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find it displayed to advantage in their various characters. But, by the way, there is a ball this evening in the house, and they will all be there of course. If the heiress is not in one of her lofty moods, and therefore unapproachable you shall have the honor of picking up her fan, or handing her an ice; and if the divine Laura is not in one of her timid moods -for the wild fawn is not more shy-you shall have the rapture of discovering the color of her eyes;-and if the Muse humph!" Mr. Beaumont gave a most significant shrug, and was silent.

"The muse--well."

"If the muse is not above your comprehension, you will have eyes and ears for no other object. But go to the ball, and study the fair trio to your heart's content."

"The last place in the world to study a woman's character," replied Howard. "Give me the woman who can throw a charm over the social circle. I regard not the attractions of a ball-room, where she is nothing but a beautiful puppet. Give me a woman whose conversation will enliven my solitude-whose gifted mind displays itself to the few as well as the many-a woman, in short

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"The muse, to the very life," interrupted Beaumont. She would charm you out of your seven senses in half an hour. While the rest of the company are discussing ice creams and quadrilles, she is discussing the merits of Eschyles, Shakspeare or Milton."

"Why, fifty thousand a year, a stud of elegant horses, a box at the theatre, and a house in Broadway."

“And yet he is universally acknowledged to be one of the most licentious men in the city, very profane, very intemperate, and very illiterate."

"But his fifty thousand covers all, and makes amends for all pecadillos," said Beaumont. "Well, who's next?"

"The M- -s, of Washington Square. They give the most splendid suppers. They have travelled through Europe, and have every room in the house furnished in a different style. One German, one French, one Italian, another Spanish, and so on."

And yet I think I have heard that Mr. M's father had acquired his wealth by dishonest means, commencing life as a refugee from the alms-house, and arriving at his present elevation by what a backwoods Yankee would call a circumamnibus route; but I do not mean to be sarcastic, and would only observe that Mr. M has seen fit lately to put his name on the bankrupt list, perhaps to secure his property."

"You're too cute for me," said Beaumont, laughing. Well, there's the H-8, in the same square; real aristocrats; equal to any lords and ladies in Europe. Young H- has a tandem, a mistress, and nothing to do."

"More's the pity," replied Howard, "since in a few years he may find that he has a great

"What! is she a female philosopher?" asked deal to do to procure a subsistence, as the Howard, rather aghast at the idea.

"You may call her what you will-an enchantress, or anything else. She is a sort of favorite everywhere; humph! yes, there's no denying that; though I can't for the life of me see what the fashionables can find in a poor dependant so very charming. Some say she's a natural daughter of the old Colonel; and faith, with some reason, for she looks like him. Others that she is a destitute orphan, that in the proud family of the Stanbrooks, supplies the place of half servant, half companion to the aristocratic girls. Cornelia can't bear her, but Laura, being somewhat of a dunce, is glad to make use of Inez's wit to get out of her love scrapes. However, Miss Inez Laurence, with all her wit and learning, is hardly considered one of the aristocracy."

"Who do you call the aristocracy?" asked Howard, slightly shrugging his shoulders.

"Why, such persons as Mr. P——.” "Mr. P―! well, how strong is his claim?"

family are going to ruin as fast as they can. But I think I have had a pretty good specimen of your aristocracy. Were I to give my views on the subject, and point out whom I consider the real aristocracy, the nobles of the land, you would only laugh at my odd notions, so I think we had better obey the summons from that dinner-bell, and enjoy the society of your three graces."

"Paint their portraits if you are able, and study their characters at your leisure. The two minors are at your service, but I intend to monopolize the belle myself; so beware of interference, or expect a challenge."

Mr. Augustus Beaumont was the son of a New-York Millionaire. One of the many who by dint of hard labor, considerable tact and shrewdness, and perhaps a few of those underhand practices by which many arrive at distinction, had risen from obscurity as a humble mechanic, to a par with the aristocracy—that is the aristocracy which sustains its claims by

the magic charms of wealth alone. He lived in a fine house in Square, kept his carriage, and sent his daughters to the most fashionable dancing-school. With the vagaries of Master Augustus, the old gentleman had long ceased to interfere; so that the young gentleman, left to himself, with pockets well-filled with the hard earnings of his sire, spent his time sauntering about the streets, patronizing the theatres and sharing his money with those amiable and considerate individuals who are called hangers-on in society, and who having nothing of their own to depend upon, generously relieve of their superabundance, those who are not capable of keeping it. Beaumont's tandem and bays were the admiration of Broadway. His cane was the most exquisitely turned and mounted, his whiskers the most ferocious, and his boots the tightest of all the followers of dame fashion. The more prudent father, who had sacrificed both health and comfort to attain his present enviable position, at length began to open his eyes to the conduct of his son; and, aware that his hard-earned wealth would soon be exhausted in such reckless hands, suddenly announced to the petrified youth his intention of stopping the supplies in future; at the same time intimating that he must look about him and choose some business or profession, whereby he might render himself independent, and be preserved from utter ruin. There were six daughters to portion, and the poor old man groaned in spirit at the length of the bills which were duly arranged before his eyes every quarter-day. He could not understand them at all. "In my young days, girls," he would say, "my mother and sisters did not spend so much in a year as you do in a month. What is this? One shawl, twenty dollars; one hat, fifty dollars; one feather, twelve dollars; one shawl, one hundred and fifty dollars! Pshaw!" He sighed deeply, shook his head, and gave orders on his banker.

