The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-06-22
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.

THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
II all the visitors who were present on
the opening night of the great art exhibit
tion had been as constant in their after
attendance as was Mr.. Horace Temple,
the managers would have made money
ont of it,
The fact was Mr.. Temple had strolled
in rather listlessly that first night. bur
before he had traversed many yards in
his tour of inspection his attention had
been caught 10y q picture which had so
fascinated him that he found ii almost
impossible to get his own consent TO move
ON and make way for others, and in n
short time he was back again, gazincNyith
rapt absorption.
The Yicture represented an italian gar
den, where, beneath y dense shade of
palms and ileSes, a hammock was syyrtn.,
in which lovely young girl, in a linn
white gown, WAS lying at ease. her right
hand dawdling with a great fan. and her
left hand tnrown up behind her head. re-
vealiug p beautiful arm. One foot was
hid in the meshes of the hammock. and
the other, from which the tiny slipper had
slipped off at the heel, hung over the side
In posture of absolute ease and inertia
The white robe, made in classic design
and decorated with n Greek border. hung
over the hammock side and trailed along
the dense green grass.
The details of the picture were eNoui-
sitely portrayed, but its matchless charm
WAS the beauty OF the young girls face.
which had so marked an individuality
that Temple convinced himself at once
that il was no creation OF an artists fancy.
but a faithful likeness OF some living
human being.
As day after day passed by and the pic
turc grew INTO his consciousness more and
more, hc got TO know every detail of fea-
tur-, form and dress, even TO the three
little spots on the left arm near the elbow.
which ne at first took TO be specks on the
canvas, hut sf5erward found were three
cleveriy painted little rloles which must
have been on the arm of the model
One evening when he hadstood a longer
time than usual before the object of his
alteration, lost in thought concerning the
original OF this lovely portraiture, and
wondering where the artist. whose name
was given - Carlo GuiZi, had seen and
painted ksr, lie was aroused blythe silverv
strokes of a magnificent clock which Stood
near, which reminded him that he must
tear himself away from present enjoy
ment, and go home and answer a letter.
4
tion, and this was the reply to it:
Dear Aunt Sarah--No one certainly has
n kinder or more considerate female reIa-
tive than am blessed with, and your de
liShtful letter is one more proof of this
truth My gratitude, however, strong As
II Is, does not enable me to do the impOS-
sible, and cannot come down, according
to orders, and fall love with your charm
ing friend, for the reason that | am in
love already. and the object OF these PFC
engaged affections Of mine dcfies the
thermometer and remains in the city.
''On the whole, 1 hope this will prove
not altogether unsatisfactory to you, a. I
understand your object concerning me 70
be, not so much that shall be-in the
ah,tract-ensnared, and that l conscien-
tlously assure you that / am.
II am net too fast bound, however. to
admit or my coming down for a cursory
glance at yOu, 50 you may expect me to
stay over next Sunday.
yours affectionately II. T."
When Mrs. LeaJon received this letter
she happened to be seated near an open
window in conversation with her most
intimate confidential friend, TO whom she
proceeded to read the letter aloud. inter
ruptinG herself with various complaints
of the provokinEnesS of her favorite
nephew, who, in spite of all her affection
ate Indulgence OF his whims and foibles.
was constantly serving her in this kind of
style.
As she finished reading and laid the let
ter down, there was faint rustling under
the window, unregarded by the two
Ladies', and "A young girl. who had been
sitting very still sketching the pretty
view of wood and river visible from this
hos
ard quickly glided away.
Mr.. Temple arrived at his amt on Sun
day morning too late for the regular
breakfast, and when he emerged from the
dining-roo after his tete-a-tete meal with
the hostess, he WIS Immediately hurried
Off to church by that enterprisinC lady,
who had kept her carriage waiting that
she might enjoy his companionship.
"All the rest have gone, she said, "and
we shall be n little late. Gertrude Seyel
Ion walked with Tom Jerome"
This was the only allusion she deigned
to make TO the young lady who had formed
the whole subject of her letter
Mr.. Temple had been in church some
time before he caught sight of the famil-
lar figure of Mr.. Tom Jerome, and when,
with n feeling of lazy interest, he leaned
forward little so that he might get a
Vi htAb 10 MT
Jerome and singing ont of the same book
with him, the delicate, cleau-cut profile
startled him with a sense of familiarity.
His heart gave bound as he connected
1t with the face in the picture and saw the
resemblance. This girl wore little close
bonnet and N trim dress which incasel her
charming figure in neat tcompactness-bGt
face and figure We're the same.
" hen the service was ended he leaned
forward and whispered to his aunt:
Make Tom Jerome 20 with you and
let me walk home with Miss Scysllon."
This was a coming 10 terms that Miss
Leaton highly appreciated, though her
nephew exhibited no underbred eager
ness. The first excitement OF his discov-
cry had worn of, and he had resolved
upon his course.
1t was n wonderful thing to find him
self, the next moment, actually being pre-
sented in formal style to the houri of the
hammock. Just how Aunt Sarah r,Sr-
aged il he did not know, but before long
Tom Jerome had gone off in the carriage,
and the houri and himself were strolling
along together on n shady little woodland
path, and he was saying:
Have you ever been in Italy, Miss Sew
ellons"
'Oh, yes; mamma and spent almost q
year there" was the quick response
Have you ever had your portrait
painted" was the next abrupt question.