Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-09-13
A MISSING PICTURE.

"A MlOOlNU flClUhE.
A dull London afternoon was fading
away into a 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 a sigh.
"Thank goodness, that's six finishedl
I'll run them down to old Broadbean be-
fore he shuts up shop. Then I can buy Q
new pair of boots for tomorrow"
He laughed rather bitterly and strobe
across to the window TO look out upon the
chimney pots of Camden Town. The pros.
pect was not exhilarating, but it exercised
a weird fascination upon Jack Chatteris
as he stood at the window Of his garrett
and ratified two half pennies against a
latchkey that was a week behind It's rent.
A CLEAN Of gold shone in the western sky
behind the forest of chimney pots. "That
is the gold of her hair" thought Jack. A
very dirty chimney stack writhed hideous-
ly 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 submitted 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 a soap boiling million
aire. Jack was the son of a pot boiling
artist. Therein lay the cause Of his de-
spondency, for in painting the lady's por-
trait upon his canvas he had likewise
painted it upon his heart, and, to make
matters worse, the canvas portrait was
nearly finished.
II can't 90 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 a 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 daugh'
ter. Moreover, she had noticed a certain
wistful look in her daughter eyes of late
''The fats in the fire, " said Jack to
himself unoonsciously quoting a favorite
but much condemned phrase of Sir Johns.
Then, mailing his pot boilers together,
he sailed forth to sell them to Broadbean,
the dealer, at starvation prices. The next
day came the final sitting. He was ushered
into Lady Silvertown's morning room.
Hardly had the servant left the room
when the door opened and Miss Silver
town herself approached him.
He bowed to hide the hot blush that
orept across his face. His heart leaped
into his throat.
Miss Silvertown was pale, but outward
ly composed.
I'll wish, Mr.. Chatteris," she began,
with q 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.
sit is impossible, " said he, half in in
te%rrogation.
Miss Silvertown nodded. Then came a
sob. 8
This was too much for Jack. He took
her unresisting in his arms.
Forgive me, dear! / have been a
wicked fool to fall In love with you. You
must forget mel"
Miss Silvertown shook her head.
II oan't-I-I won't!" she sobbed. II
told mamma SO this %morningl'
MI. Chatteris whistled under his breath.
1.-THE old dragoni'' he murmured.
Mamma is not a dragon" corrected
Miss Silvertown. "She is quite right,
but-but'-
"Of course" replied Jack, whose soul
Of a sudden became uplifted with q mighty
Joy, ''but I'll work like a nigger-In be-
come a Royal academician-IN'-
"That's just what l told mamma" in
4 terposed Miss Silvertown, with a divine
smile.
At this moment there came a sound Of
footsteps in the passage. In a second
Miss Silvertown's handkerchief was In her
pocket, while the voice of Jack Chatteris
was raised In favorable criticism Of the
most hopeless Of spurious old masters.
Lady Silvertown entered the room,
cleared for action" as Jack afterward
aptly summed up her appearance.
Armed with the knowledge that ''his''
Mary loved him, he grew wary and de-
clined battle.
"Er-Miss Silvertown tells me that she
has q slight headache today and would
rather not give me her last sitting"
The stress he laid upon the word "last'
disarmed Lady Silvertown's suspicious,
and he took his leave, to make his way
home to Camden town, walking on air.
Arrived In his garrett, 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 unsuccessful, eccen-
trio, struggling artist; Of his mother, who
his father had told him, died soon after
be was born.
He remembered how his father ON his
deathbed had warned him never to marry.
One memory awoke another till in his
mind he identified his mother with a pic
ture that used to lean with It's face against
the wall of his fathers studio.
He remembered how OF his sixth birth
day he had turned this canvas round to
the light, revealing the face Of q beautiful
woman wonderfully painted BY a master
hand.
The eyes had seemed to look out Of the
oanvas at him with a loving gaze, and he
remembered we'll how he had kissed the
tull, rosy, smiling lips, crying "Motherl"
"a the painted representation.
HH remelnb ered how his- father, hearing