Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-02-06

they were folded. and as She was seeking
Tor one in particular, carriage drove up
to the door, and loud knock was heard
'Oh Bertha, such beautiful carriage
exclaimed Louisa.
Bertha ran to the window. 1T is Lady
Davcntry's,' she exclaimed and quite
Hurried she hudlled the miniatures all to-
gether into the drawer, smoothed her hair
and entered her reception room
Lady Davcntry had called to arrange
about having the likencsscs Of two of her
children taken. Ten guineas each Bcr
tina was in ccstacies. After settling when
the .ittings were to begin her ladyship took
her leave.
Bertha told Louisa what good thing it
was for her that Lady Daycntry patronised
her. Il shall make my way yet said she.
Il fervently hope YOU may, dear Bertha
sald Louisa, kissing her forehead, 'only
don forget Arthur when you have made
your way
Arthur Is more like to forget me, said
Bertha, with Il single sigh. But must
not forget your design against the peace of
the Misses Prior she added as Louisa rose
to depart. i will fetch you the miniature,
aud going once more into her studio she
after little time found what she had been
seeking, and returned to Louisa with the
portrait OF very handsome man about
thirty. On the wrapper was written, Arch
ibald Hunter, ESD. died lS32. This nina
ture was never paid for. B. Wagner. =
There, said Bertha, you see, you may
keep that with perfect security.
Louisa thanked her, kissed her, asked her
to come to tea the next day and left her.
When Louisa relched her home she told her
mother what she had done.
1T is well that the gentleman is dead
said Mrs. Ellison, smilingly. otherwise it
might be rather awkward If by any chance
he were to see his picture worn by YOU -
How have you left Bertha 4
Quite well, mamma, and in such spirits
Lady Daveutry called while | was there,
and is going to have the likenesscs of two of
her children taken Poor dear Bertha Is
quite enchanted with her good fortune
'She deserves it, said Mrs Ellison she
was such a gool-natured daughter to her
poor blind father, that nothing is too good
for her.
'She is coming to tea tomorrow to meet
Jane and Lucy Prior said Louisa, 'to see
how they will look when they see my pic
ture.'
Very WE'LL replied Mrs Ellison; i can
y
but really the Priors are 70 outrageously
inqui>itiye, that it will lie amusing to
watch their plans and manmuycrs to find
ont the secret And thus the matter was
settled.
The next evening Jane and Lucy Prior ar
rived, shortly after Bertha. Louisa had
taken care to place a broad black ribbon
round her neck, - "a to be very conspicu-
i all f.,r ~ Il.
You do . She was 50 eager to ask Louisa
why she wore that black ribbon which had
caught her eye in an instant. n"f,re Sh"
had seated herself she bngan--'Whv do YOU
wear that black ribbon. I)uisll
'Oh, it is no,hn. particulars, said Louisa,
down.
is there a lockct attached to it :, asked
Lucy, in her soft in,inuating way.
No, replied Lpuisl curtly.
Perhaps it is a cross. answered Jane.
II is not a cross, replied Louisa.
What is it asked Jane
j.. ~. i i.@ ,.jargl rgliftnGe>b r2dI. said I"'v-'is
ltI, picture = said Jane, dictatorially.
suppose it is Il picture, answered
Louisa, what then y
1t must be somebody's picture said
Lucy.
some gcntlemans picture, | am sure'
chin d in Jane. Now. is it not, Louisa .
How very nqui>itIvc you are answered
Louisa, pre- ending to be annoyed.
DO tell Us whose picture it is = said
Lncy. is the gentleman dark or farr
'rall or short - asked Jane.
Handsome or plain Z asked Lucy.
Is he rich = said Jane.
What Is hc' said Luly. Is he in the
army .
Il rather think he is in the law, said
Jane. Now is he not Do tell us Louisa
Are You sure, Jane, said Lucy, that
he is not the new curatc | have noticed
his eyes fixed often on the pew where
Louisa sits
And then they both said together, Whose
isltr
During this time Mrs Ellison and Bertha
were almost choked with their efforts to
restrain their laughter the bait had taken
81 admirably. But Louisa WAS quite Sc
ri1us. Excus, me- she said, with i'm
pyrturbatle gravity, but hayc particular
reasons for declining to answer your ques-
tons. This is "A peculiarly delicate subject
| therefore must beg Of You to cnange the
| conversation.
Presently Jane Prior said in Il whisper to
| Bertha. Is Louisa engaged then = You
know all about it, of course, continued
Jane How long has she been engaged :.
II you mean how long she has worn that
picture said Bertha, : can tell you She
put it on today TOR the first time
on :. exclaimed Jane, then that was the
reason she begged me not to come before &
clock, We should no doubt have met the
gentleman il We had come before and of
course she did not want that. But do tell
me to whom she is engaged
Il cannot, replied Bertha, nor can say
that she is engaged
'Of course she must be- WAS James reply.
NO girl would wear genteman's picture
so conspicuously unless she were engaged to
him
'But are you sure it is a gentleman's pic
ture'' asked Bertha
'llow provoking YOU are exclaimed
verify believe. But will know who 1t is
before long continued she in u determined
manner.
While Jane was talking to Bertha, Lucy
was plying Mrs Ellison AMI Louisa with
questions innumerabc. Louisa maintained
u strict reserve and a stately dignity which
almost upset her mamma 5 gravity,
When Jane and Lacy departed, which
they did in greet rage, Jane said; 'Nhht a
fuss Louisa makes! As if nobody had ever
been engaged but herself
Yes, replied Lucy, and then look at the
airs she gives herself 1t is really ridicu-
luus to see her But | wonder who it is =
i will find ont, said Jane, 'and the very
next time 90 there, too. When we see the
face we shall know whose it is.
True, replied Lucy But perhaps the
family of the gentleman is against the
match, and that is why it is to be kept a
secret.
i should not WONDER said Jane, But
I'll see who it is, That am determined,
According to her determination the amia-
bic and wcll-brci young lady took occasion
on her next visit to the Ellisons to joke
Louisa about her unknown, and then sud
denly snatching at the ribbon drew the min
iature out of l.ouIsa's bosom, and took a
deliberate survey Of it, Louisa pretended
to be quite overcome by her emotion aud
even made an attempt at faiuting, but very