The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-23

girl who answered my summons cut
away the ground of consolation.
els Mrs. R. witllin?'' inquired I;
with tone of assumed Indifference.
''Wen-yes, sir-but you can't see
her just Mt present. Mr.. Nlerrington
has a great objection to"
'Confound Mr.. Me,rington" cried
l, pushing my way in. 81 want to
see my wife"
''Oh, your wife is it, sir?" replied
the maid, with d gigesle. Then, cf
course, go up if you please, although
it's as much as my place is WORTH.
You will find aicEa i'll the drawing
room"
"What! Me1'e:%' exclaimed J, pas
siouately, pointing to the closed, win
COWS.
''Yes, of cou1se, sir! That's the
room they always sit ill.,"
They always sit in! Then this sort
of thing must have hccn song Oh for
years!
cleared the two little flights of
stairs Ill Al couple of bounds, and
hurled open the drawing room. door
like q cataput-
found myself in !: large apartment,
darhened, indeed, upon one side, hut
well lit by huge window Invisible
from the front of the ]:ousc) at its
Northern end. In thc centre OF the
room was a raised structure, hung
with purple, and rather resembling u
scafold decorated To- the execution of
royalty, and upon the Scallold sat my
wife Ill an uncomfortable attitude,
| and with an expression of co1lntenance
that she only wears upon those ccrv-
monlous Occa:lons which demand
what are called company manners. -
Between her and the window stood q
gentleman with moustacllcs, ant; i'll i
velvet coat--;lt an easel, and evidently
painting her portrait. He elevated his
eyebrows at my peculiar mode of
entering the room, anl looked towards
my wife us If for an explanation cf.tllc
F! phenomenon.
''It is only my husband. Mr.. Mcr-
1-inSton," returned she. go, John, I
am SO sorry that you found me ont,
for l had meant roy picture to be Il
| pleasant surprise to yo,l on your bith-
day, next week. This was to be my
last sitting but one; an; nobody
knows the trouble have taken to keep
:ou ignorant of my coming here.
That stupid Emily Jane must have left
it out"
mo, my dear" said I; 81 disco
vered the fact for myself, through the
telegraph; and really IL couldn't
help coming down to see how the
picture was getting on. 1t WIS sc
very kind OF you. AND, Ccar INC, Mr.
Mcirington, what charming like
ncSS!'
"Wcl, it's not in IL vci'y good E;ss!t.
you see, ,.cjoincd she, ,ieprecatinSlH
Not having Il room with Il >ky-liSht
I am obliged to hiocll up chose win
dows, and manage Low ] cal. Ii
makes the house dark. and | am af:.ll,
caused you to stumble at tie ,isuwin.
room door"
EYES," said I. tina, was just it:
very nearly came iii head first. l.
only thought II. lock il, un my Why t
the city. l won't interrupt ycu an
other moment; and; indeed, I lav'
myself no time to lose"
L gave the mail. five shl!lings. IN,
thinking it would DE more likely t,
insure her s;lance-a chuck under thi
chin. Then / wrote to Peabody from
Bunhin Row where ny place OF busi
ness is situated) to tell him l woult
not make fool Of him any longer, ba
the fact was that, during the last fey
weeks, / had been making my wife 81
for her picture, which he was to com
and pass his Judgment on as soon IL
it was finished; there was b quest:ol
as to whether the flow in her hal
was an improvcmcnt or not.
But l knew that Emily Jane woul'
tell Anna Maria i'll about it. How
ever, nothing was said until my birth
y day arrived. and with it the portrai
for which the dear creature had s;lvc'
up her pin-moacy, and put herself t.
7 tho eyraataSt i,,cAnvpnipnce T lec1ar