Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-03-19
THE MISSING WILLIAMS

A dull London afternoon was fading away into q murky twilight. One bY one the lamps lit Up in the streets, and the gloom gathered in the garrett in which Jack Chatteris sat painting. Presently that gentleman threw down brushes and palette with sigh.
 Thank goodness. that's six finish ed! I'll run down to old BroadbeaH before he shuts up shop Then I can buy q new pair of boots for to-mor- 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 Chatters as he stood at the window of his garret and rattled two halfpennies against latchkey that was q week behind in it's rent. X 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 wrlthed hideously in the foreground.
 That's me-" thought Jack sadly, land 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 desponding moments.
 Her father was a soap-boiling mil iionaire.
 Jack was the son of a pot-boiling artist. Therein lay the cause of hia despondency, for in painting the lady's portrait upon his canvas he had like wise painted 1t upon his heart, and, to make matters worse. the canvas was nearly finished.
 '1 can't go on painting in high lights and putting them out again for many more weeks" he unused sadly, land the old lady is already beginning to suspect me of working with a dry brush
 F his surnlise was more correct than even Jack himself dared to think. Lady silYertown did suspect the young artist of q secret hanhering after her fair daughter. Moreover. she had not iced 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 Sllyertown had remarked to her hus- band. "Pay the young man his money and let him go 1 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-hke because she's having her portrait painted"
 Jack Ghatteris knew nothing of this conversation as he stood gazing out tt 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. H 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.
 ''I--I wish, Mr. Chatteris," she began with a slight catch in her throat, Ito thank you for the pains and care you N hac hope you will accept this as a memory of these pleasant hours.'
 She slipped 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.
 ''Is 1t possible" said he, half in in- terrogation.
 Miss Silvertown nodded, then came sob.
 This was too much for Jack. He took her unresisting In his arms.
 Forgive me, dems. I nave been wicked fool to fall in love with you" You must forget mev'
 Miss Silvertown shook her head.
 'I can't--I-I won'tv' she sobbed. "I told mamma so this morningp'
 MT. Chatteris whistled under his breath.
 "The old dragonw he murmured.
 Mamma Is not dragon" corrected Miss Silvertown. "She is quite right; but-but-"
 ''Of course" replied Jack, whose soul of sudden became uplifted with a mighty joy; 'but I'll work like nigger I'll become royal academician- I'll-"
 That's just what I told mamma" interposed Miss Silyertown, with a divine smile.
 At this moment there came a sound of footsteps in the passage. In a sec ond Miss Silvertown's handkerchief was in her pocket, while the voice of Jack sChatteris was raised in favorable criticism of the most hopeless of spur ious old masters.
 Lady Silvertown entered the room. cleared for action as Jack afterward a,.4Ir1 ct,r,1rs4aJ r1r, Io,.