The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-12-04
WHOLE NO. 268.
Raffselle, whose curiosity was now raised
to the highest pitch.

Raffselle, whose curiosity was now raised
to the highest pitch. .... ..-.-
But the time draws near. You are
somewhat late continued the lady; all
the company are assembled in the drawing
room. Charles wrote to inform US that he
had arranged everything with you. can
assure you we have neglected nothing. All,
see you are in you travelling dress, and in
your haste have forgotten your luggage at
Cokehampton. You will find in that ward
robe some clothes Of Charles. He wrote
to US that you were both of the same stat
ure-I see that you are little taller. How
ever. that is not material. Pray, attire
yourself as quickly as you can. In quar-
ter Of an hour my brother, the Major, will
come herc for you. He will introduce you
to the family and to our friends. Adieu,
for the present, then, my dear sir-I may
almost say, my dear Smith, said the lady,
holding out her hand, with another Of her
elegant but most inexplicable smiles. And
she went out, leaving my friend in cOndi.
ton bordering on complete stupefaction.
well, we'll, he said, when he had some
what recovered himself, If this is farce, it
| is not a bad one. l must admit that the
matron Of the piece plays her part in the
most captivating manner. But think
may be allowed to call her most puzzling
old lady. All !, if only understood sin.
gle word of this affair! If | only knew
brother, tie Major, who is to come to con-
duct me to the assembled company, to in
troduce me, and to offer me-something to
eat hope! But must hasten to put on
the clothes Of Charles-my most intimate
though unknown friend! The lady said
they were in the wardrobe. All this is
capital! Coat, waistcoat, cravat, patent
feathers, all here; and on the dressing
table, oils, brushes, cosmetics. Charles is
evidently swell Of the most resplendent
character"
In a very short time Raffaelle Smith was
transformed into an elegant cavalier. While
he was contemplating himself with some
satisfaction in glass, and taking in, by
several holes, the band Of that article Of
attire which envelopes the neither extremi-
ties, with view Of silencing the murmurs
Of his stomach, an individual entered the
apartment, and Raffaelle heard beh.nd him,
in deep bass voice
We'll, my dea, Mr.. Smith, are you now
ready y
| A glance at that TALL meagre, military
form, that hooked nsSe, that white nous
,ache, told the painter that it was the Ma
jor. Raffaelle was by no means comforta-
| BILE in spirit as he turned towards the old
man. The latter, however, seemed to re.
view him from head to foot with an air Of
satisfaction.
4 am glad to find that Charles has not
deceived us. | must admit that you are
smart young fellow, and not ill-suited to
the business we have before US. Your
hand, Mr.. Smith. We are not strangers,
although we now see each 9th for the
| first time | hope you haven't forgotten
the instructions given you by Charles
On that point, my dear sir replied Raj
faelle, you may be quite easy. | can as.
sure you that have not forgotten one word
Of what Charles has told me-
Very good. You will recollect that my
niece's rame is Emily, and that i: is abso-
lutely essential, in order to save her in the
eyes of the world, and particularly in the
eyes Of old cousin Lucy's friends,-it is i'm
perative, repeat, In order that our pro-
ceedings may not appear strange, unbe-
coming and abrupt, that you should pre-
tend to have made the acquaintance Of my
niece while she was staying with her mother
in London, year ago. Do you under
stand p
Perfectly, Major, perfectly
Then let US go down at once
Rafaelle Smith experienced considerable
hesitation at this critical moment; but the
singularity of the adventure, the desire to
see the conclusion, and,> it must also be
added, the devouring appetite which tor
mented him, all united in compelling him
to follow in the Majors footsteps. The lat
ter led the way down a vast and richly dec
grated staircase, aud openings door, usher
ed him into magnificent drawing room,
where the bewildered painter found him.
self in the presence Of brilliant and nu-
merous assembly. The entrance of the
Major and painter produced general SEN
sation.
Il have the honor said the Major, to in.
/ trOduce to you Mr.. Snlith-the future hus-
band Of Emily Shuttleworth, my niece
At this extraordinary announcement,
Raffaeile felt his knees giving way beneath
him-all the blood in his body seemed to
he rushing into his cheeks he was vic.
tim to vertigo o-hc was fairly stunned-and
it the Major had not supported him, h.
would certainly have fallen backwards.
BE COOL whispered the Major, be self
possed, Smith Master your emotion
To recover himself cost the young artist
the greatest effort he had ever made in his
life. The Major conducted him towards
he lady whom he had already seen, and
who was introduced to him rs the mother
Of Emily. Id a very short time Raffarlle
found himself surrounded by the relatives
and friends Of the young lady, whom he
had no more idea of marrying, than ally
ing himself matrimonially with squaw Of
the Choctaw Indians. RaHaelle felt him.
self somewhat of culprir, as he stood
there receiving congratulations, and over
loaded with marks Of respect and friend
ship from the well bred people congregated
in the house wherein he had no better claim
to be present than burglar. In the excess
Of embarrassment, Raffaelle turned in
search Of his military guide. He was re-
solved to put an end to an affair which was
rapidly becoming too serious and too
alarming for any man Of del,cacy to pro-
long by his silence. The Major, taking
him aside into a recess Of one Of the spa.
couS widows, cut short the first Efforts Of
the artist to carry cut his honorable inten-
tention.
Tut, tutv said he, with true military
promptitude; mot word, my dear Smith
| repeat, your arrival makes me the happi.
est man alive .s
But, my dear sir-your niece
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
Cokehampton several carriages smashed,
niece would have lost fortune Of Atty
thousand pounds
The perpleAed Rafaelle could only re.
peat the numerals in reply.
Yes, my dear Smith, continued the Ma