Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-03-09

| disarmed Lady SilvertOwn'6 suspicious,
and he took his leave, to make his way
home to Camden Town, walking on
air.
Arrived at his garret his heart sank
within him. Camden Town seemed q
long way from Park lane.
In thinking over the future he
thought Of the past; Of his father, who
had died some years since, an unsuc.
cessful, eccentric, struggling artist: OF
his mother, who, his father told him,
| died soon after he was born.
One memory awOke another, till In
his mind he identified his mother with
a picture that used to lean with it's
face against the wall Of his fathers
studio.
He remembered how on his sixth
birthday he had turned this canvas
around to the light, revealing the face
Of beautiful woman wonderfully
painted by master hand.
The eyes had seemed to look out OF
the canvas at him with loving gaze,
and he remembered well how he had
kissed the full, smiling lips, crying
"Mother!" to the painted representa-
tion.
He remembered how his father, hear
ing 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 vio'
lently across the room, 80 that he
struck his head against the easel with
blow that stunned him.
He recalled his awakening sensations
how he found his father hanging
over his bed, with white, scared face,
wringing his hands and crying, II have
killed him! have killed my boy"
"Poor old governor Tam afraid he
was a bit Off his head" murmured
Jack, as he pondered over these old
memories. II wonder what he did
with that picture"
Then came a memory of glimpse
through a half-opened door as he lay
In bed, sick and dazed from the blow.
His father had the picture on the easel
and had painted quickly over 1t.
Jack rose and strobe over to pile
of old sketches that lay against the
wall.
One of these he selected without hes.
itation, 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 a few hours he removed the upper
painting entirely.
"By Millaisv' he gasped, as the fam
iliar initial Of the master appeared In
the corner.
He gazed long and lovingly at tho
face. He knew by Its likeness to him.
self that this was his mother, this
beautiful woman.
Hastily wrapping up the picture, ha
carried 1t 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 friendly nod.
81 want you to look at picture for
me Mr.. Broadbean."
"Chuck up!" replied Mr.. Broadbean,
affably.
Jack cut the string and threw back
the paper.
ITS the missing Millaisw calculated
Mr.. Broadbean, starting back.
Excuse me-" replied Jack, politelyi
lit is a Millais."
"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 1t is your father?"
civilian Chatteris, landscape paint
err"
Mr.. Broadbean raised his glasses
with a shaking hand. He looked ut the
picture, then at Jack.
"a wonderful likeness" he murmur-
ed. "You say that your father was
ln nQinf.
err" he added aloud.
Eyes" ..'
as your mother still alive?"
"She died when l was a baby"
"Are you certain that this is her por'
traitT
"Quite."
Mr.. Broadbean leaned his face in his
hands for some seconds; then he spoke.
''See here, Mr.. Chatteris." he said, \
do not wish to pry into any of you ram
lily affairs, but I will tell you the his
tory of this portrait. 1t was painted
thirty years ago by Millais. The lady
is the duchess Of Wessex, and Is still
"AliveT" gasped Jack.
"Yes; still alive. The duke Of Wes.
sex, 1t is said, was an exceedingly &C.
centric and jealous man, and the mar.
riage was an unhappy one. After
violent quarrel he disappeared, to-
gether with his infant son and this por.
trait 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 Mil
lais,' as it Is called In the profession.
II that lady is your mother she Will
probably call on me in ten minutes to
look at that there Constable. II you
are her son l hope your grace will
break 1t to her as gently as possible
that you are the duke Of Wessex."
"Hold on, Mr.. Chatteris, for heavens
sake! Here she Isl"
An elderly lady was descending from
a carriage which had just drawn up at
the door.
Jack stood rooted to the ground.
She was beautiful lady, with the
eyes Of the picture and wonderful
white curls.
An obsequinous footman flung open
the door of the shop.
Mr.. Broadbean stealthily slipped over
to the door and bolted 1t. Then he let
fall the blind, much to the footman'a
amazement, and slipped of on tiptoe
into the cellar where he commenced
to tear up ten-guinea proof engraving
into small pieces-just to ease his feel.
ings, as he afterward said.
The old lady advanced toward Jack.
She did not see the picture, but saw
Jack.
my boyv'
"Motherw =.
Mr.. Broadbean, down in the cellar.
heard the cry and promptly punched
his fist through the eye OF a doubtful