The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-10-14
NOT ALL HE HAD TO DO.

After He bad Aimed tho Camera and
Pressed the Button tic Trouble Began.
"All you have to do" said Mr..
Trapp, as he showed his wife tie CAM
era he mad purchased, "is to press this
little knob, and there you have pic
ture."
'I'm sure that doesn't seen hard"
est isn't hard. It's as easy as any
thing you ever heard Of. There" he
exclaimed, as he held the camera up IN
front of her face, 81 have picture OF
you
"Do you mean to say that my like
ness is in that box?"
eyes, indeed" he answered proudly.
Chow nice. Let's take it right out
and look at it,
"No. You mustn't do that" And he
entered into an elaborate but unappre-
ciated explanation Of the effects of sun
light On the sensitive film. She was
very eager to see the portrait. and he
promised to develop the contents Of the
camera that night and print the picture
the next day. She was not very highly
pleased with the arrangement, but ac-
cepted it because there was no alterna-
tive When he got home, he had with
him the chemicals for developing a
negative.
"Here they are,'' he said cheerily as
he waved the package over his head.
''I've got the whole business in this
bundle. You have the kitchen table
cleared OF, and I'll get the lantern
ready, and we'll send the hired girl out
Of the house and mako all the mess we
want to-"
The only response to his greeting was
an icy stare.
"What's the matter? Have you lost
your interest iii the camera:"
'tNo. On the contrary, my interest
has been enorm ously increased. have
read of unexpected discoveries in story
books, but / never expected to find out
myself how true it is that perfdlous
plotter is almost sure to be discovered
in his iniquities. To think Of you faunt-
ing that camera in my face and me
trusting you all the time"
"When you say 'perddious plotter,
do you allude to me:''
'I certainly do. You yourself placed
in my hands the proof Of your treach.
cry. You probably chuckled as you
thought of how you were leaving the
evidence Of your guilt with me for safe
keeping. But have found you out.
There is only one thing that want to
know now," she said in louder tone
as she tragically held photograph be-
fore his face, land that is, who is the
woman?'
"Where did you get that:" he asked
IN surprise.
81 was anxious to see what was IN
the camera" she replied, $50 I took it
over to my brother, who is an expert in
such things, and got him to make the
pictures for me. He sent them over to
me an hour ago, and this was among
the lot. Now, sir, have answered your
question frankly and promptly. Can
you answer mine? Who-is- this
woman?'
"Don't you know who that is?''
81 certainly do not. "
"Why, that is yourself. F"
'Don't libel me. You have injured
me deeply. Do not, oh, do not mock
me as we'll"
"Maria, wish you would not behave
so much as if you were performing at a
matinee. tell you that is your picture.
You can recognize it by the way the
bow at your neck is tied and by the pat
tern Of the goods your waist is made Of
If you can't recognize the features.
She looked at it steadily, and he held
out his hands to her for reconciha-
tion. The gaze she tDrned on him was
even chillier than before.
"Do you mean to say" she asked in
6inty accents, that you intended that
picture of lantern jawed monster as
portrait Of the woman whom you prom
ised to cherish and protect?''
"Why, it wasn't my fault be said
soothipgly, but the door slammed.
That evening the sailors who were
hanging about wharf saw man hur-
ry to the waters edge. take several
packages from his pockets, put them all
inside a cubical, leather covered box
and drop the entire outfit into the We
ter. Itwas the last Of mr.. Trapp's cam
era.-Chicago Times-Eerald.