Year: 1861

one that you ana Emily nave KNOWN eacL
other since the time of her spending
some months in London year since anc
that for length of time you have beer
soliciting her hand. Hence you see why
my sister and myself pretend to hail you
as an old acquaintance from the first mo.
ment of your entering the house. That lis
my story, my dear nephew"


At the instant when the major had con-
cludej his speech, and when the artist was
about to avow with exemplary frankness
and honesty, that he was not the real and
expected Smith, there arose great COM
motion in the drawing room.


"Hasten, my dear friend, cried the
major, =" hasten to give your hand to your
future wife at the altar. The carriages
are at the door. "


Raifaclle reflected moment. If |
speak out now," he said to himself, =" l
bring trouble, scandal, despair, upon this
excellent family ! must tell the truth
to the major when we enter the carriage
-feign illness-anything to save my hon
or. F"


The major little suspected what was
passing through the mind of the young
man, whose arm was in his own, conducted
him to a scat in an elegant brougham,
which was drawn up with several other
vehicles before the door of the villa
Raffaele Smith was an honest man, and
his conscience rcvolted at the act he was
about to perform. He leant forward and
clutched the hand of the major, who sat
opposite to him, with cold and convul-
sive grasp. He could scarcel stammcr
out, in low voice


4 must speak out before we proceed a
step further!!'


The pallid features and trembling voice
Of the young artist alarmed the Old man


"What is the matter?" he cried, "what
can you have to say at such Il moment as
this ?"


Sir" said the artist, g | am not the
man whom you expected


The major fell back on his seat as il
struck by cannon shot.


~ ou are not Mr.. Smith ?" he cricd,in
choking voice.


IIereupon the painter related, with 10y
al lrankness, the incidents which had COLI
Quoted him to the home of Emily's moth
err the error which had kept him there
to the moment of his introduction to the
guests in the drawing-room, and the real,
though apparently trivial, motives which
prevented him from proclaiming the truth.


All, sir" cried the major, in despair
what shall we do now what step can
We take? My niece is ruined. And that
is not the worst, her reputation is conpro-
missed lost AS well as her mothers
and my own. Before more than twenty
persons we have all three declared that
we knew you for some time. How can
we rctracc those words without drawing
upon ourselves the most terrible ridiculc
and scanJall This will kill my niece,
sir p


Il am ready to do anything" said
Rafaelle. How can | repair the mis-
fortune of tins fatal mistake p


at is too late!" cried the major.
"There is 10 way of saving ourselves y


At this moment the coach pulled up at
the church door.


What is to be done?' inquired the
artist, as he alighted before the door OF
the sacred cliicc.


Ny dear SIR answered the major
whose military decision seemed to be re-
stored" this is to be done; you must
marry my neiee. 1t is true You are a
stranger to me; but so is my nephew 5
friend. The manner in which you have
Just spoken the truth to me tells me you
are man of honor Hasten, Sir take
Emily's hand but, remember not a
word of this to any one; it. Il secret be-
tween Us both"


And, with these words the major hastl-
ly pushed Raffaellc into the church. In a
few moments the artist stood before the
altar, beside young and charming girl oil
twenty, whose face wore an expression as
tender and pure us that Of Madonna
painted by one of the old masters OF It.
ally. She cast up her eyes at the ap;
proach Of the young artist; her glance at
assured as she saw what a handsome, and
more than all what an open, honest face
looked upon her own As the major at
forwards declared it mi cat have beea
seen by any one that the emotions and
bushes of both Ratfaclle AMI EmlIy
clearly bctokened an affair of love at first
sight.


The marriage was celebrated, and the
ceremony was followed, to the great JOY o!
the bridegroom, by a splendid repast The
major took advantage at tavoFitc mo-
mcnt to slip out, 50 as to intercept his
nephew Charles, with his friend, tae Other
and original Mr.. Smith. lie met taem
in hotel in the ncighhorng town to
Cockchampton. lie learnt that bota lad
b.en passengers in the tram which had
been run into. Charles had escaped un-
hurt. but his friend had received \ severe
injury.


The major told all to his nephew
Poor Smith No. |, after lying for some
time in a dangerous condition, at length
recovered, and was induced to 60 back to
London, without making any protest
against the marriage, to which common
form of surname and the accidents OF
steam had given rise. Charles at hrs'
wanted to lodge the contents OF five
barreled Colts revolver in the breast o
his improvised brother-in-law but attel
few months he shook hands warmly witt
the man whom he found to be dcarl y lovet
by his sister, and soon became as doyops
. al fo him, &c IN the Ninth or MS