The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-17
devote 70 him. Tie seldom comes DOWN

would by very pleasant
She called 20 servant. who had come
to remove the tray: Jules. go upstairs
and see if Mr. Hamilton will be able to
come down this evening"
The servant. an elderly. grave looking
man. vanished, and speedily returned
with the message that DIR. Somers did
not consider 1t prudent for Mr.. Hamilton
TO leave his room.
"Ah. well, said Mrs. Hamilton. with
smile. "it would not do for him TO be i'm
prudent. But ! should have been SO
pleased to present Edgar to you-he is 30
handsome and so intelligent. and such a
brilliant conversationalist. However,
here is his picture, and you can judge
from that how very good looking he is,
apart from my conjugal prejudices,' she
added, with blush as swift and vivid rs
though she wore a newly betrothed
maiden instead Of wife of many years
standing
The picture that she put into my hand
was a beautiful photograph on ivory, col
ored and finished as miniature. 1t re
presented singularly fine looking man,
with blue eyes and blonde hair and mus
tache but the eyes had Il sinister CLEAN
in their depths, and the full, red lips were
sensual and coarse in outline and in eX-
preston Moreover. the face was that of
a much Younger man than had expected
to see Mrs Hamilton charming as she
was, was evidently not far from 30 years
OF ace. and tho photograph OF her hus-
band was certainly that of a man under
80 There was no trace OF i'll health Wis
IDLE in the high colored handsome face Of
the picture. so, after inspecting 1t for
some moments, | asked: Is this re
Gently taken likeness, Mrs. ilamiltony II
does not look like the portrait Of any one
who had over been Ill.
No; that is true" She took the pho
toraph from my hand and seemed
troubled. aud also TO my establishment, a
n,tio bewildcred 1t was taken before
we were marlied-twenty years ago He
has never had any other photograph
taken since, and he will not sit TO al
artist cannot tell why for 20 me he is
always the same Edgar! my Edgar
And she pressed the picture 10 her lips,
the tears streaming down her checks as
she did SO
was infinitely amazed al her emotion
which seemed to me so needless, and !
was distressed at having unwittingly
caused it, especially as | had not the
faintest idea Of how 10 proceed in order to
soothc her. Just then, to my infinite re
lief. the door opened and Dr.. Somers en-
tered Taking the miniature from Mrs.
IlamiltOns hand, he said to her gravely
My dear Dora, you are very foolish to
let yourself become nervous and hyster
ical You will be unable to sing to Edgar
this evening if you do not cease sobbing
and try 10 recover your voice.
1t was very foolish Of me, Mark, re
piled Mrs Hamilton, smiling up at him
through her tears, "and Mrs. Graves
must consider me very absurd person,
but YOU know whenever | think of poor
EdcM's precarious health | AIN apt to
Freak down utterly. Are you sure he is
no worse than usual this evening"
Not a particle-rather better, il fact;
out Won can come and see for yourself,
presently Mrs Graves will excuse you
for q fcw moments. am sure.
Just at that moment my carriage was
announced and gladly a;ailcd myself Of
that excuse for taking leave 1t once, re
sistine all the hospitable ontroaties Of
Mrs Hamilton that ! would stay ana
dine. if not remain all night; for ! could
not bat feel that was in the way, as in
deed any guest. it seemed to me, would
have been under the roof that sheltered
SO beloved and all absorbing an invalid a.
Mr. Hamilton evidently was.
called a few days later to return
thanks to my kind hostess for her hospi-
table care, and also to restore to her the
numerous wraps and rugs in which she
had insisted Oh enveloping me for my
homeward drive | did not see Mrs.
Hamilton. however. DR. SOmers received
me in her stead, and excused his sister on
the ground that she was then in attend
ance on her husband And as | crossed
the hall / heard a voice Of exquisite
sweetness, that | readily recognized as
that Of Mrs Hamilton pouring forth its
delicate notes in a scarcely known melody
by Gounod
"What a charming voice" | remarked.
1T is q pity that 50 fine talent should
BIZ entirely lost to the world
my sister spends a great deal Of time
in singing to the invalid and also in read
inr to him" answered the doctor; and
she is happier in her self devotion than
the praise and applause of society could
make her
After that day had occasional glimpses
of Mrs. Hamilton as her carriage passed
mine during my daily drives. She never
tailed to lean forward and greet me with
. pretty. eager gesture, and one of her
sweet. pathetic smiles; but that was all
that | ever saw of her Her card was
only left by her footman at the hotel for
me. and greatly as | had been attracted
bv her | shrank from again intruding or
the privacy of that jealousy guarded