Year: 1874

The result OF that Journey VIII douOtles!
be the marriage Of my daughter with I
young artist now in Rome, the son of {
near neighbor and dear friend Of mine,
who is there studying That marriage
will relieve me Of all further responsibility
Of my daughter. | am old and nearing
the grave. Your tastes are European, and
doubtless you would choose a foreign
country for your home. To this Md
will supply you with whatever money you
wish, and, at my death, will leave you a
joint heir with my daughter of what pos
sess. Your real identity need never be
known here. Promise me to coincide with
me in all these matters, and that you will
not mention our relationship for one year.
And furthermore no one must know that
you are my especially my daughter. =


Il accede TO your desires, was the re-
ply, after few moments Of thought.


''Then | will have it generally under
stood that you are distant relative of the
family, and will at once make preparations
for your accommodation here, said the
Colonel, both arising, and leaving the
room. Bernard Burdois as We shall con-
tinue to call him, strOlling out upon the
lawn, and the Colonel dispatching q SER
want in search Of ClAribel, to whom he
dlvulged the fact soon thereafter that the
visitor was a distant relative Of the family,
and that he would be a member Of the
household for some time to come.


IL welcome you heartily, Mr.. Burdois, ="
said Clarlbel half hour later, when she
met him ON the verandah, ''and i hope
your coming will benefit my father who
-, ri nd Aar
by day. Calhoun is at the best q dull
place, but | hope we shall be able to enter
tain you in pleasant manner"


The gentleman bowed low as he raised
the extended hand to his lips, movement
at which Miss Markham evinced a slight
disapprobation.


Pardon, he said, quickly, ''allow my
atonement for the freedom or offense to
be the fault of my French and Italian
education. have called forth the male
diction of several jealous husbands since
my arrival in America, by too studious
observance Of etiquette.


Clarlbel Markham felt an instructive
dislike for the man as he spoke the words
70 her quick perception they unveiled the
heart Of an accomplished man Of the
world The words were not spoken in a
humorous sense, but sounded more as a
boast and vaunted power Of the female
heart. The man observed he had made a
false impression, and changed the subject
quickly.


You have been in Italy = she said,
finally.


''Yes, all over Europe, and from Rome
| last came. | have many friends among
the artists there, in fact have been one OF
them for some time They are an indo-
lent good natured set of idlers"


''You are acquainted with some of the
American artists + she quietly asked. 1t
was the very subject the man wished to
be interrogated upon.


''Oh, yes There was Rivers New
York painter, fine sensible young man,
but too fond of smoking and lounglng to
suit the tastes Of SignOr Mazzini who has
been delivering art-lectures during the
present year. Then there is Castleton, a
bright, intelligent fellow, too fond of
wlne-you see they all have their little
failings and eccentricitles, and finally my
most particular friend, Thurston. He
perhaps Of all Of them is the most gifted
and positive of success. He chooses the
life-hke for his subjects in painting, and is
always engaged on the portrait of some
new face he has seen. There was some
talk of a serious affair de cOeur with a
Counties Tutti when left But then these
artists are such unreliable fellows. Fit
ting from flower to flower, culling all the
poesy and beauty Of each, and leaving
broken hearts and forgotten troths in the
broad track If hfe's experience.


If the man sought to reach a tender
spot in Claribel Markhams heart and in
1lct deep and painful wound, he had
succeeded. Yet he was a cool and in
different to the effect of his words as
though he did not know that he was openly
defaming the character of a man who vas
more to the woman beside him than aught
else in the world Miss Markham, how
ever, suspected nothing, but said, finally,
her features indicating plainly the emotion
she felt


81 am personally acquainted with Mr.
Thurston, in fact his home is located scarce
a mile from here.


Nj. Burdois expressed the most sbso-
lutte astonlshment.


Indeed, he said, II knew he was from
Virginia, but had no idea he was friend
or neighbor of Colonel Markham's. /
must call upon his family-he would never
forgive me did not. All here comes the
Colonel"


The accession Of Mr. Markham to their
company drifted the conversation into
other channels, and the trio soon entered
the house and disposed of themselves for
the evening.


If Burdois had created doubt in
Claribel's heart as to the perfect fidelity Of
her lover, she never divulged the fact to
him by sigh or word. And when two
weeks later, Bernard Burdois, avowing
that he had important business in Italy,
and could not delay his stay longer, left
Calhoun with the understanding that he
was to meet the Markham's at Rome two
months later, the aversion Clal ibel felt for
him at first had almost disappeared under
his polished exterior and faultless courtesy
His Intercourse with them had been q
pleasant one to all save Colonel Markham,
upon whose brow the deep burrows Of hid
den grief, grew deeper and more apparent
day by day.


(ro BE CONTINUED)