THE

LADIES' CABINET,

OF

FASHION, MUSIC, AND ROMANCE.

THE BALL.

THE Governor of Seville gave a ball in one of the splendid saloons of the old Moorish Alcazar (palace); all the beauty and rank of the city were present. Scarcely had the sun set, before the castagnettes and guitars inspired the rapid evolutions and graceful positions of the dancers. Never was the female form, or ardent glance of Spanish eyes, more fascinatingly displayed— everything around this seductive scene offered incense to the God of Love, breathing the perfume of innocence and joy.

Of all the lovely girls who graced this assembly, one might be distinguished pre-eminently beautiful,-she was the heroine of the dance, and as she bounded with the elasticity and grace of the light-footed gazelle, her smile of conscious superiority seemed to defy her friends to imitate her example ; but with that smile was blended all the content and goodness of a heart devoid of every emotion of envy towards others, or the pride of her own elevated station. One there was upon whom her brilliant look was often cast, and as often acknowledged by reciprocal smiles of happiness.

This beautiful girl was Donna Maria de los Dolores, the only child of Don Juan de Ribeira, Count dos Arcos. She was the joy of his life, the treasure of his heart, the coveted prize of all the young nobility of Seville. At night she had long been the object of their serenades; by day they followed her to church, or in her rambles round the city promenades, and in spite of a very wary duenna, a saucy little page, and two of her father's footmen, they always, somehow or other, contrived to let her perceive how much her charms provoked the anguish of their sensitive hearts. The Count dos Arcos would sometimes, after Ave slaria, breathe the fresh air of evening with his daughter, in the perfumed bowers of the Alcazar, or on the banks Avgust, 1845,

of the Guadalquivir. It was then Donna Maria found herself surrounded by the train of admirers who, encouraged by her father's presence, no longer feared to address her in the language of respectful admiration. For a long while the heart of Maria was insensible to every other emotion but that of eing the object of this adulation ;-the law of nature ultimately, however, prevailed, and she, in her turn, experienced some of those anxious pangs that love inflicts; for it was impossible that under the sun of such a clime, love could long remain sleeping in her heart, without communicating its delirium. Donna Maria now had made her election among the numerous aspirants to her hand. This accorded with her father's wishes, and it was to celebrate the projected alliance of Don Alphonso de Guevera with Donna Maria de Ribeira, that the Governor of Seville had given this ball.

The affianced had danced a long while and felt fatigued, but it was that happy languor which renders repose so sweet, bestowing an enchanting listlessness, in which all anxiety of present pain is lost in the dreams of future joy. She stepped forth on one of the palace terraces, and seating herself beneath the shade of a blooming myrtle, whose flowers covered her with their graceful snow, with her eyes half closed, listened to the chat of her cousin Donna Niévés, who was to be her bridesmaid, and whose thoughts at that moment were totally absorbed by the dress she proposed wearing upon that solemn occasion, and how she could best display her pretty person to advantage. During these reveries of conquest, Donna Maria suddenly leaning forward, seized her cousin's hand, and in trembling accents, whispered, "Look Nieves, yonder, what is that--whose large eyes seem to consume me with their fire ;-is it a wild beast, or some human being? Look! look! it surely moves this way. Her eyes were steadfastly fixed on a thick rose-bush, in the centre of whose verdant leaves there appeared a human countenance, extremely handsome, but pale, and of a sinister expression, rendered the more remarkable by a pair of eyes beyond the ordinary size of nature, and sparkling with the irritability of internal restlessness. This phantom head was that of a youth, apparently not more than fourteen, a total stranger to Donna Maria, upon whom those fearful eyes were rivetted with a sort of avidity that made her involuntarily tremble.

"Let us return to the ball-room, Niévés, instantly."

At the moment of rising to do so, the young lad sprang from his retreat ; he placed himself so as to debar their passage, and in a faltering voice asked permission to dance with Donna Maria.

His person, now fully disclosed, exhibited that of a delicately framed youth, but the countenance was a man's, in full maturity and expression of violent passions. The moon, whose beams fell fully upon him, gave a

ghastly paleness to his face, and there was something unearthly in this boy that made the heart sick to contemplate. Seeing one evidently so young, Donna Maria felt assured of her personal safety; but accustomed as she was to have the honour of her hand contested for by the élite of rank and fashion, she could not avoid smiling internally at the idea of her dancing with an unknown boy, whose dress indicated nothing pertaining to the upper grades of society, and whose demand betrayed an intolerable degree of arrogance and impertinence.

