Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-17

to Mark Ripon and got an accurate de-
scription Of the house to which hi, had
traced Mrs. George, and in half an hour
the half curious and half angry husband
atopped at the pretty cottage. All vas
qr,et about it; there was no appearance
of company; it looked almost deserted in
its wintry garden. An exceedingly
lovely woman, though evidently in frail
and failing health, opened the door for
him, saying:
"You want to SEQ the signor, Sir ~
"N0; lwish to see Mrs. Downes; she
is here, / belieyes"
"Ah, yes, she is here. II you will
please go mp one stair. | am SO weak
and tired always"
She pointed to the stairs, and George
went thoughtfully up them. Half way
there was a little landing, door, and
there he heard strange, musical voice,
and then his wife9s merry laugh to its
observation. It nettled George; he
knocked sharply, and before an answer
could be given opened the door and
walked into the room.
"Oh, George, how provoking! What
made you come, dear p
His wife was sitting ia all her bridal
fnery on little elevated platform, aud
signor Starts wss putting the last
touches to q lovely portrait of her.
t ~ mean:it for a Christmas gift, George,
and you have peeped beforehand. Is
| not that too bad ?"
Indeed, it is, Emma"
But Emma was almost satisfied with
his peep!ng, so proudly and lovingly
did he take her home.
"How did you find me out, George ~
"Oh, you are easy to find, Emma.
OF course l knew if you went out in a
carriage that you got it at MorrelPs.
But how did YOU some to know this
Erenchman 7"
| "You think all foreigners are French
men, George, He is an Italian, 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 hero that he resolved to
spend the winter in Yorkshire and try
to make enough TO 60 to Italy soon.
Ny Lord asked me to have my picture
done, and papa paid for it in order to
surprise you. I think, George, dear,
you had better. not let papa know you
have spoiled his surprise"
+ George felt more and more sorry anu
Inundated as he looked in the pretty,
frank face, and thought how cheerfully
after all, she had taken the forestall-
nent of her Chistnas secret.
~ will do as you say, Emma Has
signor plenty of work"
he is painting many Of the princi-
pal ladies in the city. The bishop
thinks very highly of him. Indeed, l
have soon his lordship there at nearly
all Of my visits.' George let the SUBJ
jecs stop low ae quickly as possible;
but he talked good deal about it
and In no very good temper-to his
godfather. For once Mark had no ex-
cuse for his suspicious. He WAS quite
awed by the fact that he had dared to
think wrong Of interviews which the
bishop had arranged and honored with
his presence. He had lost faith in his
own penetration regarding tho sex,
and George aod Emma were quietly at
some pains to convince him that good
and true women are the rule, not the
exception.
| Though l cannot describe exactly
how it came about, know that the
next Christmas Mark was the gay old
bachelor in Ripon, and. opened festival
ball at Georges house with Signor Gar
its's handsome sister-the worry same
lady who the bishop himself, very soon
afte..ward, made Mrs Mark Ripon.
/