Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-16

y C11oif IACQ vi HIS Ut ScFcidi
weeks he lived aimlessly in Paris, and,
though he believed as firmly as ever that
he must some day find her who was occu-
plying most of his thoughts, he seemed to
lack the energy or to be at loss for a
method to enter upon his search. Some
times, when in a pictures gallery or at the
theater, and even ON the boulevards, he
would look around as if in search of some
one whom he expected to see.
| Among his other pursuits Mr.. Adrian
collected curios of various kinds, especially
| fayoring canoes and medallions. He was
passing one day small shop in rather
obscure quarter, when noticing several an
tiques in the window he entered, in the
hope of finding something nth adding
to his collection. While examining the
various articles exposed for sale, Mr.
Adrian suddenly uttered an exclamation
of mingled establishment and joy. He
was holding in his hand small and ex-
quisitely painted enamel, portrait of the
beautiful face which he had come from
England to seek.
Who is this ?" he inquired with an
effort, for his voice seemed to come from
one who was scant of breath.
81 do not know" replied the dealer,
! ''but Monsieur will see that the portrait is
very fine. The price is 200 francs Mr..
Adrian a. once paid the money. 1t was a
moderate sum for SO exquisite work of art,
but had ten times as much been asked the
price would have been paid without de-
muir. Mr.. Adrian knew nothing about
enamels, and after he had looked for some
time with rapt gaze he said:
GLOW did it fall into your hands?"
at was sold to me by woman whom /
do not know"
ado you possess no information about it
at alp
"None. But l can give Monsieur the
address of a connoisseur who at least will
| be able to tell the artist" and the man
| then named one of the chief dealers in
articles of virtu in Paris, from whom Mr..
Adrian had frequently made purchases,
and who was, therefore, known to him.
| He at once hurried to the shop.
at is by Decazet, and very valuable"
said the connoisseur as soon as he had
seen the enamel.
"Where shall find that artist? ?" asked
Mr.. Adrian, as though he were again
breathless.
SFind Decazet? In his grave, Mon
sieur. Decazet has been dead for hun
dred years."
"a hundred years. exclaimed Mr..
Adrian, repeating words that had fallen
upon his heart like heavy weights and
crushed it.
'1f it is to know whose portrait this is
that monsieur wishes, / can tell that with
out troubling the shade of Decazet The
portrait has passed through my hands,
though not by the same artist. The lady
was the daughter of the Due de Castres.
He fled from France at the time of the
great Revolution, but what became of his
daughter was never known, for ere his
flight she suddenly Disappeared
Without speaking another word, and
with a look on his face of blank despair,
Mr.. Adrian left the shop. Acting almost
involuntarily, and scarcely knowing what
he did, he went straight to the shop of
the perruquier from whom his wig had
been procured On the account which
had been sent to him from London, the
French barber was named, so he knew
where to go to-.
II am come" said Mr.. Adrian to the
perruquier, to make some inquiries re-
garding wig that was made by you and
sent to London two months ago."
A faxen-colored perruque made for an
English milordY'
" 1t was for me. | wish to know where
the hair came from of which it was
made@
The barber shrugged his shoulders, but
did not attempt to reply.
- paid what appeared to me very
high price for it." said Mr.. Adrian, "but
| will willingly give you the same amount
again if you tell me its history"
every good. The bargain is made.
Monsieur has rightly conjectured that
strange history pertains to that perruque.
First, then, Monsieur must know that the
hair was that of lady. The very beauti-
full hair was stained, and had, therefore,
unfortunately, to be cut short, and so was
suitable only for purpose such as that
for which it was used. The stains were
unfortunate, or the hair would have
fetched ten times the price charged to
Monsieur. Such beautiful hair to be so
stainedp
STAINED How? ?"
with blood, monsieur" replied the
barber, lowering his voice.
Mr.. Adrian said nothing, and after a
pause the speaker continued:
"My family have been perruquiers for
three generations. The hair of which
monsieur's perruque was made was found
with much more in box belonging to my
grandfather, which, supposed to be value
less, had long been stored away as lumber
When opened at last it was found to be full
of hair, most of which was attached to the
scalp. The hair of monsieur's perruque
was still rooted to the natural scalp. All
the hair in the box was very fine and of
great value. 1t was the hair of some Of
the noble ladies of France who persisted
by the guillotine."
Mr.. Adrian will never marry. But of
late he has grown more genial and
kindly-hearted. Among his numerous
eccentricities is the reverential re-
gard which he bestows upon a
very beautiful enamel that hangs
above his writing table in his library
Many who have seen him looking at this
portrait and who are aware that it was
painted more than hundred years ago,
have thought that it must remind him OF
some one whom he has KNOXVILLE Gen
tenants Magazine