It had never occurred to Mr. Augustus Beaumont that so elegant a being as himself would ever be obliged to labor in any way. Study was his abhorrence; and a mercantile life-the very thought of it was galling to his proud spirit. Were not young C and young W gentlemen of leisure, and must he slave for a subsistence? Query-how to avoid it? It suddenly occurred to him that a good speculation in land might relieve him from all embarrassment-and a rich wife save him the mortification of being obliged to use his delicate hands. His sage parent shook his

head at mention of the first, and laughed outright at hint of the marriage speculation. But finding his obstinate heir resolved to do what he liked, or nothing at all, he reluctantly consented to give him $20,000 for his land speculation, and as much more should he succeed in winning "the heiress," whoever she might be. This arrangement was to be made only on condition that Augustus should henceforth consider himself independent of his father; that should he succeed in his plans, the profits were to be secured to himself. Should he fail, nothing should induce the old man to advance him another cent.

Elated at his success, the young gentleman grasped the long-wished for treasure, and launched at once upon the ocean of speculation. But, alas! to find his frail bark wrecked upon the shoals where so many have landed in similar expeditions. His first scheme had failed, and now there was but one hope remaining-that of winning an heiress; and Cornelia Stanbrook, the reputed heiress of an immense estate, had hardly appeared as a bright peculiar star in the galaxy of beauty and fashion, than Augustus Beaumont threw himself at her feet, and vowed he would there sigh away his life, unless she condescended to raise him. And did she? Were all his sighs, his groans, his passionate vows exhausted in vain? Time will show.

Frederick Howard was a young man with no high expectations. He had been left at an early age dependent upon his own resources for subsistence. The small income left him by his father-who had been a highly respectable and much-esteemed citizen of New Yorksufficed to maintain him in comfort until his studies were completed. He had chosen the profession of a lawyer, and his own natural talents, added to industry and perseverance, rendered him amply qualified to sustain any position with honor and credit. He possessed a thorough education, elegant and refined manners, and withal a faultless form, and face of uncommon beauty and intelligence. These various gifts rendered him a universal favorite in the highest circles, even without the appendages of wealth and high rank. Many a rich and high born lady was proud of the acquaintance, and would have been flattered with the attentions of Frederick Howard. Generous, brave, affectionate, and gifted; easily led, and and like all persons of great sensibility, easily imposed upon-his only faults arose from the impulsive sincerity of his heart, which led him

to consult feeling alone, where reason and judgment might have preserved him from error. Extremely sensitive as to the opinion of the world, yet prepared to brave its censure to the utmost when confident of his own integrity; ambitious to excel in every thing; bowing in adoration at the shrine of genius, and loving with enthusiasm all that is sublime and beautiful in nature or art; a passionate admirer of female beauty, especially when united with intellectual attainments; and eager and persevering in every pursuit that interested the heart or mind. Such was Howard at the age of twenty. What he yet might become, moulded by the hand of time, and the influence of society, the future alone could decide. The dinner hour arrived-but the dining table did not afford opportunity of cultivating much acquaintance with the strangers. Other parties from the city had arrived in the meantime, and all were too much occupied in recognizing acquaintances and exchanging congratulations. Fatigued with their long journey, the ladies were not very conversible. As Howard glanced at the countenances of the three first arrivals, he knew not which to admire most-the dashing, fashionable looking Cornelia; the timid, gentle, and exquisitely beautiful Laura; or she whose countenance he had hardly seen, so deeply was she engaged in conversation with the Colonel, and whom the provoking Beaumont persisted in calling "the muse." As for the dandy, he had reserved all his attractions for the evening, when he expected to appear the very pink of gentility and fashion. His whiskers were brushed and rebrushed, until they settled into the wished-for position. His cravat was twisted and turned into an indisputable "Paris tie." His moustache-what real dandy does not wear a moustache-turned up at each end like the prow of an Egyptian galley, and his eye-brows were delicately penciled with India ink. He had for months been torturing a particular curl, that it might rest with careless ease upon his white forehead-having been told that Miss Stanbrook had expressed her admiration of this particular curl, and said it would look nicely in a ring. Satisfied, at length, that his appearance would justify the appellation so often bestowed upon him, viz., that of being a "lady-killer," he turned round to ascertain what progress his friend Howard was making in the art of beautification, and to his horror, saw him seated in a large arm-chair, deeply absorbed in a volume of Longfellow's poems, utterly unconscious of

