The Somerset reporter., 1897-02-11
PHOTOGRAPH.

Ny own poor holidays were of the
scantiest at the time of this narration
/ had enjoyed my freedom for ten days
of June; but, though the period bade
fair to live forever in my memory,
seemed to have been already twelve.
month back at work upon the evening
when found Dicks letter awaiting me
at my lodgings:
My DEAR MoRT1MER-I am IN town again al
last. Arrived last night Come round and
smoke a pipe-tonight if possible. I've a hun
dred things to tell you Meanwhile, If you
will believe it, I'm engaged Yours, DICK.
The news he told me was the pleas.
ATTEST possible for l also, to tell the
truth, had learned in my ten days free.
dom how unenviable are the liberties OF
the mere bachelor. | remained free foI
the present, but l nevertheless hoped tc
follow his example before the year was
out.
One can do "a good deal in ten days
indeed l had fallen hopelessly in love
i'll less than that number of hours But
/ felt it rather too much to ask that
Maud should have recognized and learn
a time, and so | had not spoken. All
the same, | knew that it would be
crushing disappointment to me if she
had not accomplished it. 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. put my hand into the
breast pocket of my coat and drew out
Il photograph. 1t was not very good
likeness; the hair was not dressed in the
fashion which had become familiar tc
me, and that fashion. of surety, was
the most charming that ever occurred
to the mind Of ingenious woman. But
still the picture had enough of her tc
be for me the most beautiful thing in
the world, save only her sweet self.
had stolen it. She was stopping witt
the Luttrells, with whom | spent my
holiday ut Smdybar, and Madge Lut
trell was great friend of mine. She
had detected or foreseen my devotion tc
Maud, think, even before il revealed
itself to me. AT any rate, | knew she
would be discreet, and, trusting to hel
clemency | had stolen the precious pho
tograph out of her album upon the morn.
ing when left Smdybar
| had soon finished tie meal which
stood ready for me and from which
had been kept by Dicks note and by the
emotions resulting from lis perusal.
Then ! found my hat and stick and my
very largest pipe and set out across
London to Dick : rooms The place was
in darkness and untengutcd when | en-.
tered, but | knew that he would not
fail me ana struck Il match to discover
if he had left a note to tell me when he
would return. Back at s, it read
Meanwhile, there's baccy and a new
Stevenson.
1t was NOW upon the stroke of 7, so
lit the lamp, found Stevenson and pre-.
pared to spend an hour pleasantly. The
time passed most happily. At last laid
aside the book and filled my pipe j
walked across the room to take a spill
from the mantelshelf and in moment
found myself gazing at the photograph
of Maud Cameron-the girl loved, the
girl hoped to marry.
1t was in frame OF deliberately beaten
silver, already somewhat furnished by
tobacco smoke, and beyond doubt was
a portrait of Dick 5 tiancee.
l turned away from the mantel-heI
face looked forth upon me like Il stran
gers out Of that framc-and took my
copy of her photograph from my pocket.
| laid it upon the table in the full light
of the lamp. 1t had not all Acr beauty,
her loveliness was half of cVcrchangina
expression, and so must needs escape
the camera. But still the picture gave
the lie to all the overwhelming evidence
which had crushed my faith i'll her. Foi
moment | WAS content. He might ac
count himself master of her love; might
if it pleased him. believe that no man
disputed with him the kingdom of hen
heart For Il moment, despite all cyl
dence, | believed that she WAS still true
to the unspoken fact between us, that
she could not bctray me.
There was ii sudden sound of footsteps
ON the stairs, hand upon the door, and
even as | thrust back her photograph
into my pocket the door opened and
Dick entered.
Hope you We rot had long to wait 81
he said Il bad to b. out Tor awhile 81
Not lon@. ! answered And now,
l supbos,, J must congratulate you
Dick laughed Do you only supposed
am The iuek.cst legKar in the world.
But, never mimi, you viii see her some
day, and thca yen VIII speak differently.
You viii envy Inc. madly. for in
decd B. NO 4 Wtii until You have