Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-11-08
Se1effe3 ass;tery.
The Mysterious Portrait.

ished sitting-roem in a London ho
tel. young lady was sitting in ar
easy chair, before a blazing fire, one
dreary November afternoon. He'
hat and cloak lay on the table beside
her, and from the eager impatient
glances she turned toward the dool
at every sound Of footsteps on th'
staircase outside, it was evident thai
she expected visitor.
At last the door opened, and tai
aristocratic man entered the room.
Harry, what u long time yor
have been,' she explain, springing uT
from her seat, What news have
you brought? What does your faith
er say about our-our marriage ?
Hesitating with the shyness of
bridge at the last word.
Read for yourself, Helen, replied
her husband, handing her all oper
letter, and standing opposite her
leaning against the marble mantle
piece, watching intently the express
sion of her fair young face rs she
read.
Harry, why did you not tell me o.
this before exclaimed Helen, as shs
read the hard, cruel words, looking
up through her tears into her hus-
bands face.
MY darling, what was there te
tell? How could | know that my
father would act in this hard-heartec
manner? l knew that be wished me
to marry the daughter of nobleman
living near Marston Hall, and so I'M
til the two estates but l had no ides
that he would cast me off for DISC
beying his wishes. And even if
hal known it., he fondly added
clasping his young cride to his heart
and kissing away the tears from he1
eyes, Il should not have acted differ
emily. My Helen is worth fifty es-
tates, and 20 long as she loves me
shall never regret the Noss of Marstor
Hall and its fair acres. But, m,
love- he continued, more seriousl y
there is an end Of your promisee
shopping expedition into Bond street
You will have to do without dla-
monds now that your husband is
penniless outcast, instead Of the hei
Of fifteen thousand year
Hush, Harry Please don't tall
like that, she said, hurt at his bite
tone. 'You know it was not of dia
monds and dress | was thinking =
But what are You going to do, liar
ry" she continued, laying her han'
upon his arm, and looking up int
his pale, set face. You can no
work for a living
And why not work for living
be exclaimed in a determined tone -
Because l happened to be the son Q
a baronet, brought up and educated
without any idea or knowledge o
business? But | will work for m
living, and show my little wife tina
am not quite unworthy of the trus
and confidence she reposed in m
when she placed this little hand il
mine.' he added, stopping to kiss tn
small, white hand that rested conf
dlhSly upon MS arHi'
1t was while pursuing his favorit
study of oil paintings among the ia
nous galleries of Rome that Harr
Marston wooed and won Helen Ira
cy, governess in an English famil.
residing in Italy, and the orphaned
daughter of an officer Of the army
Before he had known her a month
Harry, who had been in love-or fan
cied himself in love-with at leas
half dozen young ladies in as man.
months, felt that at last he had me
his fate.
Delighted at the idea of being lov
ed for himself alone, he had not toll
her of his real position and it wa
not until the marriage ceremony wa
over that Helen discovered that sh
had married the eldest son of bar
onet, and the heir Of all estate pro
ducing fifteen thousand a year.
1t was not without some inwar
misgivings that Harry wrote to hi
father telling him of his marriage
which we're more than realized b