The record-union., 1896-11-27
THE STOLEN PHOTOGRAPH.

seemed to have been already twelve
month back at work upon the evening
when I found Dicks letter awaiting me
at my lodgings.
My Dear Mortimer: I am in town
again at last; arrived last night. Come
round and smoke a pipe-to-mght, II
possible; I've a hundred things to tell
you. Meanwhile-if you'll believe it
I'm engaged. Yours DICK"
The news he told me was the pleas
antest possible: for I also, 10 tell the
truth, had learned in my ten days OF
freedom how unenviable are the nber-
ties of the mere bachelor. remained
free for the present; but l nevertheless
hoped to follow his example before the
year was out
One can do a good deal in ten days;
indeed, I had fallen hopelessly In love
In less than that number Of hours But
1 felt it rather much to ask that Maud
should have recognized and learned TO
reciprocate my feelings in SO short
time; and so l had not spoken All the
same, knew that it would be crush
ing disappointment to me II she had
not accomplished 1t. Her home was at
Brighton, she once told me; and she
well knew my friends, the Meynells.
For Maud could find no words to
express her I put my hand into the
breastpocket of my coat and drew out
photograph 1t was not very good
likeness; the hair was not dressed in
the fashion which had become familiar
to me-and that fashion of a surety was
the most charming that ever occurred
to the mind Of ingenious woman. But
STILL the picture had enough of her to
be for the most beautiful thing in the
world-save only her sweet self. / had
stolen it. She was stopping With the
Luttrells, with whom I spent my holi-
day at Sandybar; and Madge Luttrell
was a great friend of mine. She had
detected or foreseen my devotion to
Maud. I think even before it revealed
itself to me. AT any rate, / knew she
would be discreet, and, trusting to her
clemency, 1 had stolen this precious
photograph out of her album upon the
morning when I left Sandy bar.
l had soon finished the meal which
stood ready for me, and from which
had been kept by Dicks note and by
the emotions resulting from it's perusal
Then found my hat and stick and my
very largest pipe, and set out across
London to Dicks rooms. The place was
in darkness and untenanted when
entered, but knew that he would not
fail me- and struck a match to dis
cover if he had left note to tell me
when he would return. Back at s."
1t read. Meanwhile. there's baccy and
a new Stevenson"
lit the lamp, found the Stevenson, and
prepared to spend an hour pleasantly
The time passed most happily; at last I
laid aside the book and filled my pipe
L walked across the room to take a
spill from the mantelshelf, and in a
moment found myself gazing at the
photograph of Maud Cameron-the girl
] loved, the girl I hoped to marry.
1t was in a frame of elaborately
beaten silver, already somewhat tar
nished by tobacco smoke, and beyond
doubt was portrait Of Dicks fiancee
l turned away from the mantel-her
face looked forth upon me like a
strangers out of that frame-and took
my copy of her photograph from my
pocket. 1 laid it upon the table in the
full light of the lamp. 1t had not all
her beauty; her loveliness was half of
ever-changing expression, and so must
needs escape the camera But still the
picture gave the lie to all the over
whelming evidence which had crushed
my faith in her. For a moment I was
content; he might account himself
master Of her love; might if 1t plea sed
him, believe that no man disputed with
him. the kingdom of her heart For a
moment, despite all evidence, / believed
that she was still true to the unspoken
fact between u.s. that she could not be-
tray me.
There was a sudden sound of foot
steps on the stair, a hand upon the
door. and (even as I thrust back her
photograph into my pocket the door
opened and Dick entered
Hope you have not had long to
wait" he said. IT had to be out for
awhile"
Not long," I answered. "And IL
found plenty to occupy me. And now,
1 suppose, / must congratulate your"
Dick laughed. do you only suppose?
i am the luckiest beggar in the world
But never mind; you will see her some
day, and then you will speak differ
emily. You will envy me-madly; for
indeed But We'll wait until you have
safely venture your congratulations
met her; only I promise you you may
Here is her photograph, by the bye,
a wretchedly bad one, but still not all
unlike"
He moved TO the mantel and handed
me her picture. inclosed in that abom-
Unable frame of his. I took 1t from
him, and for a minute and more gazed
hard upon her face
1T is all true 1 kept whispering to
myself. She has betrayed me-"
Dick watched me in silence, evidently
convinced of my admiration; In reality
/ was wondering whether 1t would be
better to tell him that we had met
Presently he broke the silence
''WeH?" he said. holding out his hand
for the return of her photograph
You are lucky, l answered slowly.
-.She is very beautiful"
Aye he said contentedly, but you
don't know how beautiful. That pho
tograph is a libel.''
He put 1t back upon the mantelshelf,
and selected a pipe Then he stretched
himself in an easy chair.
You two must know one another:
indeed, she is already eager for your
acquaintance"
was steeled, had thought, against
ell that he could tell me, but upon
this I well-nigh betrayed myself. Had
she admitted that her fancy for me-
j knew that she had come near to lov-
ing me-was dead, 1 could have borne
my burden nsuncomplainingly, and might
have forgotten. But that she should
deny that 1t had existed-that she had
even known me-this was past tolera-