The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-06-14

her just at present. Mr.. Merripgton has
a great objection to-
"Confound Mr.. Merrington - cried 7,
pushing my way in. 81 want to see nv
wife"
"Oh, your wife is ii, sir - replied tho
maid with a giggle. 'FIheh Of course.
60 up,if you please, although It's as much
as my place is worth. You will fipd them
in the drawing-room.
"What, he'e" exclaimed l. passioh-
ately pointing 10 the closed windows.
"Ies, OF course, sir That's the room
they always sit in."
They dhedys sit Id Then tbls ,prt of
OF thing must have been going on for
years.
cleared the two flights of stair, in d
coul le of bounds, and hdrled open the
drawing-room door like a catapult.
L found myself in a large apartment
darkened, indeed upon one side. but we'll
lit by huge window Gnvisible from the
front Of the house, at its northern end
In the centre of the room was raised
structure, hung with purple, and rather
resembling scaffold decorated for the
execution of royalty, and upon the scaf-
fold sat my wife in an uncomfortable at
titude, and with an expression of counte.
nance that she only wears upon t6ose
occasions which demand what are called
company manners" Between her and
the window stood gentleman with mous.
taches, and in velvet coat-at an easel
and evidently painting her PORTRAIT. He
elevated his eyebrows at my peculiar
mode OF entering the room. and looked
towards my wife as if for an exnlonat;or
OF the phenomenon.
" 1t is only my husband, Mr.. Nterriny.
ton, returned she. 60, John. am so
sorry that you found me out. for had
meant my picture to be pleasant SURPRISE
to you upon your birthday next week.
This was to be my last sittinr but ono
ami nobody knows the trouble l have
taken to keep you ignorant of my comina
here. That stupid Emily Jane nust have
let it out"
NO, my dear" said L; 81 discovered
the fact for myself, through the teleprab .
and really IL couldn't help coming down
to see how the picture was getting on. It
was so very kind of you And, dear me.
Mr. Merrington, what charming like.
nessl'
"Well, it's not in very good light,
you see,' rejoined he, deprecatincly'-
"Not having a room with skylight
I'm obliged to block up those windows,
and manage how | can. 1t makes the
house dark, and l am afraid caused you
to stumble at the drawing.room door.h
Yes, " said L, "that was lust it.
very nearly came in head first. IL onlv
thought I'd look in Oh my way TO the ritv.
| won't interrupt you another moment
and, indeed, | have no time to lose"
gave the maid five shillings. and.
thinking 1t would be more likely to insure
her silence, chuck under the chin. Then
/ wrote to Peabody from Bunhill Row
[where my place of business is situated. !
TO tell him would not make fool of him
any longer; but the fact was that, during
the last few weeks, had been making nv
wife sat for her picture, which he must
come and pass his judgment on az soon a,
it was finished there was n question "a
to whether the flower in her hair was an
improvement or not.
But saw that Emily Jane would tell
Anna Maria all about it. However. MOTH,
ing was said until my birthday arrived,
and with 1t the portrait for which the
dear creature had saved up her pin-money.
and put herself to the greatest inconvcni.
ence. declare my heart smote me for
my base suspicious when | looked upon
that honest face which had never worn
paint before. Upon that dav she said =:
'By the by, John, when the Telegraph
arrived for me from Mr.. Merrinp-
ton, it didn't make you jealous at all, did
it ?"
"Oh, dear no, my darling Jealous
of YOU! Impossible! Not, of course.
that you are not beautiful enough to make
all the world fall in love with you; but
never dreamed of such a thing"
'That's all right, john" said She, kiss
ing me; but there was wicked twinkle
IN her kind eyes as she added drily
am glad to hear you say that for do YOU
know, my dear, | almost thought you
were just little Jealous"