Year: 1878

o1ent to answer, eff there can be found an artist to do her justice.'

 This is the first symptom of modesty you ever showed, master painter said my uncle, smiling, "a pretty complaint for nephew, is It not, Aurelie He ac. tually owns your beauty to be superior to his talent.'

 Aurelle smiled in turn and then said, 'Your nephew undertakes the one and overrates the other"

 She might have said my nephew-1 thanked her in my heart for saying your instead.

 She now sat down and began sketch ing, but could do nothing to satisfy myself.

 Presently my uncle was called out of the room to speak to his gardener and we remained alone.

 felt ought to have addressed my beautiful original, as 8 mere matter of courtesy, but for the first time in my life l found nothing to say to lovely woman.

 She now kindly came to my relief.

 "You have been in Italy, hear, ]" said she.

 "Yes, replied I but instead of am plifying on the theme she supplied me, I only relapsed into silence.

 "It is the land of beauty, I have been told, added she, "both as to it's land scapes and it's matchless daughters"

 "I once thought so," said I but I find was mistaken"

 Indeed p said she, with bewitch- ing smile. "Can Italy have altered so much? An, well her music is left her still-nothing can rob her of her suprem- acy in that respect"

 "I have heard lovlier voices-at least. 8 lovelier voice." said I, more as if think ing aloud than actually addressing her, " since 1 left the classic land of song, than when on the banks of the Tiber.''

 She colored slightly, and I resumed my work. My uncle now returned.

 "You get on very slowly, boy" said he on glancing at the canvas "but I can't spare you the original any longer for to-day, for we have an engagement. Gan you come again tomorrow at the same hour p

 This was tantamount to turning me out of the house, where I had expected to dine and spend the evening with my aunt.

 However, felt it was best I should not remain there any longer than neces- sary, and concluded my uncle prudently thought the same. Any way, I prom ised to return on the morrow.

 When my family questioned me about Aurelie, I said, as coldly as I could, that she was very handsome, and that my uncle had shown his taste in his choice of a bride, but carefully concealed the bitter feelings fermenting in my heart.

 "What pity p said my father. "To think she might have been your bride instead, but for your headstrong refusal even to see her-for of course you would have fallen in love with her if you had. J

 The next day 1 resumed my task, well resolved to work vigorously and finish the portrait as soon as possible for found it was only increasing my own tor ment to have to dwell on those exquisite features in the hope of portraying them 

 As before, my uncle left us alone a long while, and then came to inspect my work. Aurelie rose, and he sat down in the chair she had quilted, opposite the portrait, to decide if the attitude was 

 "But the face is not more advanced than it was yesterday" observed he. " How is that, Adrian ?"

 "I have not been able to satisfy my self," said I. "I have rubbed out-I have altered I told you it was a diff cult task-and now," added I, stopping down to the level of his ear, "I ac- knowledge it to be impossible"

 So you refuse to paint your aunt ?'' said he, abruptly.

 "It would take too long, I fear," re- piled l, evasively.

 "Then, said my uncle, bursting into a hearty laugh, |" I see how it ls-I must give you lifetime to do it; and if you can't paint your aunt, you will perhaps succeed in painting your wife p

 Aunt-wife What was the meaning of it all

 My brain seemed to reel round, and l believe l grasped the armchair to steady myself. But the delightful meaning was at length made clear to my under. 

 My uncle, finding he could not con- quer me by threats or by force, had, like a clever General, taken recourse to strata gem-calculating on the perversity ot youth, as he since told me, for my falling in love with Aurelie the moment I should think an insuperable obstacle stood be- tween us.

 And when the lovely Aurelie consented to act the part of his bride and sit fol her portrait, she was actuated by spic, of revenge against the obdurate nephew who refused even to see her before h, declined her hand.

 She did not know then what she learned sinct-that she was her own rival in m, heart

 How Butler Talks.