Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-02-12

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was nothing, he.said; he--sent. hundreds
out every month. What information
could he possibly give ME? Then
tried to describe the personal appear
ance of Thrapstow. But again he shook
his head. If he hadn't taken his like
ness, he wouldn'tibe likely to remem-
Der him; hardly even then, SO many
people passed through his hands.
All this time he had been carelessly
holding the card in his fingers, glanc-
ing at it now and then, and suddenly an
idea seemed to strike him. "Stop bit, >
he said, and went into his dark chamber.
and presently emerged, smelling strong
ly of chemicals. .Look here" he said
triumphantly. I looked, and saw a We
ry faint ghostly impression of phsto-
graph. E.."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
dived into closet, and brought out a
negative with number and label at
tached to it. Then he turned to his
books, and wrote. down. an address for
me-Mrs. Maidmont, Larkspur Road,
Noting Hill.
Away 1 went to Larkspur Road. Mrs.
Maidmon't house was small c0mforta-
BILE house, with bright windows, veran-
das, gorgeous window-boXes, and strip
ed sun-blinds. Mrs. Maidmont was at
home, said a neat, pretty-looking maid ;
and l sent in my card, with a message
son most important business. The
maid came back to say that her mis-
tress did not recognize the name, but
would walk in? 1 was shown into a
pretty drawing room on the first-foor.
An elderly lady rose.to greet me with
old fashioned courtesy, at the same time
with good deal of uneasy curiosityvis-
ible in his face. This was not the orig
nal of the photograph, who was young
and charming girl.
"Madam," 1 said rapidly, 81 belief
that my friend, Charles. Thrapstow, is
we'll known to you; now, it is of the
most importance that l should ascer-
tain where he is at this moment"
"Stay..' said the old lady. i"You are
labe bering-'undera complete mistake; l
know nothingiwhatever of the gentle
man whose name..you mention; name
never. heard before"
was.:she deceiving me: l did not
think so.
"Perhaps Miss Maidmont may know"
1 said eagerly.
sMiss Maidmont is not likely to have
formed any acquaintance without her
mothers knowledge" ".said Mrs. Maid
mont 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 a wave of the hand !;
and indeed the room,, now 1 looked
about. ...me, l saw to be strewed with
preparations for some festive. event, a
ball, perhaps, or, from wreath of Or
ange blossoms that saw peeping out of
a milliner's box, more likely wedding.
l was about to take my departure re-
lunctanly,when young girl, "a charming
young girl, bounded into the room: she
was the original CT the photograph.
40 mammal" she cried, "here's let
ter from poor Charlie to say that 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 tomorrow" From
which 1 judged that my surmise as to
the wedding was correct, and that Char
lie was the bridegroom elect.
"By the way" she went on, "here's a
gentleman, Isabel, who insists that we
known a Mr.. Charles-I forget the name
new."
"Thrapstow," l interjected.
ga Mr.. Charles Thrapstow. You
know of no such person, Bella?"
"I know of no Mr.. Charles, but Char
les Tempest, said Isabel.
"It is singular, too, that the initials
of our friends should be the same. May
1 ask if you have given your portrait,
taken by Bluebore, of Kessington''-
"Upon my word,'' said Mrs. Maid
mont, rising, and sounding the bell,
"this is rather too much from a total
stranger. We don't know your friend
and we don't know you. Susan, show
this gentleman out" 81
''But a gentleman" l cried, "with
blue eyes, and yellow beard and mus
tache, and turned-up nose"
stNo more!" cried Mrs. Maidmont
cam 1 to repeat once more, We know
nothing about him?"
What could do under these circum-
stances but take my leave? In Susan,
however, l found an unexpected ally.
She had heard my parting words of
description, and she turned to me as
we were descending the stairs, and
said: "Miss Isabel's young man is ex-
actly like that" Half-a-crown and q
few Establishments, which, under the
circumstances, l think even my worthy
spouse would have condoned, put me
into possession of the facts.
Miss Maidmont was really going to be
married tomorrow morning at St.
Spikenard's Church to Mr.. Charles
Tempest, very good-looking young
man, whom they had not known long,
but who seemed to be very well off.
My description of my friend Tailed
exactly with Susan's OF the bridegroom; ;
but the coincidence might be merely
accidental.
"Had Miss Maldmont a photograph of
her lOver?" l asked.
She had, in her own room, it seemed.
Susan couldn't get at it now without
suspicion; but she promised to secure 1t,
and bring it with her, if / would meet
her at nine O'Clock at the corner of the
street.
was punctual to my tryst; and at
nine, Susan made her appearance with
a morocco-case containing an excel
lent likeness of my friend, Charles
Thrapstow, massive pin with topaz in
IL and all