Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-03
FOUND AT LAST.

A drrary littlo shop In dirty little
street. In tho shop window curious
medley OF things, old and new, worthless
and valuable.
Into this shop ono dull November after
noon Duncan Coils found his way. He
had several times pic ed up curious trines
there, and now, In q corner Of the window
was II small black franc that no fanoicd
might DO suitable for u print he had lately
bought.
AS a matter of course, tho wizened old
man behind tho counter asked twice as
much as tho franc WAS worth, though he
knew his customer by sight, and respected
him.
Aftor some protestations an offer was
accepted. "Oh, I'll take it with mo, he
continued, experience having taught him
J that such purchases are suffer in ones own
Keeping.
Duncan noticed tho old man change
color, and, CHANGING around to discover the
reason for such "a marvel, he found that I'll
elderly woman had entered the shop.
"Thcn it's sold," sho murmurcd under
her breath, us sho looked Mt the money ly-
ing on the counter.
"Was the franc yoursY" Duncan asked,
! with disregard for the etiquette Ut buyer
and seller.
Eyes; ut least 1t belonged to IA friend.
But there was picture in It,"
81 shouldn't emil 1t picture" inter
rupted Stocks And he was not altogether
pleased when his customer snid, well,
whatever it was, should like to see it."
| From u drawer was taken snInll oil
painting-thcp portrait of n fair haired girl,
with bunch Of white lilies in her hand
1t isn't much, and it wants u gilt
frame
"No, it isn't much" repeated Duncan,
| and he smiled. For once Stocks WINS mis-.
taken. Duncan Coils had painted that
picture, and an npprccintive public had
| taught him tho value Of his own work.
| Three doors off was IL drnItcr's, where a
stand of cheap mackintoshes screened him
from observation, and he stood there until
tho woman appeared, her lips compressed,
IL red spot OIL either check. Stocks had owl
IDENTIFY driven hard bargain.
I'm afraid you did not get great
| deal, said Duncan, ns she reached the
| door.
only $l.75. And only took tho frame
trouble
Now, I want you to tell me where you
| got tho picturcf'
IL can't do that, cir"
"Why nOt?"
"Pcoplo don't ike their affairs talked
about when
They nro in difficulties That under
stand perfectly. But when 1t s q question
OF refusing hclp-substnntial help-don,
you think 1t makes n difference? Look
herc'-nnd he opened IL lockct no wore Or
his watch chain-''you know tho fncey'
| Yes It's Miss March, sure enough"
AB no Ind suspected. the girl he wah
seeking had put aside her own name, to
| Rctbpr with nt bor IL H..
belonged 10 her pnst.
| Then toll me whore to find her There
isn't truer friend In the world than
| would bc II she would let me-" And Dun
| Gun tone ana manner carried conviction
| Well, she's In need Of Il friend now, nnG
She ii bc more in need of one soon. He,
brothers. dying, though sho won't SEQ 1t
uhd whom he's gone she'll have no ono be
longing to her. OF course she won't hay,
| to work su hard
| :" DO you mean to say she keeps hin,?"
| shes done that for IA ycur and more
| Good heavens, woman, can't you un
derstand that you re torturing net"
| And possibly she did understand for
she turned and walked on quickly, till
they reached tho door Of house III a neigh
boring street Hero sho paused.
| Its on the third floor. VIII you waltz
| 10 Duncan 1t seemed as If they woro III
hour mounting those stairs, and when al
last they cnmc 10 tho third floor and u doc,
| OF tho back room was opened a mist seem
cd to dim his eyes.
| Duncan, F." suid an unsteady voice-anG
with nh effort nc recovered himself Dun
can, you hcre!''
Yes. but ought to havo been hero long
| ago. Why didn't you send for mop''
Rupert Warren turned his hond on th,
pillow and looked fixcdly ut the wall.
Elsa would not hear of 1t. She wanted
to keep my secret. As If secrets u,uttel
| when onu's dying"
"Oh, don't bo downhcarted, old man
Perhaps, If you tell mo all about it,
:" fhncicd you might be- looking for us
ana prayed you would come In time, but /
hadn't tho strength to write Do yoL
know why we Lett Lansalo?'
| mo"
II borrowed some money belonging t.
tho frin, and 1t was found out. Elsa paid
nali' anu they promised not to prosecute
Then we came up to London, took anothe,
name, and she wrote to you to break of.
her engagement. Since TINT time Nv,
earned very little Nothing for u year"
| And what has Elsa lonef'
'Typewriting. 1t hasn't provided us
with many luxuries 1t Isn't O cheerful
story"
mo, asscnted Duncan, md 1t cost hin
an effort to limit his answer to that mon
osyliablo.
II suppose you don't think any ths
worse of Elsa2'
IL think us have always thousht-tha,
Elsas love Is gift beyond tho merits O..
any man OH earth"
THANK you. 1t Is pleasant to DO so 70.
nembcred." And soft hand was laid OF
his shoulder
Could 1t possibly DO Elsa-his Elsa,
This girl In tho shabby frock and rust,
black hatY This girl with the thin hands.
hnggnrd face and tired eyosP
"Hayo you forgotten me all this timeP'
he asked ut length.
II mover forget my friends"
"Wo were something more than
friends -
. 1t was to save you pain"
Pnin" And no laughed little bitter.
~. Child, did you suppose there was any
pain in the world like that OF knowing
you were III hiding without"--and he