Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-16


"there is something about him that
puzzles me. Don't laugh am ser
ious, a = | have come to you because
1 want your help"
"My help3" asked, Kate in sur
prise.
Eyes. want you to get his pho
tograph. | have a notion that have
met him before, and l should like to
ask my partner, Tapeham, If ne re-
members him"
"Mr. Romney has not got a photo,
graph, answered Kate. Mabel was
asking him for one the other night,
and he told her that he had never
been photographed since he was
boy. He said quite seriously that ne
had such a nervous horror OF being
taken that he could not sit.
"Fiddlestick Il" calculated Bartlett.
"But | tell you what we have got, "
Kate went on, evidently taken with
the idea of assisting in gnravellng a
mystery. mabel took a sketch of
his head one evening while he was
playing bezique with Bertha It's
splendid Iikeness-qdite as good as a
photograph. She put it away some.
where. and / have no doubt but
could find it,"
Bartlett said he should like TO have
it. and, to his delight, little later IN
the evening Kate took an opportunity
of handing the portrait TO him private
ly. II proved to be rough but char
acteristlc likeness of the original, and
that same evening Bartlett posted it
to Mr.. Tapeham, with a short state
ment Of the circumstances which led
TO his sending it.
Mrs. Williams had felt rather an
noyed with Bartlett for intrudIng
himself at this crisis in Bertha's for
tunes, but it really seemed as If his ar
rival had stimulated Mr.. Romeny-
Romney's attachment. On the day
after Bartletts arrival, which was
Sunday, Mr.. Romney Romney escort.
ed the ladies to church, and walked
home with Miss Williams. On the
Monday they were together all the
morning upon the bench, watching
the arrival of the Boulogne boat.
When, on the same evening, Frank
Bartlett was holding the above cor
versation with Kate Williams III a
corner Of the drawing-room after din
ner, every lady in the room was aware
that Bertha and MIR. Romney- Romney
were sitting tete a-tete in the censor
vatory downstairs. Presently they
walked up and down for half an hour
in front of the sea, and ten minutes
after they came in Mr.. Williams knew
that her eldest daughter had promised
to become Mrs. Romncy Romney.
By breakfast-time the next morning
the news was known all over the
house, and Bertha was receiving the
congratulations of her friends. Miss
Horncastle came among the first.
Bartlett came too, and managed to
put fairly good fece upon the cere-
mony.
Now that the blow had fallen, Bart
lett found himself undergoing a Ger
tain revulsion of feeling toward Mr..
Romney Romney, ana il was not long
before he even found himself hoping
that nothing unfav0rable to that gen
tleman would come of his letter TO
his partner. He could not help seeing
what a grieyous disappointment it
would be TO the family If their prize
should not turn out TO be all it was
taken for This view struck him all
the more after he had exchanged a
few words ~ Kate on the subject
of the engagement. During tie last
day or two he had found himself a
good deal in the society of the second
Williams. She was lively, amiable
girl-the best of the three, most people
thought-and her mothers right hand
in the management of the house.
Bartlett was quiet surprised to find
how blind he had hitherto been TO her
good qualities.
Consequently, when Mr.. Romney-
Romney conGded to him, over their
after dinner CT ar that he was think
ing of taking the Misses Williams and
their mother to spend day at Bou
logne, and invited Bartlett to be one of
the party, Frank entered into the
scheme without any reluctance.
IL see from the time tables that
either of the next two or tnree days
will suit us Romney Romney re
marked; but Thursday will give us
the longest time there. shall invite
some more people to JOIN us, and we
will have regular big party in honor
of the suspicious event"
The scheme was further mooted at
breakfasttime on the following day.
Unfortunately for Mr. Romney Rom
ney's idea of "a regular big party" it
appeared that a large portion of the
company, consisting of MIR. and Mrs.
Boxall and their three children. had
already arranged to go to canterbury
by coach on Thursday. The Rev.
Septimus Macrory, with his wife and
sister, were going with them, and their
places on the coach were already
booked. Miss Horncastle, however,
after some little persuasion, coneented
on behalf of herself and sister to
honor the party, always provided the
weather and the sea were propitious.
The last two visitors Mr. Huntley, a
mitldle-aged bachelor of jovial dispos
ition, and Mr.. Octavius Prout, vacu-
Gus youth from the stock exchange,
at present bopelessly victimized by
Mabel Williams pro missed to join the
excursion as matter of course.
This WAS the second day since Bart
lett had written to his partner No
answer awaited him, however; and as
time went on, and he found himself
under the influence of Kate, more and
more interested in the happiness of
the Williams family, he began TO hope
devoutly that he would hear no more
Of Mr.. Romuey Romney's portrait.
GA the Thursday morning, which
dawned bright and calm, and every
thing desirable, the Boulogue party
we're on the move early. The Louise
Dagmar, which was TO carry them for
their trip, started at $50, and it was
desirable to be on board in good time,
in order TO secure places before the
arrival of the tidal train from London.
Consequently, there was rather
scamper over breakfast. Frank Bart
lett came in late from his morning
swim. A note for him lay on the
table. He recognized his partners
hand writing. but in his hurry was
obliged to slip the envelope into his
pocket unopen ed Before he had done
breakfast carriages came to take them
down to the harbor, and in the hustle
of getting away, and anxiety Of look
ing after Kate Williams cloak and
parasol and other small belongings,
his letter for the moment slipped his
memory.