Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-29
birthday, he had tlrned this canvas

and he remembered well how he had
kissed the full. smiling lips, crying
"Mother!" to the painted representa-
ton.
He remembered how his father,
hearing his cry, had rushed into the
studio. and for the first and last time
had laid hands upon him. in anger.
selling him by the shoulders and
throwing him violently across the
room, so that he struck his head
against the easel with blow that
stunned him.
He recalled his awakening sensa-
tions-how he had found his father
hanging over his bed, with white.
scared face. wringrg his hands and
crying. 81 have killed min. | have
killed my boy"
Poor old governor. I'm afraid 10
was a bit off his head. murmured
lack, as he pondertd Fvsr these old
memories. "a wonder What he did
xith that picture"
Then came a memory of glimpse
through half-opened door as he lay
In bed. sick and daztl by the blow.
His father had the picture on the
EASEL and had painted quickly over it.
d Jack rose and strobe over to pile
OF old sketches that lay against the
wall.
One of these he selected without
hesitation, and, taking his palette
knife. scraped carefully.
There was a picture below the
rough landscape!
Stimulated by this discovery, Jack
went eagerly to work, and in the
course of few hours he removed the
upper painting entirely.
"By Millias" he gasped, as the IA
miliar initial of the master appeared
In the corner.
He gazed long and lovingly at the
face. He knew his mother, this beau
tiful woman. -
Hastily wrapping up the picture.
he carried it off to Mr.. Broadbean, to
seek his advice as TO the completion
of its cleaning.
Mr. Broadbean was in his shop. He
greeted Jack with a friendly nod.
81 want you to look at picture for
me, Mr.. Broadbean."
"Chuck it up!" replied Mr.. Broad
bean, affably.
Jack cut the string and threw back
the paper.
ITS the missing Millias!" eiacu-
lated Mr.. Broadbean, starting back.
Excuse me- replied Jack, politely;
at is a Mllais."
"Why, I've been on the lookout for
that picture these twenty years! So
has every picture dealer in England"
answered Mr.. Broadbean. "And you
say it is your mothers portrait? Then
who was your father?"
civilian Chatteris, landscape paint
err"
Mr.. Broadbean raised his glasses
with shaking hand He looked at
the picture, then at Jack.
"a wonderful likeness" he murmur-
ed. "You say that your father was
William Chatteris, the landscape
painter?' he added aloud.
Eyes" @
"Is your mother still alive?"
"She died when ] was a baby"
"Are you certain that this is her
portrsit?"
quite"
Mr.. Broadbean leaned his face in
his hands for some moments; then be
spoke.
"See here, Mr.. 'Chatteris," he said,
81 do not wish to pry into any of your
family affairs, but will tell you the
history of this portriit It was paint
ed thirty years ago by Nillais. The
ady IS n" TIch rs Of Wessex, and
Is Soil"
"Alive?' asked Jack.
eyes: still alive. The Duke of Wes-
sex, it is said, was an exceedingly &C.
centric and Jealous man, and his mar
riage was an unhappy one. After a
violent quarrel he disappeared, to-
gether with his infant son and this
portrait of his wife. The police have
had the case in hand for years, and
every picture dealer in the world has
been told to look out for the missing
Millais.' as it is called in the profess
sion. If that lady is your mother
she will probably call on me in ten
minutes TO look at that there Consta-
Bile. If you are her son hope your
grace will break it to her as gently
as possible that you are the Duke OF
Essex"
An elderly lady was even then de-
scending from a carriage which had
just drawn mp at the door,
Jack stood rooted TO the ground.
She was n beautiful old lady, with
the eyes Of the picture and wonder
full white cnrls.
An obseQuous footman flung open
the door of the shop.
Mr.. Broadbean stealthly slipped
over to the door and bGlted il. Then
he let fall the blind. much to the foot.
mans amazement, and slipped off on
tlptoe into the cellar, where he com
menced to tear up ten guinea proof
engraving into small pieces--iust to
ease his feelings, as he afterwards
said.
The old lady advanced toward Jack.
She did not see the picture, but she
saw Jack"
"Nv bow"