Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-02-10


One memory awoke another, till in
his mind he identified his mother with
picture that used to lean with ITS
face against the wall of his fathers
studio. o., .............. .......
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. I
The eyes had seemed to look out OF
the canvas at him with a loving gaze.
and he remembered well how he had
kissed the full, smiling lips. crying
Mother! to the painted representa-
ton.
He remembered how MS father, hear
Ing his cry, had rushed into the studio,
aud for the first and last time had laid
hands upon him In anger. SELLING him
by the shoulders and throwing him VIC
lently across the room, SO 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.
wrlnglng his hands and crying, IL have
killed him have Killed my boyw
fuor old gnyhriuE Inm afraid he
was a bit OFF his head" murmured
Jack, as he pondered over these old
memories. Il wonder what he did
with that pictureY'
Then came n memory OF a glimpse
through Il 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 II.
nab IL. a.
OF old sketches that lay against the
wall.
One OF these he selected without hes.
itatlon. and. taking his palette knife,
scraped carefully.
There was n 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 Mlllals!' he gasped. as the fam
iliar initial of the master appeared ln
the corner
He gazed long and lovingly at tha
face. He knew by It's likeness to him.
self that this WIS his mother, this
beautiful woman.
Hastily wrapping up the picture, he
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.
~ want you to look at picture for
me Mr.. Br0adbean"
CHUCK upr' replied Mr. Broadbean.
affably.
Jack cut the string and threw back
the paper.
ITS the missing MIllnis" calculated
Mr. Broadbean, starting back.
Excuse me-" replied Jack, politely
at IL IL Millais."
why, I've been on the lookout for
that picture these twenty years. so
has every picture dealer In England"
answered MIR. Broadbean. And you
say II IL your fatherT
civilian Chatteris, landscape paint.
err"
Mr.. BrOadbean raised his glasses
with n shaking hand. He looked Mt the
picture, then at Jack.
"A wonderful likeness" he murmur-
ed. "YOu say that your father was
william ChAtterIs, the landscape paint.
err" he added aloud.
"Yes"
"Is your mother still alive"
"She died when | was baby"
Are you certain that this IL her por.
traitT
quite"
Mr. Broadbean leaned his face In his
hands for some seconds; then he spoke
"See here, Mr.. Chatters," he said ~
do not wish TO pry into any OF you fam.
lily affairs, but I will tell you the his,
tory OF this portrait. II was painted
thirty years ago by Mlllais. The lady
Is the duchess of Wessex, and IL still"
"AlIveY gasped Jack.
Eyes: stIll alive. The duke of Yves.
sex, II Ii said, was an exceedingly GO,
centric and Jealous man, and the mar.
rage was an unhappy one. After a
violent quarrel he disappeared. to-
gether with his infant son aud this p0r.
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 Nil
lais,' M 1t IL called In the profession.
II that lady In your mother she will
probably call on me In ten minutes to
look at that there Constable. IT you
are her son ! hope your grace will
break II to her as gently as possible
that you are the duke Of Wessex."
Hold on, Mr.. Chatterls, for heavens
sake! Here she Is!'
An elderly lady was descending from
a carriage which had Just drawn up AT
the door.
Jack stood rooted to the ground.
She was IA beautiful lady, with tho
eyes OF the picture and wonderful
white curls.
An obsequinous footman flung open
the door OF the shop