, 1891-01-14

stranger like myself How could 1 find
out, and where could I see her again?
for see her 1 felt 1 must.
1t is n strange confession to make, but
before t~wenty-four hours were over 1
was desperately in love with the un-
known original of my prize. That we
should meet again some day l 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 thevery
means of bringing us together And
then l thought how l should persuade
her that my wish to find her out had
overcome all scruples. and that with the
seeming liberty which 1 had taken had
shown myself ready TO surrender myself
her prisoner and await her sentence
for life or DEATH
Icould hardly wait for Saturday after
oon TO come, and vas 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 seemsd
exactly right l removed it carefully and
put it in a dark place. and laid another
piece of freshly fumed paper upon the
negative. Then I put the printing frame,
out again on my window sill and began
to fuss with another negative.
Hon. - buuv.waI n.-.r 1-rawr h,A
there was a Grassland when l turned
TO the window the printing frame vas
gone.
l picked it up on the sidewalk-forty
feet below-with my precious negative
shivered into a thousand pieces.
All my hopes now conferred on the one
print which fortunately l 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 l had ever done.
SO, in spite OF the irreparable loss OF
the negative, L felt almost happy, for
with this l would surely accomplish MY
double purpose. 1t could not fail to win
the p-ize-a small tribute to pay to my
unknown darling's beauty. And it
would also be the means of bringing us
face 70 face. For the picture must GER
tainly find its way into the hands of
some of her family or friends. aud she
would hear Of it, see it, be n little indig-
N perhaps. But her father or brother
or guardian would be certain 10 resent
the supposed liberty. and might ever
write 10 the successful amateur TO take
him to task for his presumption; that
vas my most ardent desire-the very
clew l wanted Once l knew where to
find her. and then / could manage all the
rest.
1 was radiant with satisfaction, and
now only keeping the finished pict-
ure until Ishould nave a chance to take
a copy Of it for myself; for / could not
make up my mind to part with it alto
until l 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 l had seen him
his marriage. and we each had
much to say.
q N1hb 9Ou ~ lAttA my NlAtt lplIls
| know you'll like each other. She was
rs disappointed as / was that your ill
ness kept you from coming to our we'd
ding. Are you all right again now2
You look well. Can't you drop in upon
us tonight? We are stopping at the
Buckingham until our house is ready"
Il shall be most happy to-" / answer
And accordingly 1 presented myself
that evening at the door of their private
Fred welcomed me cordially, and his
young wife dropped the roses she was
arranging as 1 entered, turned and came
smiling and with outstretched
hand.
l staggered backward-I believe 1
should nave fallen if Fred had not
me by the arm-for the beauti-
full unknown in my prize picture with
whom l had fallen 80 desperately in
love was no other than Fred's wife!
What is the natter You are illp' she
cried, while she hastily brought me a
glass of wine.
1T is nothing-nothing, l stammered.
81 believe I'm not yet quite strong. l
beg your pardon for being such n fool"
The wine restored me somewhat, and
l stayed long enough TO emove the feel
ing Of embarrassment that naturally fol-
lowed after this awkward scene.
When at last l got back t. my room L
looked at my picture eagerly. The same.
beyond the shadow of a doubt. And
then l began TO realize the full extent Of
my double loss. Impossible to continue
my alteration of the fair unknown
now l knew her to be the wife of
my friend, and impossible to send the
stolen picture of another mans wife INTO
q public competition.
l turned the picture to the wall, and
sat for a long time lost in thought. Then
l seized a pen and wrote:
DEAR ~FRED-Truth is stranger than fiction. With
this / send you the photograph OF a fair stranger
who deliberately and unconsciously walked into
picture when l was or on n photographinE
two weeks ago. This will also explain my
peculiar collapse this evening. 1t takes a smaller
thing than such a queer coincidence to upset a fell
low when he is still below par. l know YOU will
prize the picture, for 1t is the only one in exist
ence, and the negative unfortunately is broken.
With respectful remembrances TO your wife, your
old friend Ton.
As l sealed my note the word "Kis-
cleaned mockingly up from the
dark a l tied up the photograph and
sent it of by a messenger before l had
time to reconsider my decision.
"Good-by to my dreams-and to my
prize picture, l said sadly, as the mes
senger pursued his way down the dark
silent street.
1t was gone, and already I repented of
my haste. Then, as n sudden thought