The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-11-24

: which was covered with foamin,
h cream. 4 finger-bowl cotaining wa
d ter scented with mint, and the othe
o usual accessories to the close of
i genteel repast, were brought in a
e last, and the supper was ended. Th,
: whole scene impressed the mind {
d the traveller with surprise and de
It light, accustomed as he had been [,
d eating the plainest and coarsest foot
v in the widest places, seated on hi
e heels" and with his fingers only il
S the place of knife and fork.
e Alter finishing his supper he tel
2 strongly inclined to go back to tho
e garden again in hopes of rene wing
: his conversation with the mysterious
e lady, but he feared that this might
: perhaps not be quite discreet, and so
g after lighting cigar, he sailed forth
for walk in the enyirons, to breathe
5 the evening air and enjoy the beauty
f and grandeur of the surrounding
scenery.
On his return he found the peasant
; maid at the door awaiting him. She
said that her mistress wished 10 see
him.
lie accordingly followed her into
the garden, and yeated himself upon
stone bench not far from the win.
dow. Scarcely was he seated before
the blind opened little, and the lady
appeared, though closely yelled.
II thought, Sir" she said. "that
perhaps you would not be unwilling,
before you go away, 10 do me a
favor"
He assured her that his services,
and soul, were entirely at her
disposal.
at is the service of your pencil
that | require" said the lady.
'My pencil!' repeated the traveller.
"Yes. You have warned me that
some day, at any rate, and possibly at
any time, my mudedars may die.
Nov what ! have to ask of you is
that you will make me a painting OF
it, showing the flow ers in the differ
ent aspects they assume in different
parts OF the day, so that when the
plant dies | may have an image Of it
that | can preserve forever"
The traveller was so much sur
prised at this request that he did
not know at first what to answer.
you hesitate she said.
81 ask your pardon, my sister, but
| will tell you frankly how it is with
me. What you ask of me is not
simple sketch, but painting, and
that is a day of my time aud my
time is planned and arranged SO
closely that it win be with difficulty
that, by travelling day aud night, |
can fulfill eli engagement | have
made for fixed day on the other
side Of the continent
"Then," said the lady, speaking in
sad and disappointed tone of voice,
I'VE will think NJ more about it,
Now the engagement which M,.
Marcoy considered so important TO
fulill was one which he hsd made
with friend whom he had taken
leave of at q dinner-party On board a
vessel in a harbor on the Peruvian
cost. Ills friend was going around
Cape Horn by sea TO the mouth of the
Amazon, while Mr.. Marcoy himself
was to cross the continent by land,
over mountains, through trackless
forests, and across bouGdiess plains,
and yet he had offered 10 lay a wager
that he would arrive first. The
wager had been accepted, but the
amount had not been fixed, but was
left to be decided by the party at the
table.
In the midst of the mcrriment OF
the party after the dinner the subject
was brought up. One of the guests
proposed hundred ounces.
The value of hundred ounces was
something like two thousand dollars
Mr. Mavcoy told them they were
crazy in supposing that poor natu-
ralist, possessed of little else than his |
pencils ard his geological hammer, |
could pay anything like a hundred |
ounces. When he offered 10 lay q |
wager, he said, ii was with the un- |
derstanding that the amount which |
would be fixed upon would be in |
some measure commensurate with !
the resources of an artist and a man |
Of science. But since they were talk-
ing of a hundred ounces, he must beg |
to withdraw his proposition alto
gether.
They asked him what amount he
would be willing to stake.
He very gravely suggested five
francs.
This proposal was received with
peals of laughter by all the company.
The idea of race of three thousand |
miles across a continent by land,
against one Of fifteen Thousand
around it by sea, fora stake of five
francs, seemed so absurd that it was
received with universal hilarity.
"Well,7 said Mr.. Marcoy, still pre-
serving the utmost gravity, ''if you
think that stake is to small, | will not
object TO add to it a small bundle OF
cigars !"
This proposal only increased the
general merriment; and at length.
after various other propositions and
repartees had been made, it was deci-
ded that there should be no wager at
all, but that the race should b5 run
by the contestants simply for the
honor of the victory.
And this was the engagement
which Mr.. Marcoy referred TO in
speaking of the urgent necessity that
he was under to pursue his journey
across the continent without any un-
necessary delay.
But, being touched by the sad aud
disappointed tone in which the lady
said "ThGn we will think no more of
it," he replied, "Yes, sister, we 'wilP
think abont. | was TOO hasty in my
answer. Excuse and forgive me for
refusing so bluntly. | will stay and
make the picture, since you desire
me TO do so. will begin the work
tomorrow morning. And you, on
your part-will you not do some
thing for me Z"
"What can | do fer you?7 asked
the lady.
81 wish you to do something for
me which will be very little for you.
and will be very easily done, bat !
which will give me very great plea
sure-and that is that you should
raj % the veil which conceals you for
a few moments, SO that | shall not
heye to go away without having
seen the face of one 10 whose gener-
GUS hospitality 1 owe so much"
"Ah, Sir" replied the lady, ''that
is impossible. Except the few per
sons who personally attend upon me
no one will ever see my face till the
day when God calls me to himself. 1t
is solemn vow which | have taken.
and no earthly consideration could in
duce me to break it. You could
readily conceive, Sir, that for lady
to take resolution TO withdraw
utterly from the woeld, ana bury
herself forever in such a snlitndn as