Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1880-05-08
THE MYSTERIOUS PORTRAIT,

In mall but handsomely Furnished
sitting-rOom in London hotel, young
lady was sitting in an easy chair, before
a blazing FIRE, one dreary November
afternoon. Her hat and cloak Law upon
the table beside her, and frt m the
esger, impatient glapces she turned
toward the door at every sound of g
fO0tstep on the staircase outside, it was
evident that she expected visitor.
At last the door opened and a tall
nr'sfocratic-looking young Iaah entered
the room.
Harry, what long time you have
been! she exclaimed, springing up
from her seat. "W hat news have you
brought? What does your father say
about Our-our nisrriage?" hesitating
with the shyness of bride at the last
word.
Read for yourself, Helen," replied
her husband, handing her an open let
Ter, and staIding opposite her, leaning
agains: the marble mantelpiece, watch
ing intently the expression of her fair
face rs she read:
In marrying as you have done, you
have acted in direct opposition to my
wishes. From this day you are no
longer my son, and ] wash my hands of
you forever"
Harry, why lid you not tell me of
this before?" exclaimed Helen, as she
read the hard, cruel words, looking up
through her tears into her husbands
face.
MY darling, what was there to tell
How could l know that my father
would act in this bard hearted manner7 2
l knew that he wished me to marry the
daughter of q nobleman living near
Marston Hall, and 40 unite the two
estates; but I had no idea he would cast
me of for disob wing his wish. And
even If had known it," he added,
fondly claspirg his young bride TO his
heart, and kissing away the tears from
her eyes. 81 should not have acted diff
ferenIly. My Helen is worth fifty
estates, and as long as she loves me l
shall never regret the loss of Marston
Hall, ard its fair acres But, my love-"
he continued more seriously, "ihere is
an end Of your promised shopping ex-
petition into Bond street. You will
have to do without d Almonds, now that
your husband is a penniless outcast, in.
stead of the heir to f15,000 year."
"Hush, Harryl Please don't talk
like that" she said, hurt at his bitter
tone. "You know that it was not of
diamonds and dress / was thinking.
But what are you goirg to do, Harry o.
she continued, laying her hand upon bis
arm, and looking up sadly into his pale,
set face. You cannot work for liv.
ing"
sand why not work for a living:" he
exclaimed, in determined voice. "I}e-
cause happen to b, the son of RarO-
net, brought up and educated without
any ideas or knowledge of business?
But l will work for my living, ard
show nv little wife that am not quite
unworthy Of the trust and confidence
she reposed in me when she placed this
little hsnI in miIe," he added, STOPPING
to kiss the small white hand that rested
cor fding'y upon his arm.
It was while pur.ung his favorite
study OF oil PAINTINGS amo3g the famous
galleries of Rome that Harry Marston
wcoed and won Helen Tracy, gOverness
in an English family residing in italy,
aud the orphan daughter of an officer 10
the army. Before he had known her a
month, Harry, who had been in love-
or fancied himseif in love-with at least
half dozen different young ladies in a.
many menihs, 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
married the eldest son of Baronet. and
the heir to an estate producing ELS, 900
. year.
Il was not without some inward mis-
giving 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 Philip
Marston, which awaited him at bis club
on his return to England with his bride.
But. full of confidence in his ability
to maintain him.elf and his young wife
by his own exertious, and thinking that
surely his father would relent and be
reconciled to him after time, Harry
troubled himse very little about his
lost inheritance; and though their new
home -consisting of three small, poorly
furnished rooms in q back street-was