The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-11-28

dear TO him PROBABLY his sWeethear
Although had been intimate Will
iThrapstow, he had always been ver7
reserved as to his own friends anC
associates, and 1 had no clue tC
! guide me to any of them, except the
| photographers card.
Re-entering my cab, I drove to the
photographers. There was no mum.
Der or Distinguishing mark upon the
card, and the chances seemed faint
that he would be able to tell me any
thing about it. Indeed. at first when
the man found I wasn't customer,
he seemed little inclined to trouble
himself about the matter The prom
ise of a fee, however, made him
more reasonable, and he offered to
let me see his book, that 1 might
search for the name wanted to find.
But then Ididn't know the name
wanted to find. 1t was unlikely that
the photograph had been done for
Thrapstow; if it had, there would
probably appear on the books only
the useless record Of his address,
already known to me. Then the
man shook his head. If I didn't
know the name, it was no use look
ing; the card was nothing, he said !;
he sent hundreds out every month.
What information could he possibly
give me? Then I tried to describe
the personal appearance Of Thrap.
stow. Again he shook his head. If,
he had taken his hkenss, he would
not be likely to remember him;
hardly even then, so many people
passed through his hands.
All this time he had been care
Ilessly holding the card in his fingers,
Iglancing at it row and then, and
suddenly the idea seemed to strike
him. 'Stop a bit, che said and went
into his dark chamber, and presently
emerged smelling strongly of chemi-
Gals. Look here" he said triumph
antly. l looked and saw very faint
ghostly impression of a photograph.
"It's printed itself through" said
the man-"they will sometimes
and I've brought it to light. Yes, l
know the original of that" Again
he diyed into closet, and brought
lout a negative with a number and
label to it. Then he turned to his
book, and wrote down an address
for me-Mrs. Maidmont, Larkspur
Road, Noting Hill.
Away / went to Lsrkspur Road.
Mrs. Maidmont's house was a small,
comfortable residence, with bright
windows, verandahs, gorgeous win
dow boxes, and striped sun-blinds.
Mrs. Maidmont was at home, said
Ia very neat, pretty-looking maid;
and I sent in my card, with a mes
sage; "On most important business
The maid came back to say that
her mistress did not recognize the
name, but would 1 walk in? 1 was
shown into a pretty drawing-room
on the first floor. An elderly lady
rose to greet me with old fashioned
courtesy, at the same time with a
good deal Of uneasy curiosity visible
in her face. This was not the orig
nal of the photograph, who was a
young and charming girl.
'Madame," I said rapidly, 81 be-
lieve that my friend Charles Thrap-
stow, is well known to you; now, it
is of the utmost importance that I
should ascertain where he is at this
moment"
"Staym said the old lady. you
are laboring under complete mis-
take; I know nothing whatever of
the gentleman whose name you men
tion; a name I never heard before"
Was she deceiving me2 I did not
think so.
"Perhaps Miss Maidmont may
know" 1 said eagerly.
''AIiss Maidmont is not likely to
have formed any acquaintance with
out he mothers knowledge" said
Mrs. Maidmont with dignity. There
seemed to be no alternative but for
me to retreat with apologies.
81 am very busy you see" went
on the old lady, with q wave Of the
hand; and indeed the room, now /
looked about me, l saw to be strewed
with preparations for some festive
event, a ball perhaps, or from a
wresth Of orange blossoms that 1
saw peeping out of q milliner's box,
more likely wedding. I'was about
to take my departure reluctantly, |
when q young girl, a charming
young girl bounded into the room;
she was the original Of the photo
graph.
"Oh, mammal she cried, "here's
a letter from poor Charlie to say he
can't possibly come here tonight
Isn't it provoking? And 1 want to
consult him about so many things"
"Well, my dear Isabel" said the
old lady placidly, you'll have
enough of his company after to-mor-
row." From which 1 judged that
my surmise as to the wedding was !
correct, and that Charlie was the
bridegroom elect.
"By the way" she went on, "here's
4 gentleman Isabel, who insists that
we know Mr.. Charles-I forget the
name now"
"Thrapstow," ] interjected.
ga Mr.. Charles Thrapstow. You |
know of no such a person, Belle p
81 know of no Mr.. Charles but
Charles Tempest" said Isabel.
at is singular, too, that the initial
Of our friends should be the same
May I ask you if have given your
portrait taken by Blubore of Keu-
@Upon my word" said Maidmont
rising and sounding the bell, "this
IS rather too much for a total stran
ger. We don't know your friend,
and we,don't know you. Susan show
this gentleman" I cried, "with blue
eyes, and yellow beard and mustache,
and turned-up nose"
"No more" cried Mrs. Maidmont. |
Am to repeat once more, 1 know !
nothing about him?"
What could 1 do under these cir
but take my leave? In
Susan, however, 1 found an unex-
posted ally. She had heard my part
ing words of description, and she