Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-14
A Moving Story.

Lefort was man some forty years old, with
an income Of fifteen thousand francs, fond of
pictures, and painting landscapes himself in a
very remarkable manner. lie lived in Rue
de Provence, in an apartment Ill the third slo
ry, where he was often visited by his friend
Decamps, the distinguished painter who has
recently died in Paris, who was very fond of
Lefort and of sitting to talk in his rooms. They
passed long evenings in chatting and smoking
together before an open window, which over
looked the vast gardens of the Hotel LATTE
and the Hotel ROthschild.
One day, Lefort arrived at the cafe with
long face and an air of great dissatisfaction.
''What is the matter 2" said Decamps
"The matter is, am wretched at having to
move from our apartment"
care you going to leave it g
Eyes, my landlord wanted to raise my rent.
l resisted-be insisted. l grew angry, and
gave up the rooms. am wretched now. You
were so fond of these rooms"
"Ah, WELL take back your lease"
"You are right, | will lake it back"
The next day Lefort had still the long face
and the grieved air of the previous day. He
had wished to resume his lease. But it was
too late. The apartment was let for term of
nine years.
LetOrt must move in the month of October.
His landlord informed him, however, in an
obliging manner, that the person who was to
succeed him would not arrive from the coun
try till the middle OF November, and that lie
had all that time TO seek an apartment TO suit
him; only Letort must leave empty part of
the suite of rooms to store the furniture OF his
successor. Letort consented to this joyiully,
and the furniture of the new tenant was
brought in.
Meantime Decamps, who saw him still so
sorrowlul al having to quit his rooms, said 10
him one day:
"There is perhaps some way to arrange with
your new successor"
81 do not know him; and don't wish to try
to make bargain"
"Show me his furniture" said Decamp,
"and can guess what sort of man he is"
Lefort conducted Decamps into the room
where the furniture of the new tenant was
placed.
"Hum, hum" said Decamps on casting his
ewes over the articles "al this is simple,
comfortable, in good taste, furniture for an in
come OF twenty thousand francs, lately remov-
ed. 1t is the right sort OF man-or rather it is
woman; here is wonian's furniture, this
toilet, this wash table, this book stand of in
laid work."
"But the husband g.
~ don't see any husband in the matter no
masculine furniture, single bed no bureau;
we only want to know il she is widow, a
young girl, an old maid
chow shall we find out that 2"
He opened the toilette table. There was
shell comb to which was attached two mag
niicent hairs of golden blond
Good" this hair does not belong to an old
woman let us look farther. He perceived
portrait turned against the wall. lie turned
the canvas. 1t was the portrait of woman,
blond, very pretty, painted in 1925 by Hor-
sent.
at is the portrait of the lady," said De.
camps. ut is the portrait of married wo-
man; the dress indicates it. This woman
was about twenty when it was painted She
must be still very pretty. She is an intelli
gent woman, loving art, judge by the selec-
ton Of the books in this library, by the music
on the piano. My friend, you will not quit
your apartment"
II must ask this lady to give it up to me
then"
mo, you must ask her to share it with
you. You must marry her."
you are mad, you are laughing at me-"
II speak very seriously Your furniture
seems made to go with that of the lady. The
suite of rooms is too large for one of you