Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-12

was going. None of my chums know where
am, and only intended to bid them good bye
by letter, after had put fifty miles of railroad
between us.n
The horses still maintained their fast pace,
and Rsdaells threw himself back in the car
risgo, giving free rein to his ims gination. 81
have it.. he cried, suddenly slapping his knee,
II have found the key OF the engine. I'll
wager that this is the work of Thompson or
Megilp. l don't know which, but have
dim recollection of one of them telling me- he
had an uncle living in the neighborhood of
COkehampton. That's it.. Either Thompson
or Megilp is rusticating down here-has seen
me get out at the railway station-and Sublime
ideal has sent me an improvised invitation.
clever and discreet groom-a m mysterious note
l am carried Oft alight at the avanculsr
door-delightful surprise-introduction tion-goOd
dinncr-capirsl little party-choice wine-con-
versstion. Ah! good joke
Rahaslle had no sooner brought his soliloquy
to this satisfactory termination, than he thrust
his head out OF the window. He was resolved
to put his idea at oEce upon an authentic basis,
by sxtraeting few confrmatory replies from
the groom.
eli, cOachman. just pull up a moment
Young man." he continued, addressing the
groom, 81 want you to answer me uestion'
The cOachmsn pulled up his horses; the
groom was at the door in an instant.
- Your masters name is Thompson in
quired Bafaelle.
The groom touched his hat "No, sir"
Then you are in the service of Mr. Megilp,"
I" Don't know no person Of that name sir :"
replied the laoonic groom.
Raffaelle fell back in his seat, thoroughly
routed. In an instant the active groom had
resumed his place beside the driver, and the
vehicle was whirling rapidly along the road
Rafaelle pulled his hat over his eyes, crossed
his arms, and felt like general whose elite
corps sent forward to turn the tide Of battle,
had just been repulsed- At the
end Of ten minutes the brougham stopped before
| a little green gate, which was Immediately
opened. The artist descended, and mechani-
cally followed q servant, who led him across q
garden. After proceeding along trimly-kept
gravel walk, he reached the back entrance o.
u country mansion.
"Beg pardon, SIR" said the domestic, d" but
mistress thought you would not mind coming
into the house through the kitchen, as you
might not like to be seen by the company till
you had changed your dress"
Don't mention it, replied Raffelle, cast
ing glance at the great fire. the spit and the
bright stewpans They crossed the kitchen,
and the servant, opening the door, lod the way
up the narrow staircase.
9 Hush. Be silent as you can, sir; we are on
the private stairs of the hOnse, leading to your
apartment. Pray take care; hold on by the
rail-fOllow me-" Rafael assembled on tip toe
This is your room, sir. Will you please take
seat while go and inform my mistress"
Rafaelle dropped into chair, once more en-
tangled in an inextricable maze of supposition
There is evidently sOmo mistake here. 1t
isquite clear that sm mistaken for some one
else. When the lady of the house discovers
that am total stranger-well, / shall be po-
litely shown to the door, amidst the Laughter
of the company, that's ALL Come. the affair is
taking tragic turn. That splendid repast, on
which my imagination dwelt is being whisked
frap unia 10 ohn 49,
ner. But if it turns out so, muttered the en-
ragged artist between his teeth--'.if am eject
ed from this house, my uaappeased appetite
will drive me to half kill that villainous fun
key who has brought me into this scrape.
Hark. 1 hear footsteps, They approach. The
/ cstsstrOp is now at hand'
The servant entered and whispered to Raf-
faelle:
"Here is my mistress.''
| At the same instant q lady entered the apart
ment. She appeared about fifty years of age.
Grave, self-pOssessed, and perfectly lady-likc
her deportment resssurea the bewildered pain
ter. The lady requested the servant TO wits
| outside, advanced, aud held out her hand with
| . smile. in which there was Just shade Of ele-
CANT and well-bred familiarity. RafasIlc re-
| sponded to this polite reception by making
several bows of an attempted aristocratic
| character.
What an earth is she going to say to me?"
II
| pears to look upon me in the light Of friend.
| wonder what reason she will assign fer my
/ abduction"
"Ah, sir :" began the lady, " We have been
| awaiting your arrival with tho greatest anxi-
| ETY.. II appears that Charles has not accom-
panied you, as we requested him to do. At
| any rate We have received you" (Another
smile on the part Of the lady-giving her. in
l Rafaslle's eyes, the most Sphinx like attri-
l butesl "I am sure you will agree with me
/ when say that Is the essential point. How
| many thanks and apologies do we not owe
you Z"
/ "Oxe me, madam! l am sure-yes-ah ~
replied the young PALMER, judging that in such
q reply there was nothing TO compromise him
"Yes, sir. But Charles has made you ac-
L Quainted with the imperious motives which
have caused US to act in this abrupt manner |;
and these strange and exceptional circum-
stances will, / trust completely excuse US in
your eyes. Only an intimate friend of my
son-a friend whom he has known since boy
hood; gentleman in " hom we could confde
as in him-such a person only could we admit
to q completely in our plot. Tho eulogium
which Charles passed upon you, in his letter
| Of yesterday, informing US Of your immediate
departure from London, has fully satisfied US.
My dear sir, am certain we shall never have
| to repent having reposed our entire confidence
! in you-of having confded to you that which
| We hold dearest in the world and 1 beg Of
you to rest assured that you will never have
cause to regret having placed implicit reliance
ON the honor of Charles and ourselves"
II am certain Of il, madam" answered
Rsffaelle, whose curiosity was now raised 10
the highest pitch.