Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-02-13

let us make bargain If you will tell me
the name of the young lady to whom
you lent my portrait, | will tell you how
obtained possession of it,
Bertha was embarrassed. She replied
gravely, Il do not think ought to do that
when suddenly the door opened and Louisa
herself entered, having come to tell Bertha
of what had happened to her in consequence
of wearing the portrait Louisa, on seeing
Captain Selby, uttered an exclamation of
surprise. The captain looked delighted, :,
and Bertha looked from one to the other,
not knowing what to make of it all. At
last, Louisa, who had been so taken by sur
prise as to lose the power of utterance, sail
hurriedly to Bertha, Il beg your pardon
Bertha-l was not aware you were engaged
Good morning She turned to depart, but
Captain Selby stopped her.
Nay said he, as we have met again,
we part not so SOON lie placed himself
against the door, and then turning to Ber-
tina, said, | will now tell you how | oh
tained possession of my portrait saw it
hanging from that young lady's neck yes
terdav, as carried her in my arms from the
railway, where there had been an accident.
| wished very much to restore the portrait
to her after she had told me why she wore
it, hut it seems that it lost all value in her
eyes the moment she discovered that the
original existed Your young friend has
rather curious taste for antiquities, |
imagine
Is this true, Louisa . asked Bertha. |
told this gentleman why you had the por-
trait, but he seems hardly to believe it
| do not wonder Mt his incredulity, re-
piled Louisa. 1t was most ridiculous
idea of mine, and am punished for it.
You do me injustice said Captain Sci
by. must own that at iirst,I thought diff
f,rently ON the subject but now your
young friend Miss Wagner words have
convinced mo There was no disbelievng
her frightened looks at me. wished very
much to discover the name of the young
lady who had So honored my unworthy por-
trait. but Miss Wagner obdurately refused
to tell it to me. Will you introduce me to
your young friend. Miss Wagner .
| hardly know what to do replied Ber-
tina
Surely she has parents said the cap
tain. on whom | might call without i'm
propriety'
She has a mother and brother, said
Bertha, while Louisa stood immovable
without uttering word.
You cannot have any objection to my
calling on your mother, Miss-Louisa sup
pose must call you-unless, indeed, con
tinucd the captain, you have conceived an
aversion to me, in which case shall only
rsgret that we have ever met
Bertha now thought it high time to in
tcricre in the matter. and she said, really
think, Louisa, that there can be no imnro-
priety in Captain Selbys calling on your
;n1, 10
would like to thank him for having taken
care Of you when the accident happened :
and then turning to Captain Selbv. she
said, Mrs. Ellison will, am sure, be hap
rv to see you; see lives at No. l3 Upper
Baker street
Il had quite forgotten said Captain Sell
by, 'to ask Miss Ellison if she had recovered
from her fright of yesterday =
Thank you,' replied Louisa, Il am quite
oi.'
Il think, said Bertha. who was now her
self again, you have been standing long
enough you had better both be seated.
And she handed chair to each.
Louisa sat down; the captain followed
her example, and they We're all three soon
chatting away very tamiliarly. At last the
captain took his leave lie held out his
hand to Bertha, who took it frankly; he
then offered it to Louisa, who, as Bc, thn
had accepted it, did not like to refuse
and he gave it gentle pressure and left
them.
When he was gone. Bertha said grayely
to Louisa, 'Tha. man is your fate.
What do You mean, Bertha = asked
Louisa.
'Can anything be palmer : said Bertha
How should the miniatures have beer
placed in the wrong wrapper but by Z
strange freak Of destiny That man loves
you, Louisa and don't think, added she
archly, that you hate him, But tell mt
how it all happened am dying to know
! took it for granted that he had rescucC
you from some perlous situation, and
hit upon the pretext of your mamma
thanking him, to let him know who yot
/ WERE
| Louisa told her all that had occurred an,
/ Bertha could not sufficiently admire tn
1 strange chance which had caused Louis
and Captain Selhv to become acquainted
| After staying with Bertha for some time
Louisa wished her good bye, and hastene
| home to tell her mother of the continuation
! Of her adventure of the miniature.
What an extraordinary thing sal
| Mrs. Ellison hut of course cannot obec
to his calling. And | infer. from your Civ
ing permission to do SO, that he is not dis
agreeable to you.
lie is far from disagreeablc to me, Ger
tainly,' replied Louisa but do not fancy
mamma, that have fallen in love with hir
at first sight. There was something in hi
manner yesterday very unpleasant, and di
not like it at all
But you should make allowances for hin
q - II.
of girl who wore his portrait in he
bosom, but that she had taken liking t
it, which he no doubt fanced could wit
little difficulty be transferred to the or
ginal Depend upon it. he argued in som
such fashion as that, and it was very natu
al but he would not talk of coming to Sc
your mother if his feelings were not of
respectful kind towards you of this | al
sure
Certainly said Louisa, 'and his MAJ
ner was very different to day because, | SUI
pose, he had learned from Bertha that ha
told him the truth, Bertha said that whe
she saw him holding the picture for her
look at, she thought of Faust, and oth'
horrid stories of which the Germans are
fond
: don't think he would have been muC
nattcred if he had known that Bertf
thought him an evil spirit, said Mrs. Ell
son, laughing; but it is strange affair a
together.
And who can foersec how it will termi
ate = asked Louisa, with sigh,
Let us hope it will terminate happily
was Mrs. Ellison's reply ; and how wi
tell you what consider Il singular piece
good fortune, Jane and Lucy Prior a
} going to stay with their Aunt Lucin,
again, She is very i'll, and has sent for the
both ; therefore we shall not be favor
with their visits for some time
'Oh, how fortunate : exclaimed Louisa.
am almost tempted to look on that circul
+ stance as an earnest of the good fortune
store for me- And Louisa felt quito
licvcd at the thought OF not having to Q
counter the redOubtablc Misses Prior shou
she be in company with the original of t
portrait,
!. Captain Selby called the next day, a
Mrs Ellison received him very graciousl
. She was much pleased with him. lie ma
= no allusion to the portrait; merely say
4 !