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Show 106 Tile Bacl1clor-A Tale. [At•GUST1 ~nri~rr whic~l- time -h~ --had read one - rha~~~r ·;~ Searle tha~;-Jin-n-:r-was waiting. He politely Blackstone a<nlthe entire C<mteots of two ci rc.da- i<witcd me to dine with him, ood otthe risk of coating libraries. tracting a dyspepsia, I accepted his Jn\'Jtatw_n. If •· \Veil, Hipton," said he," you look melancholy I h:nl found a chef d' reuvre of Hubcns h~ng:mg 011 this brio-ht afternoon" Ids \\"all I could not have been more surpnsed . than "I a~1 rather dull. and dl'Ooping," said Ripton, in seciug the exquisite beauty of his daughter. "hut pray be seated.'' Your quotalion about the ~em ~tud the c~sket con- Mr. Dawson took a chair and yawned listlessly. veys too artificial an image for h~r n:tll\'C sweet" I wish," said he," ilulwer would write another ness ami untutorctl grace. She ts a flower, scnovel, ahhongh I think the Last of the Barons a eluded, chaste, bloomingfit capital to the fair column of his fame. Don't yon think it, Ripton, the most interesting historical no\•el vou have el'Cr read~·· •Ut ilos in srptis secrctus m1scitur hortis ~:~~81~:~~~:~; :~~~. ~~~~~~~~:11~r~:~~~~at imhcr.'" '' P~rlmps so. In tl.usc by Sir Waller which I have seen, .1\'lary Queen of Scotts is introduced, "You are right," said Dawson, "hut beware and the enchantment of bcr history withers the Jest tbis flower lose its deli('atc tints by your careinterest you might otherwise feel for tho other less handling, for Catullus observes in the same characters, aud they become almost fatiguiug, as poem from which you have just quoted-- '\Vhcn a well-graced ar:tor lell\'CS the stage, 'fhc eyes of men are idly hcnt,' &c. You remember." "By-the-by, Claude," said Dawson," why do Claude Ripton laughed at the tone of mocl• so-yuu not write a rom:utce 1 Yuu have the ability to lemnity with which this was said, and having com-win the fame of a successful novelist." p!cttd his toilet, he wok up his hat and riding-whip. .. Excuse me1 Monsieur Jea.nt said Ripton, •· Dawson, excuse me, lam going out for a ride, "for not following your complimentary suggestion; will you amuse yourself by looking over that book 1 am, however, so uuerly indifferent to what you of e11gravings, or"-- . call fame that if I were a lame man I would not "I will accompany you," said Dawson; "In take the' trouble of walking across the street to f:ict, I left my horse with your servant when 1 obtain it-Les plus belles aunCes sont celles de Ia came np." . jcunesso. \Vhy waste them in toiling after' the "Allons, ~\'!onsienr Jean," saitl Ripton, and ill shadow of renown, or the echo of applause.' 11 a moment the two young men were mounted. ''You al"e philosophic," replied Dawson,'' but 1 The evening was clear and mild-tho air, elastic on ly threw out the hint, because I thought it a pity and balmy, was slightly scented \~·ith the sweet that your profound knowledge of the mysteries of odor of !lowers and blossoms, wh1le the atmosthe toilet-the manners and customs of open•. phere hung like a purple veil over the tops of the dancers, &c., should Ue lost to the world. Besides. distant forest, and the face of the smiling landyou must be bored just now with too much leisure, sea pes. as is my case." " 1 am beguiling the tedium of itlleness," re- Cll t\PTER IV. marked Rivton, "IJy painting the portrait of the most charming creature in the world; I shall send Mrs. Henry had returned to 'Votton, and with the picwre to the Athcna::um in Bo::.ton fur exhiiJi- her came Margaret Sefton. A few days brought tion. 1' Mr. Paul Lefevre, whose passion for the fair Mar- " You are speaking about pretty Agnes Searle, garet bad not been abated by a more familiar acthe m:~.id of the mill, 1 suppose,01 said Dawson, quaintance with the rare charms of her mind and "for she is the loveliest woman in this quarter, I person. A Jay or two alier this gentleman's arnha\' e never seen a sweeter face. She is indeed 'a val, he was sitting in conversation with the ladies, gem of purest ray,' a treasure for a casket. How when ~ l rs. Henry observed to hi_m, . did you make the acquaintance of her family~ For "You have not ~ecn the C~tchton of our vLI· 'hewers of wood and drawers of wate r' they are !age, Mr. Claude H.1pton. He IS really a very ac· '}llite decent." complished person-h<~s cultivated the fine arts "1 will tell you,'' said Ripton. "During the with gre:~t success, paints admirably, sings divinelast canvass, when I was striving to secure every ly, and withal, is as handsome as Apollo. vote fur my father.llooked in on old Searle upon "I have seen him in general society,'1 said Marone occasion. He was in his mill and seemed to garet Sef10n. "and the variety and perfection of take my ad\·ances l.:indly. A luminous discourse, his accomplishments are extraordinary." . in which 1 was enlightening his ignorance of the i\lr .. Lefene _fe!t jealous of the subject ~f r~~~: Bank Question, was interrupted by a summons to flattenng: descnpt10n, and was about to e P 18•15.] The Bacltelor-A Tale. 197 h imself on the subject, when he was interrupted know all about it, I dare say;" and the enamored by the entrance of several ladies, who called to amateu r would resume his" labor of love." pay their co~pliments. TILe eloquence of Paul Mrs. Heury had issued im·itations for a largo Lefevre was Jnstantly hushed, and he bowed oul