Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-10-17
The MYSTERIOUS PORTRAIT,

The MYSTERIOUS PORTRAIT
In a small but handsomely furnished
sltting-rcom in Il London hotel a young
lady Was sitting in IN easy chair, before
Il blazing fire, one ureary November af-
ternoon. Her hat and cloak lay upon
the table beside her, and from the eager,
impatient giances she turned toward
the door at every sound of s footstep on
the staircase outside it was evident that
she expected a visitor.
At las+ the door opened and a tall,
arlstocratic-looking young man entered
the room.
Harry, what long time you have
BEEN she exclaimed, Springing up from
her seat. What news have you brought?
What does your father say about our
our marriage?' hesitating with the shy
ness of 4 bride at the last word,
" Read for yourself, Helen,' replied
her husband, handing her an open let
ter, and standing opposite her, leaning
against the marble mantelpiece, watch
ing lntently the expression Of her fair
face as he read:
In marrying as you have done, you
have acted in direct opposition to my
wishes. From this day you are no long
er my son. and wash my hands Of you
forever"
Harry, why did you not tell me of
this betore::' exclaimed Heleg, as she
read the hard. cruel words, looking up
throug b her tears into her husbands
face.
My darling, what was there to tell?
How could know that my father would
act in this hard-hearted manner? I
knew that he wished me to marry the
daughter of a nobleman living near
Marston Hall, and thus unite the two
estates; but had no idea he would cast
me of for disobeying his wish. Aud
even if [ known it," he added, fondly
clasping his young bride to his heart,
and kissing away the tears from her
eyes. Il should not have acted differ
emily. My Helen is worth fifty estates,
and as long as she loves me I shall never
regret the loss Of Marston Hall, and its
lair acres. But, my love-" he continued
more seriously, there is an end of your
promised shopping expedition into Bond
street. You will have to do without
diamonds, now that your husband is a
penniiess outcast, instead of the heir to
sl5, 900 year."
Hush, Harry! Please don't talk
like that" she said, hurt at his bitter
tone. "You know that it was not of
diamonds and dress I was thinking. But
what are you going to do, Harry?" she
continued, laying her hand upon hisarm,
and looking up sadly into his pale, set
face. "You cannot work for a living"
land why not work for iving%' he
exclaimed in determined voice. "Be-
cause l happen to be the son of a baro-
net, brought up and educated without
any ideas or knowledge of business? But
| will work for my living, and show my
little wife that am not quite 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 that rested confdingly
upon his arm.
1t was while pursuing his favorite
study of oil paintings among the famous
galleries Of Rome that Harry Marston
wooed and won Helen Tracy, governess
in an English family residing in Italy,
and the orphan daughter of an officer in
the army. Before he had known her a
month, Harry, who had been in love-
or fancied himself in love-with at least
half dozen different young ladies in as
many months, felt that he had at last
met his fate.
Delighted at the idea of being loved
for himself alone, he had not told her Of
his real position, and it was not until
after the marriage ceremony was over
that Helen discovered. that she had mar
ried the eldest son of baronet, and the
heir to an estate producing 415,0OO a
year.
It was not without some inward mis-
givings that Harry wrote to his father
telling him of his marriage, which were
more than realized by the result, as we
have seen by the letter from Sir Phillip
Marston, which awaited him at his club
on his return to England with his bride.
But, full of confidence in his ability
to maintain himself and his young wife
by his own exertions, and thinking that
surely his father would relent and be
reconciled to him after a time, Harry
troubled himself very little about his
lost inheritance; and though their new
home-consisting of three small, poorly
furnished rooms in a back street-was
very different from the grand old man.
sion to which he had hoped to take his
bride, he set to work cheerfully at his
favorite art, and tried hard to earn a
living by painting pictures and portraits.
But he soon found that it was not 80 easv
as he thought.
1t was all very well when he was heir
to Marston Hall, and studied painting
merely from love of art; but picture:
dealers, who in those days had been all
tiattery and obsequiousness to the young
heir, now that he really wanted to sell
MS pictures and sketches, shook, their
heads, and politely but firmly declined
to purchase.
At last, one dreary afternoon. when
Harry was sitting in the little room he
called his studio, trying to devise some
new scheme to replenish his slender nnrsa
the servant opened the door and ushered
white-haired old gentleman into the
room.
Placing chair by the fire for his Wis.
itor, Harry inquired his business.
You are portrait-painter, I believe
slrT' said the old gentleman, looking al
MN through his gold spectacles.
,, mat Is my profession, sir" replied
Harry, delighted at the thought of hav
Ing 1onnd commission at last.