Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-19
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Lefort vas a man some forty years old, with
an income of fifteen thousand francs, fond OF
pic-ures, and painting landscapes himself 10 a
verv remarkable manner. He lived in Rue de
Provence, in an apartment IN the third story
where be was often visited BY bis friend De-
camps, the distinguished painter who has re-
Gently died In Paris, who was very fond OF
Lefoft. and Of sitting 20 talk in his rooms.
They passed long evenings in chatting and
smoking together before an open wiDd0w,
which overlooked the vast gardens OF the
Hotel La6tte aud the Hotel Rothsehild.
One day, Lsfort arrived a. the cafe with a
long face and an air OF great dissatisfaction.
"Wbst is the matter?" said DecamPs.
aThe matter is, | am VT tIhed at having to
move frem our apartment"
"Are you going to leave itS"
eyes, ny landlord wanted TO raise my rent.
I resistcd-he insisted. | grew angry, and
gave up the rooms. lam wrstched now. You
were so fond of thsse rooms"
sAh, we'll, take back your lease"
GYou are right, 1 will taxa it back.o
The next dsy LefoTt 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 a term OF
nine years.
Lefort must move in The month Of October.
dis landlord informed him, however, in an
obliging manner, that the person who was to
succeed hin would not arrive from the country
until the middle Of November, and that be bad
all that time to seek an apartment to suit him;
only Lefort must leave empty a part Of the
suite of rooms to store the furniture Of his sue
cessor. Lefort consented TO this joyful.y, and
the furniture Of the new tenant was brought In.
Meantime Decamps, who saw bin still so
sorrowful at having to quit his rooms, said to
him one day;
"Thsre is perhaps some way to arrange
with your new successor"
al do not know him and DON'T wish to try
to make a bargain"
"Sbow me his furniture,o said Decamps,
and 1 can guess what sort of man b. is f"
Lefort conducted Decamps into the rooms
where the furniture Of The new tenant was
placed.
"Hum, bum,s said Decamps on casting his
eyes over the articles; "ali his is simple,
comfortable, in good taste, furniture for an in
come Of twenty thousand francs, lately re-
moved. It is the right sort Of man-or rather
It Is q woman ; here is womsn's furniture, this
toilet, ibis wash table, this book stand Of in
laid work"
I" But the husbaDd?"
al don't see any husband in the matter no
masculine furniture, a single bed, no bureau;
we only want to know il she is s.widow, a
young girl, an old maid"
How shah We find cut that2
He opened the toilet table. There was a.
small comb, to which was sttachestIe magnl-
fcent hairs OF golden blond.
aGood,D this hair does not belong to an old
woman let US look further. He perceived a
portrait turned against the wall. He turned
the canvas. Ii was the portrait Of a woman,
blond. very pretty, painted in 1925 By Horsent.
0It is the portrait Of the lady," said De-
amps. at is the portrait Of a married wo-
man: the dress indicates it. This women
was ABOUT twenty when it was painted. she
must be still very pretty. She is an intelligent
woman, loving art, / judge, BY the selection Of
the booksi in this library, By the music on The
piano. MY friend, you will not quit your
apartment
/" must ask this lady to give it up TO me,
then"
"No, you must ask her to shsTs it with you.
YQu must marry her"
"You ara mad you are laughing at me-"
@IEpesk very seriously. Your furniture
seems made 10 60 with that OF the lady. Tie
suite Of rooms is too large for one of you alone
it is exactly what is wanted for you two"
"But I dent wish to marry"
"You are wrong. You are forty years old;
this lady suits you in every respect. She
plesses me, this woman, and | wish you to
msrryher. Let me manage"
Lefort gave him leave. When the lady came
from the country, she was surprised to hne
her rooms occupied and her furniture doubled
Decamps awaited HtF. ne suoWeu lue iauy
the rooms arranged by himself and The por-
trait Of Lefort hung up opposite her own.
"See, madame" said be, "wbat wonderful
harmony between these articles Of furniture.
See how well the portrait matches your own,
It IS certainly the portrait Of the man who
should be your husband"
The lady vas sensible and kind. She was
not angry, and laughed heartily, and as be
was an intelligent man, disfinsas, a very good
fellow, WITH a suitable fortune. be was accept
ed. he married the widow and did not leave
the rooms.
he never left them until last year at the
death Of bis wife whom be adored, and whom
be rendered happy till The last moment. De-
camps remained their friend, and both, when
ever they saw him, thanked him for having
made The marriage Of their furniture.