Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-01-31
THE MISSING WILLIAMS

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 A dull London afternoon was fading
 away into murky twilight One by
 one the lamps lit up in the streets, and
 the gloom gathered in the garret in
 which Jack Chatteris sat painting.
 Presently that gentleman threw down
 brushes and palette with a sigh. l Thank goodness, that's six finish 1 ed. I'll run down to old Broadbean
 before he shuts up shop. Then I can
 buy new pair of boots for to-mor- 1 row.
 He laughed rather bitterly and strode across to the window to look out upon
 the ehimneypots of Camden Town. | The prospect was not eXhilarating,
 but 1t exercised a weird fascination upon Jack Chatteris as he stood at the l window of his garret and rattled two l halfpennies against q latchkey that was week behind in it's rent. 4 gleam of gold shone in the western sky behind the forest of chimneypots
 That is the gold of her hair,' thought Jack
 A very dirty chimney stack writhed hideously in the foreground.
 That's me-" thought Jack sadly, "and she's as far away from me as the sunset"
 And, after all, "she" was only as far away as Park lane.
 Jack was painting her portrait, which, when finished, was to be sub- mitted to the hanging committee of the Royal Academy
 If they don't hang me I shall have to hang myself" Jack used to think in his more Responding moments.
 Her father was soap-boiling mil lionaire.
 Jack was the son of a pot-boiling artist. Therein lay the cause of his despondency, for in painting the Iady's portrait upon his canvas he had like wise painted it upon his heart, and, to make matters worse, the canvas was nearly finished
 T can't go on painting in high lights and putting them out again for many more weeks he unused sadly, "and the old lady is already beginning to suspect me of working with q dry brush.'
 This surmise was more correct than even Jack himself dared to think Lady SilYertown did suspect the young artist of secret hankering after her fair daughter. Moreover, she had not 1N11 u ESiidin AiEiEGI HOOK Ill her daughters eyes of late.
 Never mind about the portrait be- ing finished, John. It's fashionable to leave 'em smudgy nowadays.9 Lady Silvertown had remarked to her bus. band. Pay the young man his money and let him go. l believe our Mays getting soft on him, and I'm sure he's in love with her"
 "Bosh! mother" Sir John had re. piled. May knows better. She only looks pensive-like because she's having her portrait painted"
 Jack Chatteris knew nothing of this conversation as he stood gazing out at the twinkling lamps below, but his heart grew heavy within him as he thought of the near completion of his picture. How could he speak of love to the daughter of Sir John Silvertown, millionaire.
 "The fats in the fire" said Jack to himself, unconsciously quoting a fav- orite but much condensed phrase Of Sir Johns.
 Then, mailing his pot-boilers together, he sallied forth to sell them to Broad. bean, the dealer at starvation prices. The next day came the final sitting. He was ushered into Lady SiIvertown's morning-room.
 Hardly had the servant left the room when the door opened and Miss Silver. town herself approached him.
 Miss Silvertown was pale, but out wardly composed
 IT wish, Mir. Chatteris," she began with slight catch in her throat Ito thank you for the pains and care you have bestowed upon my portrait, and I hope you will accept this as a memory of these pleasant hours.''
 She slipped a small paint box into his hand
 No words passed between them, but each understood the thoughts that pos sessed the others mind
 At length Jack spoke.
 sIs it possible" said he, half in ins terrogation.
 Miss Silyertown nodded, then came a sob.
 This was too much for Jack. He took her unresisting in his arms.
 Forgive me, degf. I have been n wicked fool to fall in love with you.'' You must forget mep'
 Miss Silvertown shook her head.
 q can't-I-I won'tw she sobloed. q told mamma so this morningp'
 MT. Chatteris whistled under his breath
 ''The old dragonw he murm ured.
 Mamma is not dragon" corrected Miss Silyertown. "She is quite right  "Of course" replied Jack, whose soul of sudden became uplifted with q mighty joy; "but I'll work like a nfgger LII become a royal acaderniciian-. Ill-"
 ''That's just what I told mamma" Miss Silvertown, with a divine smile
 At this moment there came, a sound of footsteps in the passage. Tn a. sec ond Miss Silvertown's har dker chief was in her pocket, while tn vol ce of Jack Chatteris was raised ip favo rable criticism of the most hopele iss of spur ious old masters.
 Lady Silvertown entered the Oom. cleared for action as Jac after ward sntly summed uO her anne. arance