MISCELLANE EOUS
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$ am no lover of mystery. Enigmas are N letestation. When boy, studying Ovid, VI ed to regard the conduct of the Sphinx unmitgated disgust. considered her

 most intolerable of antique bores, and d pus a patient dunce. The proceedings of fl lander in cutting the Gordian knot, instead |mzling himself by attempting to unite 1t, n with my hearty approval. l loved him ' the moment 1 was made aware of that Il dent in his career. 3 But when a mystery comes in the shape B pretty woman,-that is different mat | altogether My antiquities gives way blocks of ice before a spring freshet. ,H len to my story.

 B was one of the gayest of the gay seasons i Washington. The first of series of bril- 2 tballsat the White House had commenced.

 east room was crowded with all the al uy resident and transitory, of the district. n ein ministers and attaches, with their

 E, garters, ribands, brooches, and silk kngs-members of Congress with their s kmbs in the arm-holes of their waistcoat- Han chiefs, deputed by their tribes, with GG E pumes and painted feathers-office-

 ers, ofce-seekers, idlers, and lobby d bsers were the principal constituents of

 male portion of the assemblage. Add to

 some hundreds of uninvited guests who De because they felt they had proprieta

 interest in the mansion, and an idea may formed of the density and mixed character

 the crowd.

 Half a dozen quadrilles and waltzes had

 n completed. A number of the more

 Fldent and sagacious of the guests had

 un to take up line of march toward the

 per room; and the dancers, tired of jost-

 one another, were endeavoring to retreat,

 en one of the managers called upon the

 ptemen to form new cotiIlon, and at the

 @hme causing the standers-by to fall back, ened a circle, and then led forth from the

 He throng, from which she seemed to

 age like the evening star from behind a

 bud, a young and beautiful female. A gene

 mumur of surprise and admiration greet

 -ei opPtdidiICt.

 'hho can she be Did any one ever see

 oeiore-What figure What face!"

 were the nasty whispers exchanged among

 spectators. So great was the anxiety to

 her, that the space cleared for the dancers almost immediately filled up. No one Fmed able to give the slightest information

 to who she was,-when or whence she me. It all seemed to me, for moment, a

 y-lke delusion. Was l not at the ball

 ven by Prince Fortlmatus, and was not this Fnaerella herself ?-I glanced down at her H They were marvellously small, and glossy white satin slippers shone like ass The delusion grew stronger. Never il0re had experienced so forcibly the po- lcy ol the imagination. l began to won- 2 whether or no she would disappear in afse attire when the clock struck twelve.

 was reused from my reverie by being sneu oy the hand by the manager, at the 'vmeat took him for Prince Fortrnatus. lnD hastily introduced me as a partner to o, ela'r unknown, and, as afterwards learned suieu hlnself to keep back the crowd and a.e. ,sa'e room for the quadrille. How dazzling aa'lul she was' Ordinary beauties may q. inscribed in detail-but Miss Smith, (yes Ia' aa. was the name by which she was intro ISu os U 10 me startled you by the perfect uni .o oi ler charms. You could not pick ou au.o ,ea''fe 2 or one quality as beautiful, be- Srbolo sl Y was part of a perfectly beautiful ., 'eas os anu was therefore faultless, as mat n;,. :" course. Her countenance was lucit Nj o, bo. ol every passing thought and emotion kjon n,, ,, soul' and if occasionally the expres bRe was ,'s melancholy, 1t was always lovely Ebanaa, mountain s lake, the aspect of which nc |m $ ?, sky can render less picturesque beautas "iiich every change developes new kad ro.a,, a aihlnute or two to rally my thought |bs, a 11eeollections, and to convince mysel |room :, nad neither walked into the wron. |spoEa es aol the wrong century. The lady |Eol;.nn nis' Her voice touched me like al |Soma , .. harp-it was so musically sad- |ae h by, ,11ang ,1' iops of my acquaintance twiche, |ndics,asaa sae !, elbow, and, by significant winks Smith na 'ilelr wish to be introduced. Mis- he i, Pene'rated their designs, and said |, sDon,. delightful and confidential tone- conap,asln . Introduce any to me but members O spely h.. The remark puzzled me exces

 ' ! bowed my acquiescence.