The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-03-14

GOAAIEE Was AL GELl5L Ol uD mean
genius. His studio was almost un
der the shadow Of st. Peters. Thith
er 1 walked, thinking he might know
something of the Wythe family, q:
tehy came from his own State.
found him busjly occupied at his labor
when entered. Laying down his
palette and brushes, he extended hi:
hand and babe me be seated.
II am afraid I have interrupted
yOu,' 1 remarked.
"Not at all, ;" he replied, 'I have
overwOrked myself Of late and an
glad TO have a little repOse. Come le
Us talk. What have you been doing
with yourself for the past week?
have seen nothing Of yOu.n
''Not much" replied, "save writ
ing up my correspondence. Has i
been a week since 1 was here? haC
no idea it was so long"
Eyes; L believe L have not seen yOJ
since last Sunday, and to-day is Sat
urday," he answered.
He was sitting before his easel, and
; as he spoke l walked toward his chair
saying:
dIf you have no objection 1 would
like to see what you are doing"
"COme on" he replied with mer
ry laugh.
1 stepped behind him, and to my
astODishment 1 stood before the pOr
trait Of Virginia Wythe.
1t was quite finished, excepting
some fine touches, and was life-lik'
picture.
"Who is that?'' 1 asked glad to con
eeal my surprise as 1 stood behinC
"a lady from my own State" hr
replied. sis she not pretty@
''Miss Wythe, is it not ?'' 1 asked.
He turned sharply around as
spoke.
$50 you know her, eh?'
'I only met her this morning."
replied; and then [ narrated the cir
cumstance which occurred at thu
Pantheon.
"They are nice people," he said.
"Did you know them at hOme?"
asked.
"Not personally" he replied; "bu
everybody in Alabama has heard o
the Wythes, and some with gOOC
cause, too"
"rell me something about them,"
said.
SIT Is not difficult" he said, Major
Wythe was planter, an as irritable
an old fellow as you could find any.
where. At one time he wSs immense.
ly wealthy, but somehow or other he
lost great part of his property. The
family are still pretty well of, but are
nothing like as rich as formerly. The
Major died some fifteen years ago, but
not until he had seen two Of his sons
go headlOng down TO the grave. Mrs.
Wythe is a very old lady, and has
seen a great deal of sorrow in her day;
but she has borne it remarkably well.
They had three SONS in all. The two
older ones, Tom and Rudolph, were
wild, rowing characters, not good for
much, except for quarrel and drink.
Tom, the oldest, cOurted a girl whose
father was much opposed to his visit
ing his daughter. Frequent and fierce
alterations ensued between Tom and
Mr.. Hanscomb. One day Tom came
to the house under the influence of
liquor and got into a quarrel with
Hanscomb and struck him. The lat
ter quietly went out and got his dOu-
ble-baTreled gun, and returning, fired
| lhu lOduS llAlO 4OLl w JCLLs hlllluE
him on the spot. 1t nearly broke his
mothers heart. A year had scarcely
passed ere the second son, Rudolph,
in a quarrel over cards was stabbed.
He fingered for a year or two and IL
nally died. The third son, William,
only died a few years ago. He was IN
some respects a better man than his
brothers, but he was unfortunate, if
such term IS proper when speaking
of his mental malady; he studied di-
vinity and became a clergyman; but
his ministerial career was a brief one
believe he never had but one parish
and did not keep that long. They en-
deavOred to make him out insane, but
there appeared to be a great deal of
method in his madness. He exhibit
ed some strange freaks, however.
First he began borrowing some waltz
able books, which he never returned,
and when asked for them he denied
that he ever had them in his posses
sion. Then he passed to the next
stage of apprOpriating to himself any
thing that struck his fancy. In plain
terms, he took to stealing. The fam
lily were very much distressed at his
singular conduct, and, 1 think, were
happier when he died. He was a
man of remarkable ability. and had
more mind than all of them put to-
gether. He was the father of Miss
| Wythe, whom you met to-day. Such,
in brief, is the history of the Wythe
family"
The day following my visit to COul-
ter called to see the Wythes and
found them at home. If was pleased
with the appearance of Miss Wythe
at the Pantheon, 1 was doubly so
when saw her in plain white Swiss
muslin dress, without any adOrnment.
I thought never before had seen so
lovely a woman. Day after day
met some of the Wythe family, until
1 might have fairly been counted
among their intimate friends.
At length the season of their depart
ure drew nigh, and 1 counted the
days as a malefactOr might be suppOs-
ed to reckon the period that would
sever his connection with material
things.
/ was sitting by Miss Virginia one
day when she mentioned the fact OF
their leaving Rome.
''But why gO?" l asked.
She looked at me curiously as she
returned, "But why stay?"
1 held down my head, for my heart
was palpitating, and knew my face
was crimson.
"But why stay ?' she repeated.
"Indeed cannot tell,n l replied,
Excepting it be to give pleasure to
those who behold you"
II was now her turn to be confused.
Her face flushed and she gave a care
less laugh.
"Oh! you'll find others that will in
terest you more than / do" she an
swered.
"Never r' replied, with emphasis
so deep that l startled myself l knew
then that my secret was exposed and
she knew it, too but she was an hon
est, frank girl and came to my rescue
and helped me out of the misery that
was swallowing me up. Gazing
straight into my eyes, she said:
~ think that L understand you; at
least will not feign ignorance. You
would be near me; perhaps l interest
you, and you are learning to think
more of me than is good for you. If
am correct, L am sorry for you"
A deep drawn sigh, that L could not
have restrained if my life had depend
ed on it, escaped me.
"YOu have guessed truly" 1 replied.
I" Answer me one question:" and
took her hand as 1 spoke. HAS an
other better claim than myself ?'
HNo, no." she replied; sit is moi
that. l never listened to tale of love.
Why should /? 1 have seen so much
sorrow that it is only lately that ]
have begun to think there might be a
silver lining behind my black cloud
''You have seen sorrow ~ L ejacula
ted. "Is it possible What has sOr.
row to do with a creature as fair a:
/, yourself?"
She waved her hand.
''Let us talk of other matters" sht
said. "Where do you go when yoJ
leave Rome.
''To perdition, perhaps" respond
ed, ''if / can't follow you" and
ground my heel desperately on tn,
floor.
She started and became pale.
"Don't speak in that manner sht
said.
shook my head mOurnfully.
"We go direct to Naples; perhap
we may meet again"
81 shall soon follow yOu,U I replied