Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-16
THE MISSING MILLA1S

td. IL luI tloNI W olI l'I'"'H''''i
before he shuts up shop. Then can
buy new pair of boots for to-mof
| row."
He laughed rather bitterly and strobe
across to the window to look out upon
the chimneypots of Camden Town.
The prospect was not exhilarating
but it exercised weird fascination
upon Jack Chatteris as he stood mt the
window of his garret and ratified two
halfpennies against a latchkey that
was a week behind in its rent. A
CLEAN of gold shone in the western
sky behind the forest of chimneypots.
THAT is the gold of her hair,
thought Jack.
very dirty chimney stack writhed
hideously in the foreground.
That's me-" thought Jack sadly,
land she's as far away from Inc 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 shall have
to hang myself" Jack used to think
in his more desponding moments.
Her father was soap-boiling mill
lionaire.
Jack was the son of a pot-boiling
artist. Therein lay the cause of his
dependency, for in painting the lady's
portrait upon his canvas he had like
wise painted it upon his heart, and,
to make matters worse, the canvas was
nearly finished.
II can't go on painting in high lights
and putting them out again for many
more weeks" he mused sadly land
the old lady is already beginning 70
suspect me of working with dry
brush"
This surmise was more correct than
| even Jack himself dared to think.
Lady Silvertown did suspect the young
artist of a secret hankering after her
! fair daughter Moreover, she had not.
| iced II certain wiStful look in her
daughters eyes of late.
Never mind about the portrait be-
ing finished, John. It's fashionable to
leave 'em smudgy nowadays Lady
Silyertown had remarked to her hus.
band. PAY the young man his money
and let him go. | believe our Mays
getting soft on him, and I'm sure he's
in love with her.
bOSll. LlolHti' boll DoIh lldu re
piled. May knows better She only
looks pensive-nke because she's having
her portrait painted"
Jack Chatteris knew nothing of this
conversation as he stood gazing out It
the twinkling lamps below. but hi.
heart grew heavy within him as ht
thought of the near completion of his
picture. How could he speak of low,
to the daughter of Sir John Silvertown
millionaire.
"rhe fats in the fire." said Jack tt
himself, unconsciously quoting a fav
orite but much condensed phrase o.
Sir Johns.
Then, mailing his pot-boilers together
he sailed forth to sell them to Broad
bean, the dealer 1T starvation prices
The next day came the final sitting
He was ushered into Lady Slyertown'
morning room.
Hardly had the servant left the room
when the door opened and Miss Silve,
town herself approached him.
Miss Silvertown was pale, but oul
wardly composed.
II wish. Mr. Chatteris," she begal
with a slight catch in her throat, 1t
thank you for the pains and care yo
have bestowed upon my portrait, and
hope you will accent this as a memor
of these pleasant hours
She slipped a small paint box into hi
hand
No words passed between them, bu
each understood the thoughts that pc.
sessed the others mind.
At length Jack spoke.
rs it possible" said he, half in il
terrogation.
Miss Silvertown nodded, then came
sob
This was too much for Jack. II
took her unresisting in his arms.
"Forgive me, dear. have been
wicked fool to fall in love with you.
You must forget me"'
Miss Silvertown shook her head.
~ can't-I-I WON'T she sobbed. "
told mamma so this morning."
Mr.. Chatteris whistled under hi
breath.
"The old dragon" he murmured.
Mamma is not dragon" correcte
Miss Silvertown. "She is quite righ
but-but-'
"Of course" replied Jack, whose sol
of a sudden became uplifted with
mighty joy: but I'll work like niggt
I'll become royal academican-
I'll"
"Thats just what | told mamma
intelposcd Miss SilvertOwn, with
divine smile.
At this moment there came soun
of footsteps in the passage. In Sc
ond Miss Silvertown's handkerchit
was in her pocket, while the voice
Jack Chatteris was raised in favorab
t,ic pf tl1n n1EGt hnnnlpSs nf cY,,,
ious old masters.
Lady Silvertown entered the room
cleared for action" as Jack afterwar
aptly summed UP her appearance
Armed with the knowledge that his
May loved him, le grew weary and d
cllped battle.