party, which she intended to give in honor of her of the room with awkward haste. niece's vi):Sit. The eveninu for the entertainment The fact that Claude Hipton was a constant ''isi- had arrived, and the beauty~ and fashion of the vilter at the house of the miller was too sinfl'ular !age and neighUorhood assembled in Mrs. Henry's when the difference in their education and ~aste~ hospitable mansion. Although no gold, or gems, was considered, to escape the observation of or precious stones gleamed in costly d resses, yet the most careless, and the object which attracted hilarity and mirth beamed on fresh and happy faces, h!m, was too evident not to be seen by the least and the festive music. sent its inspiring strains dtscerning. This morsel of scandal was retailed, through gay and ammated groups. Margaret by one of the ladi es who were calling at Mrs. Sefwn added the charm of her winning address; Henry's, with some coloring, dcri\·ed from the and h_er superb b_eauty, which had obtained supremstrong imagination of the narrator. It was how- acy Jn the radiant blaze of the most splendid over, entirely true, that Claude Ripton wa's con- assemblies, shone with its usual lustre. stantly at the cottaac of the miller and as he Paul Lefevre had appeared constantly at her told Daw!!on, he was0 occupicd in pain~ing the por- side in the earl!e_r par.t of the evening, but when trait of young Agnes Searle. The work ath•anced the throng of VLStters tncreased, he was forced to but slowly, for the hand of the painter oflen rested, retreat to the more quiet enjoyments of the whist and he seemed to examine the rich bloom of lable. l1er check, or the radiant hue of her eyes, with _A t a ratber late hour Claude Ripton appeared, more attention than he gave to the colors 011 his With the cool composnre and as:m rcd ease of his canvass. Then, too, tho guitar was oflcn taken usual manner. "Allow me ~he honor of da ncing up, and with a skilful accompaniment, Claude Rip- this waltz wi th you,n s?id he to ~young lad~ with ton \\'\)ultl sing tender ballads, tlr passionate love- whom he wa_s _convbrsmg, and Ill a few mmutes songs, in a rich melody of voice, which melted 011 they were ghdwgthrough the mazesof thatgrace-t. he ear with" an enchanting ravishment." No fu l drance. . . wonder that Agnes felt admiration for the brilliant "\-\hen every one seemed occup1Cd WJth tiLe stranger at the first sight, and when he seemed to pleasant excitement of the scene, Claude Ripton select her in preference to all others, and conveyed quietly left the house, and wal~ed rapi?ly along that preference with the most pleasing and subtle the dark and deserted ~treet, u~til he arnve~ at an flattery, 110 wonder that her interest and affections old, s~1attered h~use, Situated m the outsk~rts of were warmly excited. Tt is not surprising that the vtllage. H1s horse was sad~led ready for this phase of feeling should have been followed by the road, and w_as confi~te~ by the bndle ~o a broken tenderer emotions, and that very 80011 the deepetlt be~m of the rumecl. bL~ t ld1?g. He hastily led the affections of a fresh and guileless heart should ~mmal out, and spnngwg mto the saddle, rode raphave been raised to the fervor of ardent love. The 1dly down the smooth road which led towards the daily contemplation of so much beau tv had inflamed bridge. After pursuing a swift pace fo r some disevery passion of Cbude Ripton's ~xcitable tern- tance, he turned ~harply out ~~f the beaten track perament, but the spirit of his dark designs was and entered a bndle path, ~vluch cut across the subdued by the confiding innocence and incorrupti - valle! and led to a cl~mp 01 trees on the ha~k of ble purity of this artless girl. If the parents saw the nver nearly oppos1te the cottage of the m1ller. any thing improper or dangerous in this unrestrain- A chaise_ with two stron.g horses, harnessed in ta. ned intercourse, their suspicions or fears were lulled dem f,-.shwn, was standmg ~nder these _trees, and by the most successful craft; and whenever the a man lcapetl out of the vehtcle when R1pton rode mother would express impatient surprise at the up_ to the spot. ""Is every thing ready, Lat~ur !:: slow prorrress with which the picture atJ\'anceJ Sald the !alter: ! am glad tO find you up to ttme. Claude \~ould say, "1 perceive, my dear Mrs~ "Yes,~1r. !tipton," repl_icd ~~1eman ina foreign Searle, that you know but liule of this art. I am accent. It IS now your tlmC. getting on rapid ly with the W.cture. Som~ pro- Ripton mad_e no ans'~'er, ~ut passe~ with a swift fess ional painters allow a very long time to pass foot over a. sltght, rustiC bndge, whLCl_l had been in the Gompletion of a. beautiful work. Dupre, the thrown across a narrow part of the n;er for the French artist, for example, never puts on a coat c_onvenience of foot pa~s~ngers, ~nd tn a short of color until the preccdino- one has been thoroughly t1me reached the gate wh1ch led toto the garden dried and harden~d, and ~ever lets a picture pass at the !.lack of Searle's house. He walked quickly from his easel in less time than two years." to the part nearest tbe house, where, scree~ed by "\Ve . " a shady tree, he could keep watch on every thing II, Mr. R 1pton, the good woman would passing around. H e knew that l\fr. Searle had answer, "you are a nice hand in painting and gone into the vill age to witness the display of fire - VoL. X1-63 |