

At this moment some persons came in, and
the young Englishman took his leave. An
hour afterwards, as it was a moonlight night,
Maria left the shop at eight o'clock to proceed
homeward. She went tripping along
with a rapid step and with a happy heart, for
she was thinking of the young stranger, when
suddenly she found a gentleman walking by
her side, and his hand laid lightly upon her
arm.

`Do not be alarmed!'

She knew the tones of the voice and restrained
the impulse to fly; yet she trembled,
though not with fear. `I have watched you
that I may see you safely homeward,' said the
foreigner in the gentlest cadence of his voice.

`I thank you, sir, I am very grateful to you,
but I had rather go alone!'

`Then suffer me to walk a little ways behind
you,' he said respectfully, and dropping
back a step. She felt his consideration for
her feelings, and instinctively yielding to the
generous impulses which this conduct aroused
in her bosom, she gradually walked slower,
until he was again by her side. She felt a
sweet sense of protection as he walked along
by her, and her heart was filled with joy as
he discoursed to her in the tender accents of
a pure devotion. He accompanied her to the
door, and there took leave of her, pressing
the hand she diffidently yielded to his friendly
parting clasp.

`You will permit me this pleasure to-mor
row night,' he said as he was leaving her.

She would have said `yes,' if her feelings
had governed; but, influenced by propriety,
she answered faintly, `no.'

`Then I must trust to chance,' he said,
smiling.

When she reached the room and was alone
with her own thoughts, and began to examine
the nature of her feelings towards the handsome
and respectful young stranger, she confessed,
with a sigh of sadness, that he was
very dear to her—far dearer than she had ever
felt Herman to be'

`Yet he is a stranger! Why should I think
of him. I may well sigh with sadness to
think I have let my affections fix upon one
who is evidently so far above me, and whose
further acquaintance it would be wrong to encourage!
I only know his name to be Edward,
and that he is a native of England, but
a few weeks in this city. I will try to think
no more of him!' Yet the more she resolved
to banish him from her thoughts, the more he
filled them.

The next evening the young stranger called
at the shop for cigars; and although she tried
to be reserved, his kindness and gentleness of
manner rendered her resolutions of no avail.
Taking advantage of a favorable moment he
took from his breast a boquet, composed of a
sprig of myrtle and a forget-me-not, and
placed it in her hand. As he did so he smiled,
bowed and took his leave. An hour afterwards
when he overtook her going homeward
and walked by her side, her arm placed
with confidence in his, he was gratified to
see that his light gift was in her bosom.

After accompanying her to the door he proceeded
towards the Astor House and entering,
ascended to a suite of rooms where he found
the gentleman Maria had first seen him with.
This person was in full ball dress and was
walking up and down the parlor, as if waiting
for him. He was a noble looking man,
with a decided military air and a commanding
person. His age was probably fifty five
or six.

Upon a sofa, reading, sat a lady about five
and forty, and retaining in her fine features
traces of great beauty. There was in her
face sufficient likeness to the young man to
mark the near relationship of mother and
son.

`Ah, Edward, you have kept brother long

waiting for you!' she said with a smile, mingled
with her mild reproof.

`Some more romancing I'll warrant,' answered
the gentleman, smiling. `I shall have
to leave New York to save you from falling
in love with a pretty shop-tender!'

`I confess to the charge, uncle, of having
been detained by her. The truth is, my good
lord, I fear I shall have to run away from her;
for I was never so taken!'

`You are imprudent, Edward,' said the lady
Lessington. `You will do this young girl, it
she is modest, a great injury and degrade
yourself. I fear from the animated manner
in which you yesterday gave me an account
of your conversations with her and your
boldness in escorting her homeward, that you
have, in truth, suffered your feelings to get
the better of your judgment. This conduct
is so unlike you! Did I not know the integrity
of your character I should fear that your
regard for her was dictated by the worst motives!'

`My dearest mother, I only wish you could
see her, yourself. I know not what it is in
her face that so deeply interests me. I
frankly tell you, that it she were in a suitable
rank in society, I should not hesitate to confess
that I was deeply in love with her and
seriously address myself to win her as my
wife!'

`Such being your feelings, my son, it is due
to her as well as yourself that you do not see
her again.'

`I will not promise, my dear mother.'

`Then we had best pursue our tour to Niagara
and Montreal, brother,' she said turning
to the gentleman who stood by in silence.

`Yes, if Edward has so far forgotten himself
and what is due to the honor of his rank
and name.'

