Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-08-25

After which, this singular butler came
into the back drawing-ro dropped
the dividing curtains, sank into q chai1
and rocked himself to and fro, hall
laug hing, half crying, gasped through
the handkerchief he Was forcing into his
mouth. ooh, dear! oh, dear! Who
would have thought it? Oh, my master,
what day for him! To think to-mor:
row she might have gone, and it 'ud
have been too late!"
"In the name Of all that IS wise. cried
the artist, shaking him roughly, "tel]
me what this means, you old idiot? ]
came here to take the likeness of sleep
ing girl, I fancied. Instead Of sleep it is
DEATH
"That's it, sir-that's it!' broke in
the butler; "that's what poor master
and all Of us thought-even the doctor.
Poor Miss Mabel went off cold and stiff,
quite sudden, and every one said she
was dead. So my master, who hadn't
got no likeness of his darling, except
them brown, colorless things, thought,
before the ground took her away from
him forever But here, sir, is master
HIMSELF
Mr.. Kesteven came hurriedly between
the curtains.
"Clark," he said, "send Miss Gros to
Miss Mabel at once. Tell her her
mistress believes she has had q long
fainting fit. Bid her hide both day and
date from my child. That was wise
hint of yours, Clark, about the doctor.
Thank you.
Then, with face full of contrition.
yet quivering with the undercurrent Of
that great joy, Mr.. Kesteven turned to
the artist.
"Mr. Ha riley, of course you have
guessed the truth. How can ask-how
can I ever hope you will forgive the
cruel deception I put upon you to carry
out the ivilhh g wish of supposed dead
daughter? [ feel you will never ex-
perience but anger towards me, though
no man in This world do I respect and
love more tn IN your
"Mr. Kesteven!' calculated the artist,
surprised, al DO moved, by the old gentle
mans earnea manner and apology.
"Yes, Mr.. Hartley-love; for to you I
owe my daughters life. There is an in
cislon in hef ann from which the blood
is running Fl eely. It was not there to-
day. You lone could have made it-did
you not ?"
81 did; in a moment of impulse, or
indignation answered the artist, color
ing to the temples. "After I had done
it l regretted the act; but the result has
been SO hapH y" -
"Mr. Har Fley," cried Mr.. Kesteven,
seizing his hdE nd, "Heaven inspired you |!
Tel me, p ray, what occurred after I
left the room "
1t was nea fly an hour later when the
artist returne ID home, with the conscious
ness of strah ga elation, caused p"oba-
bly, by Mr.. K esteven's praise and graft
tude
The first thing he did was to take a
brush full OF sepia and obliterate the en-
tire portrait { 4 the supposed dead.
" No. he reflected: " if I paint that
lovely face, it must be afrcsh, and from
living mode !. This would always give
me the horro rs, from the idea Of what
might have b, en but for my fear"
He did pair 1t Mabel Kesteven from her
own bright, b Apply self, for the sittings
were arranged during the Christmas din
ner at which Mr.. Kesteven insisted the
artist should make one.
The professional visits led to those of
friendship, and the result was probably
what has been guessed, that Leonard
Hartley wooed and won the lovely girl
whom, by accident, he had rescued from
the tomb.