Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-06-21
The Mysterious Portrait.

exhibition had been as constant in their
after-attendance as was Mr.. Horace
Temple. tho managers would have
made money out of it.
The fact was, Mr.. Temple had strolIed
in rather lsilosslY that first night, but
before he had traversed many yards
in his tour of inspection his attention
had been caught by n picture which
had so fascinated him that he found it
almost impossible to get his own con-
sent to move on and make way for
others, and in very short time he
was back again, gazing with rapt alb
sorption. The picture represented an
Italian garden, where, beneath
dense shade Of palms and ileXes. n
hammock was swung, in which a
lovely young girl. in limp, white
gown, was lying at ease. her right
hand dawdling with great fan, and
her left thrown up behind her head.
the loose sleeve falling back and re-
vealing beautiful, rounded arm.
One foot WAS hid in the mcshes of tho
hammock. aud the other, from which
the tiny slipper had slipped off at the
heel. hung over the side in posture of
absolute ease aud Inertia. The white
robe, made in classic DIES On and decor
atCd with a Greek border, hung over
the hammock and traiied along the
dense, green grass. The details of
the picture were cXqus tly portrayed.
but its matches charm was in the
beauty of the young girls face. which
had so marked an individuality that
Temple Convinced himself at once that
1t was no creation of an artist fancy,
but faithful likeness of some human
being. As day after day passed by
the picture grew into his consciousness
more and more, he got to know every
detail of feature, form and dress. even
to the three little spots on the left arm
near the elbow, which he at first took
to be speCkS on the canvas, but after
ward found we"o ClGyerly painted little
molcs which must have been on the
arm of the model.
One evening when he had stood n
longer time than usual before the OBJ.
ieCt Of his alteration. lost in thought
concerning the original of this lovely
portralture. and wondering where the
ARTIST, whose name was gwen us Carlo
GulZl, has scen and painted her, he
was aroused by the SllEery strokes OF
magnificent clock which stood near.
which reminded hIm that he must tear
himself away from present enjoyment,
and 90 home and answer letter. The
letter was in the form of an invitation.
and this was the reply to ii:
Dear Aunt Sarah No one certainly has a
kinder or more considerable female relative
Iri,rr I. ONE orc % ,rm1f " mf ih trnih
gratitude however, strong a. it is. does not
euaI lie ne to do the impossible, and cannot
come down, @cg9rljng to "rdrI', and fail IN
sOTe WV your 'I% r aIITh i%T tne tca
of these rr" rngarcd Affections Of mine danes
the thermometer and remains in the city.
son the whole, hope this will prove not
soDEslnC ,,, "n$nt , 10 YOU as under
much that / shall bin the ahstr 'ctl,,on.
shared and that conscleuciously assure YOU
that am
mi, "a am n"l 100 la a Do4nu, however 10 al
YOU, So Won NAV Gxncct me TO stay 90 over nex,
Sunday
YOURS OtfcctIonatclr, II. T."
When Mrs. LcatOn received this lie t.
ter she happened to be seated near ar
open window III conversation with hei
most intimate confidential friend. tC
whom she proceeded to read the letter
aloud imterrupting herself with vari
Gus complaints of the provokingness o
her favOrItc nephew, who in spite o
all her aifoctiOnatc indulgence Of his
whims and fOibleS, was constantly
serving her in this kind of style.
As he finished reading and laid tn,
letter down. there was faint rustlinG
under tie window. unregarded by the
two lad es. and a young girl. who ha'
been sitting still sketching tho prcttl
view of wood and river Wis BE from thi
point, collected her implements to
gether and quickly giided away.
Mr.. Temple arrived at his aunts OF
Sunday morning too late for break
fast, aud when lie emerged from tn
dinning.room tetc-a-tete meal with th
hostess. he was Immediately hurried OF
to church by that enterprsing lady
who had kept her carriage waiting tina
she might enjoy his companiOnship.
'All the rest have gone" she said
'and we shall be little late. Gertrud
SevellOn walked with Tom Jerome
THIS was the only allusion she deigne'
to make TO the young lady who ha
formed the whole subject of her letter
MIR. Temple had been some time !
church before he caught sight of tn
familiar figure of Mr.. Tom jerome
and when. with feeling of lazy intel
est, he leaned forward a little so th;
he might get a glimpse of the lad
standing next to Mr. Jerome and sins
ing out of the same book with him. th
delicate, Clean-Cut profile startled hil
with sense of familiarity. His hear
gave bound as he connected it wit
the face in the picture he saw the re
semblance. The girl wore little clos
bonnet and trim dress which incase
her charming figure in neat compac
ness-but face and figure were tn
same.
When the service was ended he lear
ed forward and whispered to his aun
Make Tom jerome go home wit
YOU and let me walk home with Nil
Sevellon."
This was coming to terms that Mis-