Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-05-29

many smiles i,lto the houses.
Mark sent his carriage home and
in spite of the cold, patiently waited.
After an interval OF two hours Mrs.
Downes' carriage returned, the same
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 by the window nursing
his namesake. She ran to door and
begged HIM to come in, bnt Mark
was too full of hls discovery and an
swered gruffiy, ASK George to come
to me after dinner; | haze something
to tell him.
George heard what his godfather
had to say with face hall angry aud
half incredulolous. 1T must have
been my wiie's sister, ne said.
Mark laughed scorniully at such
defense, and moreover stoutly as
serted that it was Mrs. Downes and
not her ulster. Come on Thursday
and see for yourself George.
IF l do godfather, it will not be
because / suspect my wife but be
cause l am sure to prove you wrong.
Still George thought it singular
that he could not by the most adroit
questioning get from her any sllu
sion to these mysterious visits. At
length he said, Emma l will ask for
Thursday afternoon and we will 90
out to Aldborough Woods and get
the holly and mistletoe for Christmas.
What do you say?'
Il can't go Thursday George dear;
| have so much to do
what have you to do?'
sMore than l can tell. Is it not
nearly Christmas, and does not that
imply all sorts of housekeeping dat.
les? But l will 60 with you Friday,
DEAR
George was little cross at the
refusal. and answered, gloomily
"No; be had lost the wish to 90
now" Then both were silent, and
the evening was not q pleasant one.
All the next day he told himself
that he would not go 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.
Dow mes, with her hair as elaborate
ly dressed IA if she was going to a
state dinner at the bishops palace,
ran down the steps. and was soon
driven rapidly away.
well. godfather" he said, pleas.
antly, shat is Emma, certainly and
she is very remarkably dressed; but,
for all that. | am sure she has some
good reason for what she is doing.
| believe | will wait until shc tells
me-"
"Don't be sach fool, George; 60
and question your servants"
Alter O little reflection, George
crossed 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 nur-
sery. "Where is your mistress,
Ann ?"
"Is she not in the parlor, Sir ?"
You know she is not. Where did
she go in the carriage p
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 accurate description Of the house
to which he had traced Mrs. George;
and in half an hour the hslf-cnrious
and half.angry husband stopped at
the pretty cottage. All was quiet
about it, there was no appearance
of company, it looked almost desert
ed in its wintry garden.
An exceedingly lovely woman,
though evidently in frail aud failing
health, opened the door for him,
saying, in an inquiring tone, You
want the signor, Sar p
Nc, | wish to see Mrs. Downes
she is here / believe p
'Ah, yes she is here. If you will
please to go up one stair. / am 80
weak and tired always.
She pointed to the stairs, and
George went thoughtfulIy up them.
Half way here was a little landing
and door, and there he heard a
strange musical voice, and then his
wife's merry laugh to it's obserVa-
ton. 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 come. dear?'
His wife was sitting in all her bri.
dial Gnery on little elevated plat
form, and Signor Sarti was putting
the last touches TO very lovely
portrait of hor.
Il meant it for your Christmas
gift, George, and you have peeped
beforehand. IL not that too bad p
Indeed it is, Emma But Emma
was almost satisfied with his peep.
ing, so proudly and lovingly did he
take her home.
How did you find me out,
George p
oh, you are easy to fiud out, En-
ma. Ofcourse | knew if you went
out in a carriage, that you got the
carriage at Morreps. But how do
you come to know this French.
man2'
you think ell foreigners are
Frenchmen, George. He is an ltal-
ian, and so is his beautiful wife. He
came from London to paint my lord
bishop and the cathedral, and the
signora was so much better here
that he resolved to spend the win
ter in Yorkshire, and try and make
enough to take her home to Italy
in the spring. My lord asked me to
have my picture done, and papa
paid for it in order to surprise you
l think, George dear, you had bet
ter not let papa know you have
spoiled his surprise
George felt more and more sorry
and humilisted as he looked in the
Iretty, frank face, and thought how