Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-10-11

your room, sir. Will you please to take
seat while 60 and inform my mis-
trcss ,"
Ratfaelle Smith dropped into chair,
once more entangled in an extricable
maz of supposltion.
There is evidently some mistake here.
1t is quite clear that am taken for
some one else. When the lady Of the
house discovers that am a total stranger
well, l shall be politely shown to the
door, amidst the lau ghter of the company
that's all Come, the affair is now
taking tragic turn. That splendid re-
past, on which my inauguration dwelt,
is being whiskcd from under my nose like
Sancho Panza's dinner. But if it turns
out so, " muttercd the cnragcd artist be-
tween his teeth" if l am elected from
this house. my unappcased appetite will
drive me to half kill that vilainous fun
key who has brought me into this scrape.
Hark | hear footsteps! They ap-
proach The catastrophe is now at
hand
The servant entered, and sald in a
whisper to Raffaelle-
Here is my mistress
At the same instant lady entered the
apartment. She appeared about fifty
years of age. Grave, sclf-possessed, and
perfectly lady-like, her department reas-
surcd the bcwildered painter. The lady
requested the servant outside, advanced,
held out her hand with smile, in which
there was just shade of elegant and well
bred familiarity. Raffacle responded to
this polite reception by making several
bows of an aristocratic character.
What on earth is she going to say to
me ?" thought the young painter. The
lady appears to look upon me in the light
of a friend. wonder what reason she
will assign for my abduction?'
All, sir! began the lady, "we have
been awaiting your arrival with the
greatest anxiety. Itappears that Charles
has not accompanied you, as We requested
him to do. At any rate, We have receiv-
cl you. another smile on the part Of
the lady-giving her, in Raffaelles eyes,
the most Sphinx-like attributes. g am
sure you'll agree with me when | say
that is the essential point. How many
thanks and apologies do we not owe
YOU .
Owe me, madame. am sure-yes
-ah :" replied the young painter, judg-
ing that in such a reply there was nothing
to compromise him.
Yes, sir. But Charles has made you
acquainted with the imperious motives
which have caused us to act in this abrupt
manner and these strange aud eXccp-
tional circumstances, will, | trust, com-
pletcly excuse Us in your eyes. Only an
intimate friend of my son--a friend whom
he has known since boyhood Il gentle
man in whom we could confide as in him
such a person only could we admit to a
completely in our plot. "
The ealogiam which Charles passed up
on you in his letter of yesterday, iniorm-
ing US of your immediate departure from
London, has fully satisfied Us. My dear
sir, | am certain we shall never have to
repent having reposcd our entire coutl-
deu:c in you--of having soniiel to you
that which we hold dearest in the world
AMI beg Of you to rest assured that You
will never have cause T. regret having
placed implicit reliance on the honor OF
Charlie. and of ourselves"
IL am certain of it, madame, answer
ed Ratfaelle, 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. |
assure you We have neglected nothing
All | see you are III your travelling dress,
and, in Your haste, have torgotten your
luggage at Cokehampton. You will lind
in that wardrobe some clothes OF Charles.
He wrote to u. that you vere both OF the
same stature. | see that you are little
taller. However, that is not material
Pray attire yourself a. quickly as you
can In quarter Of an hour my brother
the major, will come here for you. lie
will Introduce you 10 the family and to
our friends. Adieu, for the present, then
my dear sir-l may almost say my dear
smith" said the lady, holding out her
hand with another OF her elegant but
most incxplicable smiles. And she went
out, leaving my friend in condition bor-
dcring ON complete stupetaction.
"Wcll WE'LL" he said, when he had
somewhat recovered himself, " il this is
farce, it is not a bad one. | must admit
that the matron OF the piece plays her
part in the most captivating manner
But | thisk | may be allowed to call her
a most puzzIing old lady. All! II only
understood bat one single word OF this at
fair. Ii | only knew her son who Is cal
led Charles, and her brother, the major,
who is come to conduct me to the assem-
blcd company, to introduce me, and to Of
fer me-something to eat | hope But
| must hasten to put on the clothes OF
Charles-my most intimate though un-
known friend The lady said they were
in the wardrobe. All this is capital =
Coat, wastcoat, cravat, patent feathers
all here and on the dressing table oils,
brushes, cosmetics. Charles is evidently
a swell of the most rcsplendent character. :
In very short time Ratfaells Smith
was transformed into an elegant cavalier.
While he was contemplating himself with
some satisfaction in glass, and taking IN,
hv soyopal holes the band Of that article