Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-08-17

aelle was by no means comfortable 10 sririt
as he turned toward the old man. The
latter, however, seemed to review him
from head to foot with on air Of satisfac.
tiou.
"I am glad to see that Charles has not
deceived Us. Your hand, Mr. Smith. We
are not strangers, although we see each
other for the FIRST time. | hope you havn't
forgotten the instructions given you by
Charles y
"On that point, my dear SIR replied Raf1.
aelle, you may be quite easy. / can assure
you that ! have not forgotten one word of
Charles has told me-"
Every good. You will recollect that my
niece's name is Emily, and that it is abso
lutely essential. 10 order to save her in the
eyes Of the world, and particularly in the
eyes OF my old cousin Lucy's friends-it is
! imperative, repeat in order that our pro.
ceediugs may not appear strange, unbecom.
ing and abrupt, that yon should pretend to
have made the acquaintance of niece while
she was staying with her mother in London,
Do you understand p
Perfectly, Major, perfectly"
Then let US go down at once"
Rafaella Smith experienced considerable
hesitation at this critical moment; but the
slDRularity OF the adventure, the desire to see
the conclusion, aud, it must also be added,
the devourbg appetite which tormen.ed him,
all united 10 compelling him to follow 10 the
Majors footsteps. The latter led the way
down vast and richly decorated staircase.
and opening a door, ushered him into mag.
nfcent drawing room, where the bewildered
painter found himself 10 the presence of o
brilliant aud numerous assembly. The en-.
trance of the Mojor aud painter produced a
general sensation.
81 have the honor" said the Major, "to
introduce to you Mr.. Smith, the future
husband Of Emily Shutteworth, my niece"
At this extraordinary announcement
RAfaela felt his knees giving way beneath
hm-all the blood in his body seemed to be
| rushing into his cheeks-he was victim to
vertigo-he was fairly stunued-and if the
Major had not supported him, he would Ger.
tainly have fallen back wards.
BE cool" whispered the Major. "be self
possessed Smith Master your emotion"
To recover himself cost the young artist
the greatest effort be had ever made IN his
life. The Major conducted him towards the
lady whom he hsd already seen, and who was
introduced to him es the mother Of Emily.
le very short time Railaelle found himself
surrounded by the relatives and friends of the
young lady, whom he had no more idea Of
marrying than Of allyiog himself matrimoni.
ally with squaw Of tie Choctaw Indians.
Rsfaela felt bmself somewhat of q culprit,
us be stood there receiving congratulations,
and overloaded with marks OF respect and
friendship from the welbred people congre.
gated 10 the house wherein he had no better
claim TO be present than burglar. ln an
excess Of embarrassment, RafIuelle turned in
search of bis military guide. He was resol.
we'd to pu, an end to an affair which was
rapidly becoming too serious aud too alarm.
! ing for any man of delicacy TO prolong by
J bis silence. The Msjor, taking him aside
! into recess OF one Of the spacions windows,
cut short the first efforts OF the artist to carry
| out his honorable intention.
Tut, tut!' said be with true military
! promptitude mot a word my dear Smith
| repeat your arrival makes me the hsppiest
/ man alive "
My niece thinks as do. sir, and as her
mother thinks. Mr. Smith, just imagine
! what we felt when we heard that train had
been run into only few miles from Coke
hampton several carriages smashed, sir
and You had been in that train, my niece
would have lost fortune Of fifty thousand
pounds"
The perplexed RafTaelIe could only repeat
the numerals in reply.
Yes, my dear Smith," continued the
Msjor fifty thousand. sir For to morrow
the date given in my old cousin Lucy's will
expires"
"ro-morrow the date given in your old
cousin Lucy's will expires !" was all that
Rltiaelle could repeat.
"Fo-morrow at twelve, sir. But that
stupid dog Charles could have told you all
this But perhaps he has only very imper
iectly explained TO you my cousins extraor.
diaary will"
Very imperfectly," replied Rafaple.
"Well, | will furnish you with all the
details You must know that my cousin
Lucy died year since, leaving sum oI
money amounting to fifty thousand pounds
! Now that sun was left to nv uiece Emily, on
the express condition that she should be O
married woman year aud day after the
date of the testator's death Failing 10
which, all the properties goes to charities
We loved Emily too much to force her into
basty and dlstastefnl union. Emily has
not reached her twenty,lirst year aud she
has never yet met one on whom she could
bestow her loving heart. Time went on and
we were oD the point of resigning the bril-
liant fortune which had been left to her on
such extraordinary conditions, when, a few
uhls sluCt, utE Nudllcs suubtbl
wrote to us-'Emily shall be married before
the appointed time We at first received
this inlimston as piece of idle pleasantly
bnt Charles spoke of you with so much
admratlon-he drew such a favorable pie
ture OF your disposition your principles-he
spoke in such Il touching manner of the
brOtherly love which had uuted you and
himself since your school days, that my sioter
and myself consented to render Emily rich
aud happy You know the rest. my dear
Smith. Charles sought you - he offered you
the hand aud heart, which you acceptsd-anC
in a few hours you come here To become mJ
nephew, and the husband of our dear Emily
Yourself Emily, ber mother Charles, anc
| myself are all to whom the secret Of this
impromptu marriage is yet known. 10 ordel
to keep up Appearances, We have told every
one that yon and Emily have known each
other since the tine of her spending somt
months in London, year siuce aud that
for length Of time you have been soliciting
her hand Hence you see why my sister and
myself pretended to hail you as an old sc
quautance from the srst moment OF your
entering this house. That is my story, my
dear nephew"
At the instant when the Major had concluded