Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-04-30
THE PHOTOGRAPH.

My own aoor 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. I
seemed to have been already twelve
month back at work upon the evening
when found Dick'ssetter awaiting me
ut my lodgings:
Mr. DEAR MoRTIMER--I am in town again NJ
last. Arrived last night, Come round and
smoke pipe-tonight II posaible. I've hun.
dred things ~ tell you. Meanwhile, II you
will believe IL, I'm engaged. Yours, pIoK.
The news he told me was the pleas
ATTEST possible. for / also. to tell the
truth. had learned In my ten days FREQ
dom how unenviable are the liberties Of
the mere bachelor. Irenained free for
the present, but nevertheless hoped to
follow his example before the year was
out.
One can do good deal in ton days
indeed had fallen hopelessly In love
in less than that number Of hours But
felt it rather too much to ask that
Maud should have recognized and learn
ed to reciprocate my feelings in SO short
time, and so had not spoken. All
the same, knew that It would be a
crushing disappointment to me II she
had not accomplished IL. Her home was
at Brighton, she once told me, and she
well knew my friends, the Meynells.
For Maud---I could find no words to
express her put my hand into the
breast pocket of my coat and drew out
q photograph, II was not very good
likeness; the hair was not dressed in the
fashion which had become familiar to
me, and that fashion. Of q 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 me tho most beautiful thing in
the world, save only her sweet self.
had stolen It, She was stopping with
the Luttrells, with whom spent my
holiday at Sandybar, and Madge Lut-
trell was great friend OF mine She
had detected or foreseen my devotion to
Maud, think even before it revealed
itself to me- At any rate, knew she
would be discreet, and, trusting to her
clemeney,, had stolen the precious pho
tograph out Of her album upon the morn
ing when left Sandybar.
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 Its 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 en-
tered, but l knew that he would not
fail me and struck match to discover
il he had left note to tell me when he
would return. Back ut g." IL read.
Meanwhile, there's baccy and new
Stevenson.
1t was now upon the stroke Of Z, no l
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. l
walked across the room to take spill
from the mantelshelf and In moment
found myself gazing at the photograph
Of Mand Conference.-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
portrait Of Dicks fiancee.
I turned away from the mantel-her
face looked forth upon me like stran-
gers out Of that frame--and took my
copy OF her photograph from my pocket,
laid 1t upon the table In the full light
of the lamp. II had not all her beauty,
her loneliness was half of everchanging
expression, and 10 must needs escape
the camera. But still the picture gave
the lie to all the overwhelming evidence
which had crushed my faith In her. For
. moment / was content. He might 40
count himself master of her lovej might,
IL 1t pleased him, believe that no man
disputed with him the kingdom Of her
heart For moment. despite all evil
dence, believed that she was still true
to the unspoken fact between us. that
she could not betray me.
There was sudden sound of footsteps
on the stairs, a hand upon the door, and
even as thrust back her photograph
into my pocket the door opened and
Dick entered.
Hope you've not had long to wait. I"
he said, II had to DO out for awhile.
Not long," answered. And now,
suppose, must congratulate youa''
Dick laughed. do you only supposer
I am the luckiest beggar In the world.
But never mind. you win see her some
day. and then you will speak differently.
You will envy me, madly, for In
deed But we'll wait until you have
met her. Only promise you you may
safely venture your congratulations.
Here IL her photograph, by the bye, q
wretchedly bad one, but still not all un-
like"
He moved to the mantel and handed
me her picture, inclosed In that abom-
Unable frame Of his. took 1t from him,
and for minute and more gazed hard
upon her face.
at is all true, kept whispering to
myself. "She has betrayed me. +"
Dick watched me In silence, evident
ly convinced Of my admiration. In reali-
ty was wondering whether II would
be better to tell him that we had met
Presently he broke silence. WELL
he said, holding out his hand for the re-