Year: 1870

rib | think it was-and my new acquain-
tance was delighted with it, The girlish
pleasure with which she hid the bone in the
folds of her dress, and insisted that she was
ever so much obliged to me-" togetherwith
the childish eagerness with which she had
whispered her request completely charmed
me. In fact fell in love with her on the
spot and determined that 1 would marry
her if she would give her consent. When
we parted at the entrance of the catacombs
| was warmly invited by both ladies to call
upon them and to bring my friend with me.


To visit Miss Scott in company with
Dick was precisely what did not wish to
do. But here, again, could not help my
self. Though Dick professed to be warm
admirer of the widow, it always happened
that soon after our arrival at the Scott S
apartment he would manage to be in close
conversation with Susie, while fell II prey
to the mother, whose conversational pow
ers were of the most oppressive character.
The same thing used to occur when we Wis
tied ruins and places together, which we
did nearly every day. Still l felt no fear
in his rivalry. Susie evidently liked me,
and always appeared delighted to see me.
Besides l never for amoment supposed that
she could prefer penniless vagabond to a
man of means and recognized respectable
ity.


All this is merely Introductory, and al
though the proceeding statements have a
tendency to make short story long, still
it was necessary, as | have said before, that
Dick should be set forth before l could ask
the question, "Ought not to have done
itg'


One day we prevailed upon the ladies tc
make visit to st. Peters. In order tC
make the excursion partake somewhat o.
the nature of picnic, it was agreed thai
we should take our lunch with us, and ea
it on the immense roof of the church. Ii
order to make sure of securing Susie fo
myself, prevailed upon Mrs. Scott to in
vite the Rev. Leondas w. Smiley, who wa
then in Rome, to accompany us intend
ing to inveigle that worthy divine into ac
ting as an escort to the widow. l neve
thought what would become of Dick i
thus left without lady companion, no
were my suspicious aroused by the sarcas
tic smile with which he praised my fore
thought in inviting the clergyman.


eff any accident should happen-if yo,
break your neck, for example," he remark
ed, cit would be so handy to have clergy
man ready"


The appointed time for the picnic
arrived. Never shall | forget the sensa
tions with which assembled the long, wind
ing inclined plane which leads up to tn
roof of the church. had determined to OF
fer myself to Susie i'll the course of tn


day and though l had no doubt as to til


result, yet the novelty and Importance o


the step was about to take made me some


what nervous. l had, too, an undefine


and wholly unacknowledged feeling tina


she was not after all, precisely the sort c


wife for me. She knew absolutely nothin
Of business, and was about as ignorant {
the duties pertaining to the position fo
which ] intended her as girl could we


be. Nevertheless, / had so strong fame


for the gay little butterfly, that l felt tn
impossibility Of existence apart from hel


For veal OF for woe she held my fate in he
| hands, and l determined that those dea


little hands should be mine, come whi
5 might.


Before we had our lunch we were to a
cend the dome, AT this stage Of affairs
: succeeded in placing the widow in chare
Of the clergyman, and, with Sus
began the ascent of the countless stair


Dick, however, followed so closely behir
? us-in order, as he pretended, to keep Sus
from falling-that | could find no opport
t nifty to ask her the question which was
l my lips. AT last we reached the lante
> and only the great copper ball remained
a be explored. AS Mrs. Scott declined