`Nay, my lord and noble uncle, you are severe.
I will make the promise to my mother;
for I feel that it would be criminal and cruel
in me to awaken feellngs in that young girls'
bosom, which could only fall back again upon
her own heart to perish! My mother is right.
I will see her no more; for as an honorable
man I cannot. But this decision will be a
great sacrifice to me; for you know not how
deeply my heart is interested in her, mother.'

`Come, nephew, shall we go to this party.
The carriage has been some time in waiting.
I feared by your delay you had been attacked
by some foot-pad, as I was early this evening.
I gave him my purse to have time to knock
him down, but the rogue got to his feet and
escaped with it.'

`I will complete my toilet in a few moments,'
answered the young man. `I trust
you were not hurt.'

`No.'

`I regret, mother, that your slight indisposition
prevents you from going to this party,'
added lord Edward; and he then left the
room.

After an absence of a few moments, he returned
and announced himself as ready to accompany
his uncle.

This party in the drawing-room consisted
of General Lord Delorme, his windowed sister,
the lady Ann Lessington, and her son lord
Edward Lessington. They had arrived three
weeks before in the United States, by the
way of Boston, and had been in New-York
ten days. Their object in visiting America
was partly a tour of pleasure and partly for
lady Lessington to visit her sister, who was
the wife of the Governor General of the Canadas.
The ball to which they were invited
was given expressly to them by the British
Consul.

Without describing the magnificence of the
rooms, the elegance of the entertainment, and
the splendor of the gay throngs there assembled,
we will pass to an event of the evening,
more intimately connected with our story.

As General Delorme was walking up and
down one of the apartments, conversing with
a distinguished New York merchant, who had
been presented to him, a gentleman entered,
and seeing the former, stood for some moments
transfixed, closely regarding his face
with a look of the deepest surprise.

At length he walked rapidly up to the English
consul, and said to him in a tone of singular
agitation,

`Sir, will you be so kind as to tell me who
that gentleman is, with the high, bold fore
head and military air!'

`That, Mr. Carrol, is General Lord Delorme,
whom I told you, you would meet at
my house. Come, and let me present you.
Yonder is his nephew waltzing with Miss
— the belle!' But why are you so agitated?'

`I beg pardon, sir, for my confusion. But
do you not remember, sir, that seven years

ago I came to you with the account of the
mysterious disappearance of a lovely child,
which I told you I had received from a poor
dying woman, on the passage from England?'

`I remember it perfectly; and that it was
your impression this child belonged to a good
family.'

`Yes, sir. At the same time, I told you
that I had a portrait of a gentleman, copied
from a miniature which the child had with
her, and also the child's portrait taken, and
both sent to England, and placed in a public
gallery there, if perchance the friends of the
child, might by this means be discovered!
Since then, sir, and the sudden disappearance
of the child from my house, I heard nothing
from her! But now sir that gentleman!'

`And what connection has he with the subject,
sir?' asked the Consul, with surprise.

`The moment I saw his face as I entered, I
recognized in it the original of the miniature
which the child had round her neck, and
which I had copied!'

`Is not this a delusion, Mr. Carrol?'

`No, sir. Each moment I see it stronger
and stronger as well as in his features as when
he smiles a vivid resemblance to the child!'

`This is very extraordinary.'

`It is, sir!'

`Yet, I should not wish to speak of this
subject to General Delorme without stronger
proofs.'

`I will go for the miniature. My carriage
is at the door!'

`Do so, Mr. Carrol. The whole story of
this child as you once related it to me, when
you solicited my aid in your efforts to trace
her parentage, now recurs to me. I am deeply
interested in the subject. It may be as you
say. Hasten for the miniature, I beg of you!'

In less than twenty minutes Mr. Carrol returned
and placed the portrait in the Consul's
hands. He had no sooner glanced at it than
he uttered an exclamation of surprise and astonishment.

`You are right, sir. It is his portrait, only
some dozen years junior. But to make sure
come with me where lord Edward, his nephew,
is standing.

`My lord, here is a miniature. Have you
ever known the original?'

`It is the General's!' he answered, taking
it and glancing at it!'

`Do you mean General Delorme?'

`Certainly, sir. I was not aware you had
it. It looks a little younger, but the likeness
is perfect!'

`I am satisfied, Mr. Carrol,' answered the
Consul. `Come with me and I will also send
for the Earl Delorme to my library. We will
then investigate this interesting affair. But,
alas! if it should prove true that child was
his, what avails to confirm to him her loss!!

`It may be that she lives, sir,' said Mr.
Carrol warmly. `I have never ceased to believe
that she is still alive somewhere; and I
have not for one day given up the hope of
seeing her. I do not encounter in the streets
a young girl of the age she would be now,
that I do not intuitively survey her features
closely and ask myself if it may not be my
lost protege.