The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-11-08

lie wanted to have Mr.. Archer paint his
portrait, and had come to arrange for the
first sitting
They agreed on Wednesday of the fol-
lowing week for the time, and at two
o'clock on that day Mr.. Winthrop's car
riage brought him again.
lie had Alexander go down to the car
riagc and bring up package containing
a Prince Albert coat lie was to wear dur
ing the sittings, SO he put 1t on, and
after much discussion and many expert
mcnts as to his position he was finally
seated aud Mr.. Archer was at work.
Now the coat was handsome one.
Alexander had seen handsome clothes in
his day. at the South, and he noticed this
one rs soon as it appeared on the scene.
The mlteral was rich diagonal, and 1t
was lined and faced with expensive silk,
and fitted like glove.
When Mr.. Winthrop went away that
day, he left the coat.
ii will leave it," he said. 81 should
be sure to forget to bring it every time"
Alexander wrapped the coat up and
put it away on n closet shelf
After that Mr.. Wint rop came nearly
every Wednesday, Cor good many
weeks, and then the portrait was finished
at last, and was sent away. 1t made
a fine picture. Mr.. Winthrop was a TALL
well.built man, with strong, vigorous
face little flushed, and bushy head OF
hair Just beginning to turn gray, and
Mr.. Archer had caught his best ex-
preston perfectly. Every one who saw
it was delighted.
Mr.. Winthrop and Mr.. Archer had be-
come very good friends, and Mrs. Archer
had fallen into the way of sitting in the
studio while the work was going on, with
her painting or sewing. But Mr..
Winthrop was busy man, and after the
picture was done it was u long time
nearly ycar-bcforc he came again.
One day the carriage brought him
once more. The Archcrs were both at
home. Mr. Archer was at work Just
then on portrait of pretty child with
blue eyes and sunny hair, dressed IN
black velvet. They had very pleasant
hall hour together, and then Mr.. Win
throp rose to 90.
"0h by the way" he said, as he stood
by the door, "it Just occurs to me that
have a coat here. | forgot it when !
went away. That was favoritc coat of
mine. If you can lay your hand on it
now, without trouble, I'll take it,"
"Oh, surely, said Mr. Archer.
'I'll let Alexander get it, said Mrs.
Archer.
Coat" said Alexander, when he was
summoned in, "Coat - wish | could
give you his voice, as well us his words,
the strong melancholy in its tones, and
faint, illusivc accent, faint and
too illusiye to be Represented at all in
type.
Don't you remember the Prince Al
bert coat | had here, Alexander" asked
Mr.. Winthrop
"Scems's if did, now," said Alexan
der, bowng his head. a little on one
side, ut short intervals, and looking
steadily at hls own boots. "Seems's if
recalls that coat, an yeti
"Oh yes, Alexander said Mr.. Arch
cr, "of course you remember that coat.
Go and look for it. 1t must lie here
somewhere"
Alexander shambled about the studio,
looking not only in the closets, but in
all sorts Of impossible places. under
chairs and behind boxes and pictures
Then he went shu ling through the
other rooms, noi,ily opening drawers, in
specting shelves, looking into trunks.
Mr. Winthrop resumed his seat, mean
while, and the talk ran on again. But
Mrs. Archer exchanged looks with her
husband.
Alexander returned aftcra short time.
81 can't seem 10 fin no coat about,
he said, bowing and bowing, and look
ing at the floor, and the ceiling. and the
pictures, and everywhere but at Mr..
Archer. "Somctn must have happened
10 that coat"
II will look for it myself, Alexander, I"
said NIIs. Archer, in II tone Of displcas
ure, and SO she departed and looked
through the drawers and trunks aud
closets, but with no better results.
"Wcn, MIR. Winthrop" she said, as
she came back, "thcrc certainly is some
thing mysterious about the disappearance
of that coat cannot find it. But we
will have a thorough search for it, and
will send it to YOU"
so Mr.. Win.hrop went rolling away
in his carriage"
"AicXaudcr," said Mrs. Archer, when
he was gone, don't you remember that
coat Mr. Winthrop left here"
'phAs NhlN .AltNuHN'Nl, 'NiNisHH llN
head on one side and beginning to bow,
why, yes, l do rememb' that coat
perfly."
"And did you really look for 1t just
now ~ hard rs YOU knew how"
"WeH," sid Alexander, rs if weigh o.
ing his words very carefully, "wcll, now,
not just rs hard as has sometimes done
things; well, no"
"And did you really expect to find it
where you looked"
"Well, now,' said the old man, "ius'
where look, why, no, | can't say l did
cXpec' to see it us there"
alexander" said Mrs. Archer, in a
severe tone, II believe you have never
told me falsehood. DO you know
where that coat is 7"
"Well, now, " he said, ~ suppose dc
know where that coat is, well, yes"
"Why, | am shocked, Alexander" ="
said Mrs. Archer, "Where is it! Who
has ltl Have you sold itl"
"No.n
"Given il away"
NO."
80. Alexander, have you been wear,
ing that beautiful coat?"
IlNai nnu \Iisi Archar - cold hIov