The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-26

l
and hidden springs that had hither-
to been ignorant of. But besides these
not scrap of manuscript, nothing to
tell of any former history of the house
or of inhabitants. One day, however.
when j had about concluded that my
efforts would be In vain, Amelia was
helping me to arrange some books and
magazines in the big, empty wall case
in the library. Suddenly the little maid
let fall n heavy volume. The book had
slipped from pile which she was at
tempting to lay on the shelf, and strik-
ing heavily against the back of the
case, opened secret door, therein
concealed, and dropped with a sort of
broken fall into the niche behind. 1t
is needless TO say lost no time in
searching amid the dust and cobweb9
of the little closet. where / found two
small oil pictures and a little plaster
bust. With eager hands I brushed the
dust from the pictures and taking them
to the light found one to be the portrait
OF delicate, sweet-faced boy with
timid blue eyes and fair hair. Across
the back of the canvas was written:
Jean, aged ten years" The other pic
ture was of Il lad seemingly fifteen or
sixteen years of age, u handsome
black haired, black-eyed boy, whose
expression 1 did not like. The plaster
cast was the head of a grinning faun,
so stained and dust covered as to be
scarcely reconizable. Besides the dust
and CRIME the faun was further dis
figured by crack, but poorly patched
running entirely around the head,
cleaving the right cheek and slanting
downward through the mouth, and
dashed squarely across the face so that
it spattered both eyes, was a hideous
black ink spot.
Here at last was a clew to the mys-
terry, but what 1t would lead to / could
not even conjecture. Was it the SHIN
mering black spot that l had seen so
often now, which darted across the
faun's face as l sat it on the high IL
brary mantel between the two por-
traits? Perhaps it was only passing
shadow. for some one had crossed the
threshold.
Missy, honey, whar bouts you git
dem things?" said Aunt ella, as she
entered. Better put 'em back whar
dey come frum, better put 'em back"
By this time the old woman had
reached the fireplace, and stood look
ing up at the picture.
'Po' 'lill Massa JEAN" she said, ca
ressingly, 'po' 'lill lamb"
who is the other boy, Aunt 'Cilla?"
1 asked.
'Da's Massa Pierre, missy, Of mars
ter's odder gran'son,' the old woman
answered, hesitatingly.
Tell me about them"
"Dere amt much to tell, missy" she
said, slowly. II wish dere was mo-.
Dere amt nothin' t all but jess dat de
Hn boys uster live here wild OIL mars
ter. an den when OF marster died he
lef' everything to Pierre an po I'LL
Jean nothin'."
And what has become of the boys,
| Aunt 'Cilla?"
DE Lawd only knows, honey" she
said earnestly. II wish I did. Massa
Pierre he went abroad. an 'spect he's
Twin dere yet. It's him you rent de
house from. He's got mo- houses here,
too, what de same agents looks arter
But DO little Massa Jean, | wish 1
knowed where he is, po' lamb. / been
tryin' ali desc years to fin out Eff |
| knowed--"
The old woman paused abruptly.
IF you knew, Aunt ella" l sug-
gested. what them"
| -NN'iill ilOlIili ItInOn-
strated the old woman hurriedly, az
she left off caressing little Jeans pic
ture and left the room.
One day late in the summer with the
little Amelia for company, was walk
ing along through a narrow street
above Canal, "up town." as we had
come to call it, following the fashion
of our neighbors. 1t was hot and sui
| wifh DF -
the dusty leaves that hung limp on
the languorous trees. Suddenly, on the
hotel pavement before me danced the
black spots; then waving and skim
ming it rose and flashed before my
eyes, blinu.ng me- l staggered and
would have fallen, but the little maid
caught me.
A moment later | was on the cool
inside Of the little shop before which
we had been passing, and kind faced,
blue eyed white-haired, old man was
bending over me. feeling my pulse.
You became faint is not SO. mad
emOsele?" ne asked gently.
Yes, it is the heat think" T said.
An, yes, the heat. no doubt" he
SAID with smile, "and the malaria"
lie gave me something to drink.
S't'lS'HiHs lidt was very cool ana very
acid, and by and by he called a cab
and handed me into IL as tenderly as
If had been a child. glanced back
as him as he stood in the little office
door, and read on the window beside
the sign painted In gilt letters: Doc
tor JEAN"
When ! got home l was stiI very
| weak, So Amelia brought some pillows
and propped me up on the leather couch
i'm the library, because it was cooler
there. Late in the afternoon, when
the sun crept around that way for a
farewell touch, the little maid closed
the blinds, drew back the red tapestrv
curtains anu famed me to sleep.
l must have dozed for some tibe. for
suddenly ] awoke with a sense Of
heaviness and oppression. The black
spots flashed before my eyes, then
shimmering and danced across the
room till 1t rested like a scar, blood
red, across the face of the faun, which
in another moment fell to the floor
with a loud crash.
| ] remember to have screamed and
covered my face with my hands, and
then | must have been unconscious for
a long time.
When l came to myself / was In my
own room and the white e-haired old
man from the little uptown Office was
bending over me. My aunt was there,
TOO, smiling joyously to see me coming
round again, and Aunt ella was
turning the pillows, while the little
maid famed.
| You are much better mademojAaIle