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Humph! pshaw! don't ask me. care not for the ball, and will not dance-noI dare say you would rather sit there and pore over that collection of impositions! A quantity of German ideas arranged in English words, and passing for original! Ma foi! if you must read, why not choose something worth having! the sorrows of Oliver Twist, or the trials of divine Kate Knickleby. Gad! if that girl were a living, breathing creature, I should be almost tempted to cut the heiress for her sake. Give me Boz, with all his pathos, wit and fun, and all other books may go into the fire."

"I bow most humbly to your superior judgment," said Howard, gravely; "and when wearied of strains like these, will search those sublime pages to ascertain how many times in the day a man-monster like Quilp drank raw brandy by the quart, or intellectual Dick Swiveler 'supped the rosy,' or courted 'the balmy.' No sir," continued the young man, while a flush of honest and indignant feeling suffused his countenance "while my native land sends forth into the field such worthy sons as the author of this, (unclosing the volume before him,) with minds stored with those pure and lofty thoughts which refine and elevate not only their own souls, but those of their readers, I am content to cast an idle glance at your favorite themes, and bow in adoration at a shrine like this. The public taste has become completely vitiated by your scurilous foreign trash, while our native authors are neglected, and too often left to suffer. The more elegant paths of literature are abandoned, and society, in consequence, becomes corrupt. I tell you the works of French, German, and many English writers, are calculated to make more rogues, than all the sermons of good men can make saints; I tell you-"

"Nay, spare me, in mercy spare me!" cried

Beaumont stopping his ears. "My delicate nerves are all unstrung. How uninviting is your discussion of books and authors, when I have in anticipation the discussion of a fat turkey and oyster sauce."

Howard threw down the book he held, and laughed, not so much at the ridiculous appearance and remarks of his companion, as at his own folly in wasting his eloquence upon such a listener. But a few moments sufficed to equip himself for the evening, and they entered the ball-room together. The young lawyer, who generally shunned such a scene in the city, as he would a modern Babel, had made up his mind to amuse himself during his few weeks of recreation at the springs, and therefore quietly submitted to be led about by his idle associate, on condition that there should be no infringement upon his chosen hours of leisure and retirement. There was, however, an additional reason that now actuated him-the wish to become better acquainted with the three graces, whose different characters appeared worth studying, not only from his own observation, but the careless remarks of Beaumont. Cornelia Stanbrook was parading the room with a dashing captain of the army. The fair Laura, dressed with exquisite taste, in white silk, a single japonica in her soft, golden hair, sat upon a sofa, conversing with her uncle. The Muse was no where to be seen, and on interrogating his companion as to the probable cause of her absence, he was answered only by an expressive shrug of the shoulders, followed by a long drawn breath as if Beaumont felt a sort of relief at the circumstance. Howard was disappointed—he scarce knew why. The hints of his friend, and his singular conduct whenever her name was mentioned, excited his curiosity respecting her, and he longed, yet feared to encounter this fair magician. The dancing had already commenced, and not caring to join the group of young men into which Beaumont instantly intruded, he stood leaning against a window, until observing that Colonel Stanbrook had left the side of his niece, and that she had refused an invitation to dance, he took the vacant seat, and after a mutual bow of recognition, entered into conversation with

her.

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Howard gazed in admiration upon the beau tiful girl over whose clear cheek the blushes came and went rapidly while speaking, and thought he had never seen any thing so lovely. And yet he could not help confessing to himself that it was a beauty of features alone. There was no lighting up of the countenanceno change in the expression of the fair face, no matter what might be the subject of discourse; it retained as calm and placid a repose as the serene image of the Madona. There might be feeling there might be genius-but it was difficult to discover either from her manner or conversation—and though the eye might peruse such features with delight, yet the heart desires something more--the mind wearies with the effort made to discover the hidden treasures of thought.

Yet there was a charm, notwithstanding, in the innocent naive manner with which she replied to his remarks, (for she seldom hazarded one of her own,) and her answers were mostly in monosylables. He was becoming more and more interested in his lovely listener, and quite forgetting the scene around him, when she suddenly raised her head and joyfully exclaimed—

"Ah, there's Inez!-I was afraid she would not come."

"And who is Inez ?" asked Howard, somewhat surprised at the animation of her countenance.

"Oh a dear friend of mine-do not move, Mr. Howard. You must become acquainted with Inez-she is so much like you--I mean-that is, you would agree exactly—and I am sure you will like her, she is so agreeable"--and as she spoke, she lifted to Howard's face those eyes of celestial blue, and a bright smile played around her lips which caused him to think others might be more agreeable, but none more lovely than herself.

