The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-05-30

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gentleman put her carefully into it, and
She must have driven at once home, for
when Mark passed the house she was
sitting in her plain merino dress at the
window, nursing his namesake. She
ran to the door and begged him to come
in, but Mark was full Of his discovery.
and answered, gruffly, "Ask George to
come to me after dinner; have some
thing to tell him."
George heard what his godfather had
to say, with face half angry arc half
incredulous. alt must have been my
wife's sister," lie said.
Mark laughed scornfully at such de-
tense, and, moreover, stoutly asserted
that it was Mrs. Downes, and not Mrs.
Downes's sister. "Come on Thursday,
and see for yourself, George"
eff do, godfather, it will not be be-
cause suspect my wife, but because l
am sure to prove you wrong"
Still George thought it singular that
he could not by the most adroit ques-
tioning get from his wife any allusion
to these mysterious visits. At length
he said, {" Emma, will ask for Thurs
day afternoon, and we will go out to
Aldborough Woods, and get the holly
and mistletoe for Christmas. What do
yousay?'
81 can't go Thursday, George, dear;
have SO much to do"
"What have you to do?' :.
"MOre than can tell you. Is it not
near Christmas, and does not that i'm
ply all sorts of housekeeping duties?
But will 90 with you Friday, dear"
George was little cross at the re-
fusal, and answered, gloomily, "No;
he bad lost the wish to go now" Then
both we're silent, and the evening was
not q pleasant one. All the next day he
told himself that he would not 90 and
watch his wife Thursday; yet when the
day came he was sitting with his god
father at the window. At the usual
hour the carriage arrived, and Mrs.
Downes, with her hair as deliberately
dressed as if she was going to q state
dinner at the bishops palace, ran down
the steps, and was soon driven rapidly
away.
swell, godfather" he said, pleasant
ly, "that is Emma, certainly, and she
is very remarkably dressed; but, for all
that, am sure she has some good reas-
on for what she is doing. I believe !
will wait until she tells me.''
"Don't be such fool, George; 60
and question the servants"
After little reflection, George cross
ed to his own house and rang the bell.
The house-maid seemed astonished at
his appearance, and when he asked
where her mistress was, said she had not
seen her since she had taken her orders
for dinner. Then George went up to
the nursery. "Where is your mistress,
Amp"
SIS she not in the parlor, sir?''
You know she is not. Where did
she 90 in the carriage?"
"Indeed, sir, it is my business to
mind the children; the mistress knows
her own affairs, without the likes Of me
meddling in them"
He turned round impatiently, went
back to Mark Ripon, and got an accu-
rate description of the house to which
he had traced Mrs. George; and in half
an hour the half-culious and half-angry
husband stopped at the pretty cottage.
All was quiet about it, there was no ap.
pearance of company, it locked almost
deserted in its wintry garden.
An exceedingly lovely woman, though
evidently in trail and failing health,
opened the door for him, saving IN an
inquiring voice, ''You want the signor,
sar?"
"No, I wish to see Mrs. Downes; ske
is here, believer"
"Ah, yes; she is here. If you will
please to 60 up one stair. lam SO weak
and tired always"
She pointed to the stairs, and George
went thoughtfully up them. Halt wsy
there was little landing and door,
and here he heard q strange mnsical
voice, and then his wife's merry lapgh to |
its observation. 1t nettled George; he |
knocked sharply, and before an answer
could be given opened the door and
went into the room.
"Oh, George, how provoking! What
made you como, dear?"
His wife was sitting in all her bridal
finery on little elevated platform, and
Signor Sarti was putting the last touch
es to lovely portrait of her.
81 meant it for your Christmas gift,
George, and you have peeped before
uduu. Is uOU GudC 700 D2O!
"Indeed it is, Emma" But Emma
was almost satisfied with his peeping,
20 proudly and lovingly did he take her
home.
"How did you find me out, George?"
ooh, you are easy to find out, Emma.
Of course knew if you went out in a
that you got the carriage at
Morel's. But how do you come to
Know this Frenchman?"
You think all foreigners are French
men, George. He is an Italian, and So
8 his beautiful wife. He came from
london to paint my Lord Bishop and
he cathedral, and the signora was SO
much better here that he resolved to
pend the winter in Yorkshire, and try
md make enough to take hor home to
tally in the spring. My lord asked me
o have my picture done, and papa paid
or it in order to surprise you. 1 think,
George dear, you had better not let papa
now you have spoiled his surprise"
George felt more and more sorry and
umiliated as he looked in the pretty,
rank face, and thought how cheerfully,
fter all, she had taken the forestail.
nent of her Christmas secret.
81 will do as you say, Emma. Has
he signor plenty of work?''
He is painting many of the princl-
al ladies in the city. The Bishop {
kinks very highly of him. Indeed, /
ave seen his lordship there at nearly !
II my visits.''
George let the subject drop now as
uickly as possible to Emma; but he a
liked a rood deal ahout it-and In no e