The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-04-08

Having given a long description
of the form and tea'ures of his long
lost daughter, the old man rose to de-
part, and for weeks Harry worked inces-
sanity upon the mysterious portrait of
the dead girl, making sketch after
sketch, each of which was rejected by
the remorse stricken father, until the
work began to exercise a strange kind
of fascination over him, and he sketched
face after face, as if under the influence
of spell.
At last. one evening, wearied with a
day of fruitless exertisn, he was sitting
over the fire watching his wife, who sat
opposite, busy upon some needlework,
when an idea suddenly flashed upon
him.
"TaIl, fair. with golden hair and dark
blue eyes? Why Helen, it is the very
picture OF yourself?' he exclaimed,
starting from his seat, taking his wife's
fair face between his two hands, and
gazing intently into her EYES.
Without losing a moment he sat down
AMI commenced to sketch Helen's face
and when his strange patron called the
next day, Harry was so busily engaged
putting the finishing touches to his por.
trait that he did not hear him enter the
room, and worked on for some moments
unconscious of his presence, until, with
the cry of Helen, my daughterw the
old man hurritd d Linn aside, and stood
entranced before the portrait.
After gazing for some minutes in
silence, broken only by his own half
suppressed sobs of remorse, the old man
turned slowly ground to Harry, and
asked him in an eager voice where he
had obtained the original of the picture.
at is the portrait of my wife," re-
piled he. +
"Your wife, sir! Who was she
Pardon me for asking the question:" be
added; "but have heard lately thai
my poor Helen left an orphan daughter,
and for the last six months have been
vainly trying to find the child of my
lost daughter, so that by kindness and
devotion t, my grandchild l might, in
part at least, atone for my harshnesi
toward her mother"
Harry was beginning to tell him the
story Of his meeting with Helen al
Rome, and their subsequent marriage
when the door opened, and his wife en-
tered the room. 80
Perceiving that her husband was en-
gagged, she was about to retreat, when
the old gentleman stopped her, and
after looking earnestly in her face for I
few moments, exc aimed, "Pardon me
madsme-can you tell me your mother
maiden name?
Helen Treherne," replied Helen
wouderingly. ...-,.-.
Il knew i'll knew itI" exclaimed
the old man, in an excited voice. ga
last [ have found the child of my poo
lost daughterp'
In few words Mr.. Treherne ex
planned how he bad cast off his only
child on account of her marriage with
poor officer, and refused even to oper
her letters when she wrote asking to
forgiveness.
{" But, thank Heavenl" said he, whel
he had finished his sad story, al Cal
atone in some measure for my harsh
ness toward my Helen by taking he
Helen to my heart, and making her m.
daughter"
1t is needless to add that, when 81
Philip Marston heard that his son ha'
married the heiress of one of the fines
and oldest estates in the country, he a
once wrote letter of reconciliation t
Harry, and, after all, Helen eventual,
bt came mistress of Marston Hall, in tn
picture gallery of which no painting
more valued and treasured than Th
Mysterious Portrait"