Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-13
w. d. WALLACH.
MARRIED FOR A DINNER.
CONTINUED.


what late" continued the lady; "all the COM
rsny 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. 1 see you are
In ysur travelling dress, and, in your haste
have forgotten your luggage at Cokehampton.
You will fad in that wardrobe some clothes of
Charles. He wrote to us that you were both
of the same ststure-I see that you are little
taller. However, that is not material. Pray
attire yourself as quickly as you can. In q
quarter Of an hour my brother, the Major will
come here 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, T" said the lady, holding out
her hand, with another Of her elegant but
most inexplicable smiles. And she went out,
leaving my friend in a condition bordering
upon complete stupefaction.
"Well, well,' he said after be had some
what recovered himself ''if this is q farce, it
is not bad one. l mus. admit that the mat
ron OF the piece plays her part in the most
captivating manner. But I think may be
allowed to call her a most puzzling old lady.
Ah 1T only understood single word Of this
affair If I only knew her son who is called
Charles, and her brother, the Major. who is to
como to conduct me to the assembled company,
to introduce me, and to offer me-something to
eat, 1 hopei But must hasten to put on the
clothes Of Charles-my most intimate, though
luc SdiV W6I0 IN
the wardrobe. All this is capital, Coat
waistcoat, crayat, patent feathers, all here;
and on the dressing table oils, brushes, cos
metics. Charles is evidently swell of the
most resplendent character"
In q very short time Rafaelle Smith was
transformed into an elegant cavalier. While
he was contemplating himself with some salts
faction in a glass, and taking in, by several
holes, the band Of that article Of attire which
envelopes the neither eItremities, with q view
of silenciDg the murmurs of his stomach, an
individual entered the apartment, and Rata
ellie heard behind him, in a deep bass voice
well, my dear Mr.. Smith, are you now
resdy?"
A glance at that tall, meagre military form,
that hooked nose, that white moustache, told
the painter that it was the Major. Rafaelle
was by no means comfortable in spirit as he
turned towards the old man. The latter, how
ever, seemed to review him from head to foot
with an air of satisfaction.
"I am glad to find that Charles has not de-
ceiyed US. l must admit that you are a smart
young fellow, and not ill-suited 20 the business
we have before US. Your hand Mr.. Smith
We are not strangers, although we now see
each other for the frst time. L hope yeu
havn't forgotten the instructions given you by
Charles :"
''On that psint, my dear SIR" replied Raf-
fselle, "you may be quite easy. / can assure
you that have not forgotten one word of what
Charles has told me"
every good. You will recollect that my
niece's name is Emily, and that it is absolutely
essential, in 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 proceedings may not
appear strange, unbecoming and abrupt, that
you should pretend to have made the acquain-
tance of niece while she was staying with her
mother in London, year ago. Do you un-
derstsnd! !''
Perfectly, Major, perfectly"
"Then let Us go down at once"
RaFselle Smith experienced considerable
hesitation at this critical moment but the
singulsrity of the adventure, the desire to see
the conclusion, and, it must also be added, the
deyOuring appetite which tormented him, all
united in compelling him to follow in the Ma
jor's footsteps. The latter led the way down
vast and richly decorated staircase, and
opening door, ushered him into mo 2 aifcent
drawing room, where the bewildered painter
found himself in the presence of q brilliant
and numerous assembly. The entrance of the
Major and painter produced general sensa-
tion.
II have the honor" said the Major, " to
introduce to you Mr.. Smith, the future hus-
bsnd Of Emily ShuttIeworth, my niece"
At this extraordinary announcement, Rata
ellie felt his knees giving way beneath him
all the blood in his body seemed to be rushing
into his cheeks-he was a victim to vertigo
he was fairly stunned-and if the Msjor had
not supported him, he would certainly have
fallen backwards
"Be COOL" whispered the Major, "be self
possessed, Smith Master yeur emotion"
To recover himself cost the young artist the
greatest effort he had ever made in his life.
The Msjor conducted him toward the lady
whom he had already seen, and who was intro
duced to him as the mother of Emily. In 3
very short time Rsffaelle found himself sur
I.1 hxyf and frsa of D tha
young lady, whom he had no more idea Of mar
rying than Of allying himself matrimonislly
with q squaw Of tie Choctaw Indians Raffa-
ellie felt himself somewhat of q culprit, as he
stood there receiving congratulations, and
overloaded with marks Of respect and friend
ship from the well-bred people congregated
in q house wherein he had no better claim to
be present than burglar In an excess of
embarrassment, Rafaelle turned in search of
his military guide. He was resolved to put an
end to an affair which was rapidly becoming
too serious and too alarming for any man of
aelicacy to prolong by his silence. The Major,
taking him aside into q recess of one of the
spacious windows, cut short the first efforts of
the artist to carry out his honorable intention.
"Tut, tut :" said be with true military
promptitude; "not q word, my dear Smith.
repeat. your arrival makes me the haPpiest
man alive"
But, my dear sir, your niece
my niece thinks as 1 de, sir, and as her
mother thinks. Mr.. Smith, just imagine what
We felt when heard that train had been run
into only few miles from Cokehampton-sev-
eral carriages smashed, sir; and had you been
in that train, my niece would have lost for
tune of 6fty thousand pounds.
The perplsIed Rsdaells could only repeat
the numerals in reply.
"Yss, my dear Smith," continued the Ma
ior; &" ffty thousand, sir! For tomorrow the
date given in my old cousin Lucy's will ex.
pires."
Tomorrow the date given in your old cou-
sin Lucy's will expires was all that Rafaslie
could repeat.
Tomorrow at twelve, sir. But that stupid
dog Charles should have told you all this But
perhaps he has only very imperfectly explain
ed 70 you my cousins extraordinary will -
every imperfeetly," replied Rsffaelle.
".weil, will furnish you with all the de-
tails You must know that my cousin Lucy
died q year since, leaving sum Of money
amounting to fifty thousand pounds. Now that
sum was left to my niece Emily, on the express
condition that she should be Q married woman
year and day after the date Of the tesla
tors death. Failing in which, all the proper
70 I'm