Mohave County miner., 1889-08-03

tended they should. I'VE esay have
70 wait. Mary" he continued. land |
may even have TO ask you 10 90 10
India with me, for my regiment IL one
OF the next for foreign service" Poor
fellow. he evidently had not the slight,
est idea Of the three thousanA q year.
III should not mind doing dat for .
man loved" said the widow softly.
And then ne squeezed her hand. and
then she squeezed his. and tken--and
then it was all settled Ia the most dig
niied manner. and Mrs. Besuchamp
became engaged 10 Captain Graham.
Two days later Captain Graham
went into one Of the fashionable pho
togra pliers and sat for his likeness and
ordered 1t TO be finished ON porcelain
in cOlors regardless Of expense. He
did not In the least deniur at the &
guineas which Mr.. Halftones assist
ant said II would cost He only stipu-
lated that 1t should be ready in forty.
eight hours. Al the end VI that pc
riod Mr.. Halitone was in tho best Of
tempers as he inspected the gaiisnt
Captains portrait. ''You have been
very successful, Mrs. Smith," ne said
patronizingIy 70 tho young person
who had done the miniature. ''it Is =
speaking likeness. And now would
you mind doing me \ little favor3 My
customer 10 y very haw-haw sort Of q
person aud insists upon the portrait
being delivered by hand. There is tns
address. Mrs. Beauchamp, "a Regency
Sns, Lnnnaft.y nI
your s shiliings. Mrs. Smith" be con-
tinued, as he handed her u couple Of
half crowns, '.and u turn 10 ths air
will do you good"
The pale young woman, in a we'll
worn plaid dress. with great black
rings under her eyes, thanked her pa
tron.
II am glad you are pleased. Mr..
Halftone." said she; II shall be only
too happy to deliver the likeness y
And she wrapped it carefully and DEL
icately in paper. Then she put on
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 timidiy enough;
but there was a hard determined look
upon the thin features and the
great. hollow eyes sparkind hercely
She asked for Mrs. Beatici,amp, ant
was shown up at once as the young
person from Mr.. Halftonc's. Mrs.
Beauchamp was 10 the dining-roOm
giving the finishing touch 10 the floral
decorations of q rather elaborate cold
luncheon which stood ready served
upon the table.
ut is so good OF you to have brought
it, an dying to see it." And she
took q knife from the table and en-.
Enthusiastically cut the string" 1t 10
charming. 1t is capital" she said as
she gazed ecstaticaIly at the picture.
"Algernon'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.
/ really beg your pardon. But you
see Captain Graham 10 my affianced
husband" said the widow coniden-
TALLY.
HE was my affianced husb a nd once"
said the young woman simply.
"Wbat do you mean, girlf' said
Mra. Beauchamp. as she seized her
hercely by the wrist
1.-The original Of the portrait, madam.
10 my husband, my miserable. un-
priDcipled husband-the nan who left
me 70 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
meaDDess, and who. from what you
say, madam. Is prepared to add big
amy 70 his other crimes"
II can not believe it," cried Mrs.
Beauchamp. ut 10 some trick"
"Algernon won't deny it il you care
TO confront ~, madam" said the
young person from Mr.. Halftone's,
YEARLY.
The tone carried conviction with It.
Mary Beauchamp felt . ball rise in
her throat aud the hot blood mount to
her ears a. she rememb bered that she.
too. had called him AIgernon only yes.
terday, and then she snatched the
gIitteriug ring from her finger and
trampled 1t beneath her little foot.
" 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 uncomiortably
thick.
III you will permit me madam"
said Mrs. Graham. II will take care
of that ring, which. take 1t, came
from my husband. That is his knock, :"
she said contidentially. a. a tremend-
Gus rat-a-tat solo was performed on
the street door, land il you do not
mind" she continued, las I am not
very strong will sit down.
IL beg your PARDON" said Mrs.
Beaucbamp, Il was very rude" At
that moment . servant announced
Captain Graham. 81 think | am .
little before my time. my dearest
Mary" he said efusively, as he held
out both hands. half expecting that
his fance would rush into his arms.
He was totally unconscious Of the
presence OF Mr.. HaIftone's assistant.
Captain Graham" said Mrs. Beau.
champ. very coldly. ''permit me to in
troduce to YOU this lady, wnO tells me
she has met you before" The young
woman in black rose and confronted
him. Great heavens, AdaE he ex-
claimed in his astOnishment; but he
recovered himself in an instant. "YOu
have scored the odd trick. ladies'" he
said jauntiIy; 'and perhaps it is for
tunate for all Of u.s." he added with
cfrontery. "H"nors are easy. You
will have h excuse me. 1t might