Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-11-27
Selcetcd Agisfellanp.
THE MYSTERIOUS PORTRAIT.

In small but handsomely furnished
sitting-room in London hotel, young
lady was sitting, in an easy-cbair, before
blazing fire. one droary November after
noon Her hat and cloak lay upon The
table beside her, and from the eager, i'm
patient glauces she turned toward the
door at every sound Of footstep on the
staircase outside, it was evident she ex-
pected visitor.
At last the door opened, and tall,
aristocratic looking young man entered
the room.
"Oh, Harry, what long time you
have been y she exclaimed, springing
up from her seat. "What news have
you brought? What does your faiher
say about our-our marriage p hesitate
ing with the sbyness Of a bride at the last
words.
Read for yourself. Helen replied
her husband, handing her an open letter,
and standing opposite her, leaning against
the marble mantlepiece, watching intently
the expression Of her fair young face as
she read:
sln marrying as Won have done, you have
acted in direct Deliberate opposition 10 my
wishes. From This day you are no longer my
son, aud | wash my hands of you foreyerl'
Oh, Harry. why did you not tell me
Of this before p exclaimed Helen, as she
read the bard, cruel words, looking up
throngl; her tears into her husbands face.
j" Ny darling, what was there to tell !?
How could | know that my father would
act in this hardhearted manner? knew
that he wished me to marry the daughter
Of Dobleman living near Marston Hall,
and so unite the two estates, but ! had
no idea that he would cast me off for dis
obeyiug his wishes. And even if bad
known it," he added fondly clasping his
yonug bride to bis heart, and kissing
away the tears from her eyes, " ! should
not have acted differently My Helen is
worth fifty estates, aud as long as she
loves me, shall never regret the loss Of
Marston Hall and its fair acres. But,
my love" he continued more seriously,
/" there is an eud Ct your promised shop
ping expedition in Regent Street You
will have to do without diamonds. now
that your husband is a penniIess outcast.
instead of the heir TO fifteen thousand a
year"
j" Hush, Harry! please don't talk like
that" she said, hurt at his bitter tone =;
you know it was not of the diamonds
that / was thinking. But what are yon
going to do, Harry?' she continued.
laying her hand upon his arm. and look
ing up sadly into his pale. sad face. n
"You cannot work for a living"
And why not work for living" he
exclaimed, in determined voice, " be-
cause I happen to be the son of noble
man, brought up and educated without
any knowledge or ideas of business? But
| aoiH work for living, and show my
wife that [ am not unworthy of the trust
and confidence she reposed in me. when
she placed this little hand in mine he
added, STOPPING to kiss the small white
hand which rested upon his arm.
1t was while pursuing bis fayorite
study of oil painting, among the famous
galleries Of Rome. that Harry Marston
wooed and won Helen Tracy, govern
ess in an Enlish family residing in Italy,
and the orphan daughter of an officer in
the English army. Before he bad known
Der a month, Harry, who had been in
love--or fancied himself so--with at least
BALI dozen different young ladies' in as
many months. felt that he had at last
met bis fate.
Delighted at the idea Of being loved
for himself alone. be had not told har Of
bis real position, snd it was not till after