The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-26
THE PHOTOGRAPH.

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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 l 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 pipe-to-night
ifpossible. I've a hundred things 10
tell you. Meanwhile, if you will believe
1t, Pm engaged. Yours, DICK.
The news he told me was the pleas
ATTEST possible, for / also, TO tell the
truth, had learned in my ten days free
dom how unenviable are the liberties OF
the mere bachelor. / remained free for
ths present, bat 1 nevertheless hoped
to follow his example before the year
was out.
One can do a good deal in ten days
indeed had fallen hopelessly in love
in less than that number of hours. But
1 felt it rather too much TO ask that
Maud should have recognized and
learned to reeiprocate my feelings in SO
short q time, and so had not spoken.
All the same, knew that it would be
a crushing disappointment to me if she
hld not accomplished it. Her home
was at Brighton, she once told me, and
she well knew my friends, the Mey-
nells.
For Maud could find no words to
express her. | put my hand into the
breast pocket of my coat and drew out
a photograph. It was not very good
likeness the hair was not dressed in
the fashion which had become familiar
to me, and that fashion, of surety,
was the most charming that ever oc-
Cured to the mind Of ingenious woman.
But still the picture had enough of her
TO be for me the most beautiful thing
in the world, save only her sweet self.
| had stolen L. 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 f0reseen my devotion
to Maud, think, even before itrevealed
itself to me. Atany rate, knew she
would be discreet, and, trusting to her
clemency, I had stolen the precious
Photograph out of her album upon the
morning when left Sandybar.
l hal 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 1 found my hat and stick and my
very largest pipe aud set out across
London to Dicks rooms. The place
was in darkness and untenanted when
/ entered, but l knew that he would
not fail me and struck match to dis
cover if he had left q note TO tell me
when be would return. Back at s."
it read. Meanwhile there's baccy
and a new Stevenson
1t was now upon the stroke of Z, so
lit the lamp, found Stevenson and pre-
pared to spend an hour pleasantly. The
tine passed most happily. AT last l
laid aside the book and filed my pipe.
I 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 l loved,
the girl hoped to marry.
1t was in frame of elabora.ely beaten
silver, already somewhat tsrnished by
tobacco smoke, and beyond doubt was
portrait of Dicks fianeee.
- / turn ID 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 il upon the table in the full light
of the lamp. 1t had not all her beau
ty; her loveliness was h.lf of ever
changing expression, and so must needs
escape the camera. But still the picture
gave the lie to all the overwhelming
evidence whirh had crushed my faith
in her. For a moment / was content.
He might account himself master of
her love; might, If it pleased him, be-
lieve that no man disputed with him
the kingdom of her heart. For a mo
ment, despite all evidence l believed
that she was still true to the unspoken
fact between US, that she could not be-
tray me.
There was a sudden sound of foot
steps on the stairs, q 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, :"
he said. II hal 70 be out for a while"
mot long" / answered "And now,
I suppose, l must congratulate you ?'
Dick laughed. ado you only sup
pose? / am the lncliest beggar In the
world. But, never mind, you win see
her some day, and then you will speak
differently. You ilienyy me, madiy,
for indeed-But we'll wait until you
have met her. Only promise you you
may safely venture your eongratula-
tions. Here is her photograph, by the
bye, wretchedly bad one, but still not
:. m .,,lfi-a -
He moved to the mantel and handed
me her picture. inelosed in that abom-
Unable frame of his. took it from
him, and for a minute and more gazed
hard upon her face.
1T is all true l kept whispering
to myself. "She hes betrayed me-"
Dick watched me in silence, evident
iy convinced Of my admiration. In
reality | was wondering whether il
would be better to tell him that we had
met.