The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-01-23

she, and did she live in that quiet town
stranger like myself? How could find
out, and where could l see her againp
| for see her l felt must.
1t is q strange confession to make, but
before twenty-four hours were over I
was desperately in love with the un-
known original of my prize. That we
should meet again some day had not
the slightest doubt. Kismet!
But after all would it be right to
send this picture--her picture-into the
competition to be criticised. admired
freely, passed from hand to hand, then
reproduced and sent broadcast over the
length and breadth of the whole coun-
try!
Why not, when this might be the very
means OF bringing us together? And
then thought how l should persuade
her that my wish to find her out had
overcome all scruples, and that with the
seeming liberty which had taken had
shown myself ready to surrender myself
her prisoner and await her sentence
for life or death!
could hardly wait for Saturday after
noon to come, and was in a fever until
the few clouds of the morning had dis
! appeared and left me the golden sun
| shine needed to print the prize picture.
watched the first print with breath
less attention, lest it should be too dark
| or ashade too light. And when it seemed
exactly right removed it carefully and
-, ,,l, L..
piece of freshly fumed paper upon the
negative. Then put the printing frame
ont again on my window sill and began
to fuss with another negative.
How it happened l never knew, but
! there was " Grassland when l turned
to the window the printing frame was
gone.
picked it up on the siJewalk-forty
feet below-with my precious negative
shivered into thousand pieces.
All my hopes now centercd on the one
! print which fortunately had secured
And oh, the agony of anxiety that went
through in the toning, mounting and
furnishing of that one priceless print!
But it was safely finished at last and
| perfect in every way-beautiful, artistic,
beyond question the best piece of photo
graphic work that had ever done.
SO. in spite Of the irreparable loss of
the negative, l felt almost happy, for
with this would surely accomplish my
double purpose. 1t could not fail to win
the prize-a small tribute to pay To my
unknown darlings beauty. And it
would also be the means Of bringing us
face to face. For the picture must GER
tainly find its way into the hands of
some Of her family or friends, and she
would hear of it, see it, be little indig-
nant perhaps But her father or brother
or guardian would be certain to resent
the supposed liberty. and might even
write to the successful amateur to take
him to task for his presumption; that
was my most ardent desire-the very
clew / wanted. Once / knew where to
find her, and then could manage all the
rest.
l was radiant with satisfaction, and
was now only keeping the finished pict-
ure until should have chance to take
a copy of it for myself; for could not
make up my mind to part with it alto
gether until had found the original.
was coming up town the next after
noon. my mind full Of the beauty and
winsome grace Of my fair unknown,
when l ran across my old chum Fred.
1t was the first time had seen him
since his marriage. and we each had
much to say.
II want you to meet my wife, Tom;
/ know you'll like each other. She was
as disappointed Ms was that your ILL.,
ness kept you from coming to our we'd
ding. Are you all right again now?
You look well. Can't you drop in upon
us tonight? We are stopping Mt the
Buckingham until ONr house il ready
Il shall be most happy TO-" answer
ed. And accordingly presented myself
that eveHing at the door Of their private
parlor.
Fred welcomed me cordially. and his
young wife dropped tho roses she was
arranging ~ entered, turned and came
forward smiling and with outstretched
hand.
staggered backward-I believe I
should have fallen if Fred had not
caught me by tho arm-tor the beauti-
full unknown in my prize picture with
whom l had fallen 30 desperately in
love was no other than Fred's wife!
What is the matter? You are illr' she
cried. while she hastily brought me q
glass of wine.
1T is nothing-nothing. I stammered.
Il believe I'm not yet quite strong.
beg your pardon for being such fool"
The wine restored me somewhat, and
l stayed long enough to remove the feel
ing of embarrassment that naturally fol-
lowed after this awkward scene.
When at last got back to my room l
looked at my picture eagerly. The same.
beyond the shadow of doubt And
then | began to realize the full extent Of
my double loss. Impossible to continue
my alteration of the fair unknown
since now l knew her to be the wife Of
my friend, and impossible to send the
stolen picture of another mans wife into
public competition.