"I do not think I shall dance any more to-night, young sennhor," said Donna Maria, softening the information with a smile. I am much fatigued ; but I have no doubt I can persuade some nice young Donna to allow you the honour of dancing with her. Some one of my young friends more suited to your age."

The youth smiled contemptuously. "Sennhora, it is the honour of your hand I have solicited. I will dance with you, or with none other."

Donna Maria looked at him with astonishment, mingled with dread she vainly endeavoured to subdue. She made no reply, but firmly grasped her cousin's arm, and quickening her pace, returned to the ball-room.

The dancing continued with unabated animation. At the moment Donna Maria entered the room, she met Don Alphonso, who had been seeking her. “Where have you been so long, my best beloved? I have been looking for you everywhere by your father's wishes and my own anxiety. Your friends are loudly calling upon you to exhibit your favourite dance, El Rey don Morso. Pray oblige us, dearest Maria, if you are not too much fatigued already."

Oh, do! pray do, Donna Maria," was simultaneously echoed. And the orchestra commenced playing the favourite national bolero of El Rey don Morso, at that time the most popular dance of Spain.

It was in vain Donna Maria pleaded justly her being very tired. Alphonso seized her hand, and gently pressing it, she yielded to his silent wish.

"Viva! Viva!" exclaimed the whole party, when Maria and Alphonso had concluded the dance. Never, perhaps, was it better executed, or with greater enjoyment to the parties, who on the eve of being united in the holiest of human bonds, saw nothing before them but a life of love and happiness. Don Alphonso looked with soft affection on his lovely affianced bride, and conducting her to a seat, hung entranced over her.

She was scarcely seated, when a trembling voice reached her ear, and the mysterious boy stood before her. "May I hope for the honour of dancing the Rey don Morso with you, Donna Maria ?”

Donna Maria hastily turned her eyes upon the speaker. Fear no longer

alarmed her, although his savage looks and the peculiar fire of his eyes were fully sufficient to inspire dread in a bolder heart. The extreme pertinacity of the youth astonished her, but it was now with feelings of good humour. She once more smiled sweetly upon him, and said, "that she was too much fatigued to dance any more."

Donna Niévés had apparently explained the previous singular meeting with this youth, as many ladies now flocked round him, laughing, and jestingly inquiring if none of them would do to dance the Rey don Morso with; or must the poor child have no one less than Donna Maria Ribeiro for his partner?

"Who is he? who knows him ?" others asked. "Do you, Donna Maria ?" "No, ladies, I do not. Poor child, I really pity him; but I cannot, even if I were less tired, consent to dance with a total stranger to my father's house and friends." These words reached the youth's ears, and he cast a look at Donna Maria that made her shudder. He quitted the joyous group of dancers; he seemed suffocated, and struck his breast as if to still its inward beatings.

"Poor child!" exclaimed an elderly lady, as he passed her rapidly. "The solano surely has driven him mad.”

A hollow sigh escaped the poor child's bosom as he fell at the foot of the myrtle bush, where first Donna Maria recognized him in his place of concealment. His tears flowed rapidly, and he wrung his hands in grief, at having been foiled in a favourite object.

"It is the solano," observed some one passing ;-" Poor lad !"

The lad trembled; the falling tears were dried by his burning cheeks; a horrid smile sat upon his blanched lips; he placed his hand upon his heart; he felt the pulsation of his temple arteries, as if astonished that they did not break their confinement. A burst of applause from the ball-room caused him to spring upon his feet. It was another tribute of admiration to Donna Maria, who had again been prevailed upon to dance. Soon the stranger bounded into the ball-room; and standing deliberately before Donna Maria, who was retiring to a seat, escorted by her lover, said,—“ You have insulted me, Donna Maria, and you have spoken falsely; the sennhor, on whose arm you so fondly hang, shall give me satisfaction for the insult, which blood alone can efface."

"What is the lad saying, dear Maria ?"

"I can scarcely tell, Alphonzo; but in pity's sake take him away; his very look seems to kill me. Those eyes,-oh, those eyes!-they are not human!"

In fact, it was impossible to descrike those cyes, flashing the fire of uncon