Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-08-15

man | loved, said the widow softly.
And then ne squeezed her hand. aud
then she squeezed his, and then-and
then it was all settled in the most dig
nitied manner. aud Mrs Beauchamp
became engaged to Captain Graham.
Two days later Captain Graham
went into one of the fashionable pho
tographers and sat for his likeness and
ordered it TO be finished on porcelain
in colors regardless of expense He
did not in the least demur Mt the 5
UuineaS which Mr.. Halftoues assist
ant said 10 would cost. He only stiDu-
lated that 10 should be ready u forty
eight hours. At the end of that pc
rlOd Mr.. ualftOue was in the best of
tempers as he inspected the gallant
Captains portrait You have been
very successful, Mrs. Smith, ne said
patronizugly to the young person
who had done the miniature. ut is a
speaking likeness. And now would
you mind doing me little favor? My
customer is very haw-haW sort of a
person and insists upon the portrait
being delivered by hand. There is the
address, Mrs. Beaucnamp, "a Regency
Square. You have honestly earned
your Shiliugs, Mrs Smith, he con-
tinued, Il, be handed her couple Of
half crowns, land a turn in the air
will do you good.
The pale Young woman, in we'll
worn plaid dress, with great black
rings under her eyes, thanked her pa
iron.
81 am glad you are pleased, Mr..
HalftOne, said she; II shall be only
too happy to deliver the hleuess.'
And she wrapped it carefully aud del
icately in paper. Then she put on a
dowdy old bonnet and cheap ulster,
drew on her well-darned gloves, and
started on her crrand. When she ar
rived at "a Regency Square she
knocked at the door timidly enough;
but there was o hard determined look
upon the thin features aud the
great, hollow eyes sparkled liercely.
She asked for Mrs. Beauchamp, and
was shown up at once rs the young
person from Mr., Halftone's. Mrs.
Beauchaup was in the dining-room
giving the finishing touch to the floral
decorations of q rather elaborate cold
luncheon which stood ready served
upon the table.
at is so good of you tohaye brought
it. am dying to see it, Aud She
took knife from the table and en-
Enthusiastically cut the stringn 1t is
charming. 1t is capital" she said AS
she gazed ecstatically at the picture.
"Algernou's looking his very best"
And then in her rapture she kissed the
portrait
The pale young woman looked paler
than ever.
IL ought TO be ashamed Of myself.
l really beg your pardon. But You
see Captain Graham is my ailianced
husband" said the widow coutiden-
tally
"He was my allianced husband once, :"
said the young woman simply.
"What do you mean, grl?' said
Mrs. Beauchamp, as she seized her
tercely by the wrist
1.-The original Of the portrait, madam,
is my husband, my miserable, un-
princpled husband-the man who left
me TO starve or to drag out a wretched
existence to which starvation would
be preferable. The sordid wretch
who preys upon the weakness of
others, the man who hesitates at no
meanness, and who, from what YOU
say, madam. is prepared to add big
amy to his other crimes"
Il can not believe it, cried Mrs.
Beauchamp. ait is some trick
"AIgeruon won't deny it if YOU care
to confront us, madam said the
young person from Mr. Halftone's,
YEARLY.
The tone carried conviction with it.
Mary Beauchamp felt a bail rise in
her throat and the hot blood mount to
her ears as she remembered that she,
too, had called him AIgernon only yes
terday, and then She suatched the
glitteriug ring from her finger aud
lrampled it beneath her little foot.
OF course this was quite the correct
thing to do under the circumstances,
but it did not really hurt the ring, as
the Turkey carpet was uncomfortably
thick.
elf you will permit me madam"
sand Mrs Graham, Il will take care
of that ring, which, | take it. came
from my husband That is his knock"
she said conlideutially, as a tremeud-
Gus rat-a-tat solo was performed on
the street door, "and if you do not
mind, she continued, las | am not
very strong | will sit down. >
81 beg your pardon said Mrs. .
Beauchamp, 81 was very rude" At
that moment a servant announced
Captain Graham. 81 think | am a
little before my time, my dearest