the majestic river!

It was a lovely night in early June, and the guards of that queenliest
of all queenly boats, the "Eclipse," were thronged with ladies and
gentlemen just risen from their evening banquet in the sumptuous
dining-saloon. They were passing Baton Rouge, and many an exclamation of
delight was uttered, not only in admiration of the lovely scenery around
them, but that they were so happily near the terminus of a journey,
which, despite the splendid appointments of the boat, was fraught with
danger, and occasioned more or less uneasiness and anxiety in the bosoms
of all the passengers.

Apart from the crowd, leaning over the balustrade, her dark eyes riveted
on the lovely prospect passing before her vision, stood a young girl of
perhaps fifteen summers. Her form was slight, and a profusion of black,
wavy ringlets floated over her small shoulders, while in all her
movements was visible that singularly beautiful grace of motion, ever so
attractive, and which is noticed only in very finely-constituted
organizations. She stood apart from the hilarious groups around her,
evidently

"In a shade of thoughts that were not their thoughts."

Her simple grace and self-possession, and the indifference manifested to
the flattering attentions bestowed upon her by the gentlemen during the
voyage, had rendered her an object of peculiar interest with them, and
provoked no small amount of envy and invidious remark from the weaker
sex.

"Look there," remarked a freckled-faced lady in blue and yellow, to a
counterpart in red and green; "see Miss Pink o' Propriety, as the
captain calls her, standing out there alone, to attract some gentleman's
notice."

"Of course," returned miss red and green, sneeringly. "I hate that girl,
she puts on such airs. And travelling alone, in charge of the captain
and clerk, shows what she is plainly. There, look! The bait has
taken,--Mr. Gilbert is caught!" and the rainbow ladies joined in a loud
laugh, as a fine-looking gentleman approached the fair, abstracted girl,
and accosted her.

"Always flying your crowd of admirers," said he, "and hiding in some sly
nook. Please tell me some of your pretty thoughts, as we glide past this
lovely scenery, Miss Orville."

"The recital of my poor thoughts would not repay you for listening,"
said the young lady, with a pleasant smile.

"Now I may consider myself dismissed, I suppose," remarked the
gentleman; "but if you don't tolerate me, you'll