"Your friend must be very charming" said he, "to call forth so warm an eulogy."

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Charming! ah you I will think so, when you know her as well as I do," replied Laura, smiling. "And then it was so difficult to persuade her to come here at all. She says she is out of place among such gay people. But my uncle insisted upon it, and says he brought her to

"You do not dance this evening, I perceive, drive away the blues. I verily believe he would Miss Laura." have them all the time if she were not with him--for her reading entertains him."

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"My health has not been good for some time," replied the young lady. This was my "Oh," thought Howard, "This is the pedant reason for visiting the springs, and my physician then. Well, I should prefer the society of her advises me to refrain from all violent exercise." less pretending friend, the quiet Laura, if she

is what Beaumont describes." Then turning again to his companion, he began a long dissertation upon Fanny Ellsler and the Opera.

"Surely you do not deny the merits of her performance!" exclaimed Beaumont, as he joined them after the dance, and overheard a remark of Howard, in which he intimated his dislike of foreign dancers, and foreign actresses. "I did not allude either to the merits or demerits of her performance," replied Howard, quietly, "I was only giving my opinion of the conduct and character of women, who can go about the world exhibiting themselves in this manner. They may be miracles of perfection, as far as talents and beauty are concerned, and so is she, for all I know to the contrary."

"But if a woman possesses extraordinary talents, you would not have her hide them under a bushel, when she might astonish the world, and draw admiring crowds around her by displaying them publicly."

"Were a woman's talents given her only for the purpose of making herself a laughing stock, and exposing her to the ribald jests of a parcel of rowdy pit boys?" said Howard. "No Sir, I will not believe it. If heaven has thus favored her, it is that she may employ those tallents for the benefit of others; not only to become wiser and better herself, but to make others wise and happy. I would not give much for the refined feelings of any woman, who for a mere love of admiration can thus sacrifice both delicacy and propriety."

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"What a sermon you have preached," said Beaumont laughing. "And only think Fred," he added in a whisper, only think-the 'Muse' has heard every word of it. She has been standing near you all the time.”

"You have overheard Mr. Howard's sage remarks, have you not, Miss Inez, and are prepared to oppose them entirely?" said Beaumont, with a sneer.

"On the contrary, I agree with him perfectly," replied the lady; and the voice, the look, the manner with which she said this, appeared to Howard bewitching.

"Agree with him!" exclaimed Beaumont, astonished; "I thought you were a great stickler for genius, talent, and all that sort of thing."

"I do not know that my assenting to Mr. Howard's opinion implies anything to the contrary," answered Inez, smiling; and then turning to Laura, she inquired, with a look of tender interest, if she were not fatigued.

"Oh not in the least, dear Inez. Mr. Howard has been so good as to keep me company in my lonely corner here, and we have amused ourselves with watching the movements of the fair dancers.

"Mr. Howard is not then a lover of the poetry of motion ?"

"I prefer being a spectator and admirer," replied he.

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Especially in such company," observed Beaumont, bowing to Inez with mock gravity. "I am equally happy either way," replied Howard; "for who could help being pleased, or at least amused, in such a scene?"

"And yet," observed Inez, seating herself by the fair Laura, and glancing round the room; "it speaks only to the senses. The pleasure that such scenes afford is as evanescent as the hours are fleeting. It is but mixing a little honey with the bitter cup of life."

Howard was surprised to hear a creature so beautiful and bright, speak of the sadder scenes Howard started-and colored in confusion of life. "I should," said he, "imagine you one not only at the rude remark which he felt con- of those who look only to the sunny side of the fident had been overheard by the lady in ques-picture, and who scarcely realize the truth that tion; but at the bright beaming, soul-illumined comes home to the hearts of others, that the glance that met his as he turned round. He golden chalice does not always overflow with had admired Laura, but he at once acknow-joy." ledged to himself the truth of the remark, that the most perfect beauty was not that which the sculptor would admit to be a faultless piece of clay kneaded up with blood. But that is true beauty which has not only substance but spirit -a beauty that we must intimately know, justly to appreciate a beauty lighted up in conversation, where the mind shines as it were through the casket; where, in the language of the poet,

The eloquent blood spoke in her cheeks-
And so distinctly wrought,

That we might almost say her body thought."

"Ah, we are all the spoiled children of nature," said Inez; "subject to caprices and vagaries, willing to enjoy illusion when truth would be unwelcome. But look at that beautiful creature! what grace in every movement! What a study for painting or poetry! She seems like a fine statue, animated with a living soul."

"What a beautiful idea!"

"How many living, breathing forms we meet in society, who better resemble marble images than animated beings; and how many a statue

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