Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-13
IN ROUGE. LOUISIANA TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 13 1881

10 Mark Ripon and got m accurate de
scription Of the house to which he hat
traced Mra, George, and in half m hou,
the half curious and half angry husband
stopped OF the pretty cottage. All wa.
quiet about it there was no appearance
OF company; itlooked almost deserted in
It's wintry garden. An exceedingly
lovely woman, though evidently in irail
and failing health, opened the door for
him, saying:
| You want to see tho signor, sir p
| mo; wish to gee Mrs, Downss she
10 here, believer"
"Ah, yes, she il here. IF yon viii
please 80 up one stair. am 20 weak
and tired always"
She pointed to the stairs, and George
went thonghtfnlly up them Half way
There vas little landing, q door, and
there he heard strange, musical voice,
and then his wife's merry laugh 10 its
observation. II nettled George; he
knocked sharply, and before an answer
could DO given opened the door and
walked into the room.
"Oh, George, how proyokiug' What
Aade you come, dear ~
~
Ills wife was sitting in all her bridal
ifnery on little elevated platform. and
signor Starts was putting the last
touches to q lovely portrait of her.
II mean.it for y Christmas gift, George,
and you hare peepcd beforehand. IL
not that too bad ~
Indeed, IL IL, Emma"
But Emma was almost satisfied with
his peeping, so proudly and lovingly
did no take her home
Chow did yon find me out. George ;"
"Oh, you are easy to find, Emma.
or course | knew if you went out in
carriage that you 90, it at Morreifs.
But how did you come to know this
Frenchman ~
You think all foreigners are French
men, George, He IL an Italian, and 30 Is
his beautiful wife. He came from
London to paint my Lord Bishop and
the cathedral, and the signora was 40
much better here that he resolved to
spend the winter in Yorkshire and try
to make enough to 90 to Italy soon.
My Lord asked me to have my picture
done, and papa paid for it in order to
surprise you think, George, dear,
You had better not let papa know you
have spoiled his surprise"
George felt more and more sorry ana
Inundated as he looked in tho pretty. !
frank face, and thought how cheerfnlly |
after NIL, she had taken the forestall- !
ment of her Chistmas secret.
u will d? as you ray, Emma. Has !
signor plenty OF work.
ne is painting many of the princi.
pal ladies 10 the city. The bjsbop
thinks very highly of him. Indeed. /
have seen his lordsbip there ut nearly
all Of my visits George let the sub.
Iect stop now As quickly rs possible
but be talked o good deal about it,
and in no very good temper--to his
godfather. For once Mark had no ex-
;use for bis suspicious. He Was quite
lwed by the fact that he had dared to
think wrong Of interviews which the
bishop had arranged and honored with
,ls presence. He had lost faith in his
'wn penetration regarding the sex,
md George and Emma were quietly ut
ONE pains TO convince him that GOOD I
md true women are tho rule, not the :
Though | cannot describe exactly
ow is came about. ! know that the
ext Christmas Mark was the gay old y
achelor in Ripon, and opened festival
all at Georges house with Signor Sar- =
as handsome sister--the very same
'dy who tho bishop himself, very soon
fterward, made Mrs. Mark Ripon. ;.