Page:Peterson's Magazine 1843, Volume III.pdf/13

10 THE LADY'S

birth, and will produce quite a sensation. As for the rest meet me at Philippi,"" and he lounged laughing out of the room.

Isabel was now dying of curiosity to learn who this stranger might be -she made enquiries who had come to the city, and thought it singular that she had not met this new beauty. But the very day of the ball she heard that the Hon. Mr. Worthington and his sister Lady Emily Worthington had arrived in the city, and, as she had heard her brother speak of knowing this gentleman in Europe, she concluded the sister was to be her brother's partner that evening. Her suspicion was strengthened by the knowing look her brother put on when she alluded to the subject at the dinner table.

That night the ball-room was in a buzz for the arrival of the two distinguished strangers. At length they appeared, the brother and Alfred Melville attending the sister, whose extraordinary beauty and the richness of whose dress attracted the mingled envy and admiration of our sex. The Hon. Mr. Worthington was introduced in form, but, what was singular, the sister was presented by her christian name alone. However, at the time, this was not noticed ; and all strove to make the acquaintance of so magnificent a creature, whose affability equalled her beauty. Among the foremost to pay court to the stranger was Isabel Melville, who never ceased in her praises, and, as her word was the law of a large set of fashionables, the Lady Emily became, before the evening closed, the acknowledged idol. Without exaggeration we may say, never had so brilliant a creature appeared in Cincinnati.

"How could you deceive me so," said Emily reproachfully, when Alfred took his seat by her in the carriage, after the ball was over, " you know I consented to do no more than go with you and dress as you pleased, and you know I did both unwillingly. But I never dreamed of this imposition-indeed, indeed, you have gone too far," and she burst into tears, covering her face with her hands.

Dear Emily," said Alfred, " forgive me, or at least hear my story." He then related his sister's character, and the plot he had formed, continuing thus, "It was only yesterday that my friend Worthington came to Cincinnati. We were bosom friends in London, and I knew he would aid me in any thing. It struck me that, if I could present you as his sister, my triumph over Isabel would be complete. He entered heartily into the plot. It was kept secret from you however; and you see how we have succeeded. I will take all the blame on myself. And now will you not forgive me for this innocent trick?"

When did lover, pleading eloquently, plead in vain? Much as Emily disapproved of the deception, she saw no course now but to submit to circumstances and award forgiveness to her lover.

"What a perfect beauty-what an angelic face!" were the exclamations of Isabel next morning at the breakfast table, " how sweet the manners of Lady Emily with what a distinguished air she moves and talks--oh! I am in raptures with her."

" And you really think her lady-like?"

"A perfect princess."

"And beautiful?"

"Why how you talk! -beautiful as Diana."

"And finished in manners."

"A very paragon."

Do you think you could love her, especially as a sister-in-law?"

"Oh! of all things -but surely you jest."

"Not at all, my sweet sis-I am going to marry her."

"And it is true? Now, do you know, in spite of all your levelling doctrines, I said you'd never marry any body but a lady of rank ? -for they only have those graces which are inborn and come from blood. How magnificently she was dressed!"

"Are you quite sure though that the dress had nothing to do with her beauty?"

"Oh! she would have looked the lady in any thing. I have a quick eye for high birth."

" And yet," said Alfred, with that old provokingly quiet smile, " do you know, my good sis, that this Lady Emily was one day seen walking with me, and that you called her, simply from her dress (which I admit was old fashioned and not very pretty) an outlandish antediluvian ? In short, do you know that the Lady Emily, and Miss Payne, the milliner, are one and the same person?"

Isabel let fall her coffee cup, and stared incredulously at her brother. His quiet smile assured her that he spoke the truth, and, at first, she was disposed to be angry ; but remembering that she had committed herself in favor of her brother's partner, and perceiving how very ridiculous anger would be under the circumstances, she said,

"Well, Alfred, you have outwitted me for once. Your betrothed is certainly beautiful, accomplished, and very lady-like-what a pity she is not really Mr. Worthington's sister."

"Her birth is noble, however, if that will quiet your scruples, sis ; for her grandfather was a baron of the realm. But now own how great a difference dress makes in personal appearance, and don't say hereafter that you have a peculiarly quick eye to discern high birth.”

Isabel, on a closer acquaintance with her new sister -for Alfred led Emily to the altar immediately afterward-found no cause to change the opinion she had formed on their first interview. And through the influence of her brother and his lovely wife she soon learned to discard altogether her ridiculous notions respecting rank.