The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-06

brother, ''to drag Mr.. Craig or to this
stutfy room when the tennis court is just
suffering to be used"
II will compel him to release me as soon
as possible,"I answered gayly, and the
door closed.
II fear have been rather selfish, Hal"
mot at all. haven't had my say yet.
First let me ask if you haye ever doubted
my sanity-that is, you have believed me
to be of tolerably sound intelleS."
"Generally-yes, " laughed Stanly.
VERY well, then, listen to what / am
about to say and never again express your
disbelief in ghosts"
began disconnectedly, but before had
gone very far my friend was as white and
speechless as / could wish.
Now" said l, "let me see Lady Bea-
trices portrait, for that will be the final
test, and after that l have something to
show you," and l drew out the little box.
When Stanly returned with the bracelet,
gave cry, for the face that looked out
from its frame of diamonds was the one
had seen the night before-the same dark
eyes, the pulled hair-even the gown was
not unlike. The bracelet was of twisted
gold, the only difference in the two being
that the diamonds in mine were of inferior
quality, and a suspicion now flashed across
me that they were not the original stones.
"Now," said l, "you must see my latest
purchase from Isaac" and with consider
able pride opened the box and handed it
to Stanly. l have seen surprise depicted
on the human coIrntenance, but / never
saw, nor have | seen since, quite such an
expression as came into my friends face.
After that our talk was absorbing, and it
is needless to say that Edith and tennis
were forgotten. Stanly was eager to go
London, find L. and ferret out the
bracelet mystery at once.
Later in the day we examined the pan
eled room, but no amount of tapping and
pressing would reveal the hidden recess
That night we watched in the white and
gold room, but the silent guests did not
appear. The rest of the week passed off
delightfully."-. Edith and became excel
lent friends. When left Harcourt park,
l carried away two distinct impressions,
one of Lady Beatrice and the other Of
Edith Harcourt.
Stanly and spent fruitless week in
searching for L., and when we at last
found that worthy the information which
he gave us was anything but satisfactory
He remembered vaguely about the brace
let. 1t was left to be mended years ago
he thought by woman-and was never
called for. AS for removing the diamonds,
he was shocked that one of his high stand
ing should be accused of such thing. AS
for the Jew, he had purchased the brace
let at his sale when many such articles
went for nothing-positively nothing.
Almost immediately / began full
length portrait of Lady Beatrice as first
beheld her against the tapestry hangings.
l had the miniature as guide, but that
was scarcely necessary, for her face haunt
ed me continually. One morning when
tho picture was nearly finished received
the following telegram from Stanly:
West wing totally destroyed by fire. send
you something found in the ruins
A box arrived later, and when opened
disclosed dagger of quaint workman
ship. 1t was dim with rust, and the blade
was badly damaged, but the jewels were
in perfect condition.
The portrait was finished. 1t won me
fame and fortune, and fame and fortune
won Lady Harcourt's consent to my mar
riage with her daughter.
The picture was purchased by Henry A..
Dearborn, wealthy New Yorker, who
valued it for the wonderful resem blance it
bore to his daughter-an adopted daugh-
ter, but dear to him as his own flesh and
| blood.
And so theportrait of Beatrice Harcourt
passed out of my life, but the memory of
that terrible night can never be effaced.--
Jean Dair in Romance.