Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-05-02
MRS. MANSFIELD, STRATEGIST.

66 = HAVE made q discovery
john" said Mrs. Mansnela,
looking up from her knitting.
John Mansfield. retired merchant,
alderman and Mayor of Pimperne,
looked up from his paper.
"A discovery. my dearT he said. as
suming his best magisterial manner
Pray what is the nature of this re-
markable OccurrenceT'
Il find that Miss Ansom has a photo.
graph Of yourself. which she treasures
in secret"
What do you mean. my dearY' ex.
claimed Mr.. Mansfield.
This morning." explained Mrs.
Mansfield, Il entered Miss Ansom's
room and found her absorbed in the
contemplation Of some object which
she held. She had evidently not heard
my knock. but the noise Of my entrance
something In a drawer, a photograph
fell to the Floor. She snatched it up,
flung 1t into the drawer, and closed it,
but not before l had recognized 1t az
your photograph. l pretended not td
have noticed the photo. preferring II
have an explanation from you"
Mr.. Mansfield was the picture Of
helpless amazement
Miss Ansom, 1t must be explain, d,
was bright and charming young lady
whom Mrs. Mansfield had recently en-
gagged as q companion.
Il am quite at a loss to explain the
affair."" said Mr.. Mansfield, In tones
quite unlike those Of the Mayor of
Pimperne. Possibly 1t was given 70
her by a mutual friend"
'Then why should she rake q mys-
terry Of it, and gloat over it in pri-
vateT demanded Mrs. Mansfield
grimly.
My DEAR" said Mr.. Mansfield, with
return Of dignity, II do not under
stand you! II l mistake not it was
something she hid in the drawer she
'gloated' over, not the photograph"
Il am not sure which 1t was" said
Mrs. Mansfield. with strained calm
ness.
Now that the first shock Of amaze
pOsity returned rapidly.
"Ah. very possible, my dear. Miss
Ansom, whom l have every reason to
think is q young lady Of good discern
ment and sound judgment, has found
something in my public life which she
has been good enough to admire. Miss
Ansom has had every opportunity of
studying my work for the past three
months, and also the genral course of
municipal life In what, think, may be
regarded as a noble borough. What
more natural, then, that this young
lady, seeing the portrait Of gentle
man. clad in the robes and insignia of
the office Of chief magistrate Of this
borough. displayed in the photograph
er's window, and, recognizing in that
gentleman myself, should purchase
that photograph"
Mrs. Mansfield listened with immOv-
able features.
"A very good explanation" she COM
mented, :if 1t had been one of your
official photographs. But the one in
Miss Ansom's possession is one of
those you had taken about two years
ago, before you were elected mayor.
We ordered only a few of them, l re-
member, and l thought we had dis
posed of them all. The question is
how did Miss AnsOm obtain one? did
not give it to her"
."rhen l can only say that you must
be mistaken, my DEAR" said Mr.. Mans
2eld. with asperity. ION your own
confession you only saw 1t for an in
slant. How can you be certain that II
was a photograph of myself"
IF you think my eyes deceive me,
perhaps you will believe your own!
The photo Is still in the drawer; Miss
Ansom has had no opportunity Of re-
moving 1t. for l sent her on an errand
1t is in the first drawer Of her dressing
table, If you wish to satisfy your curl
osity."
Mrs. Mansfield, do you think that
am going to steal into a lady's room
aud pry into her private affairs" cried
the magistrate, rising. You forget
yourself, madam
Mr.. Mansfield went upstairs In high
dudgeOn to make some alterations In
his dress preparatory to going out.
He was forced to acknowledge him
photo being in Miss AnsOm's posses.
sion. which admission was rather ex-
traordinary on his part.
He prided himself on his keen sight
his strict impartiality. and his flrmness
In discharging his magisterial duties
But an exhibition OF these qualities
was not confined to the bench. OF the
latter he had made lavish display in
his home. as Mrs. Mansfield found tC
her cost.
1t was only twelve months ago that
bis unbending will had driven theil
only son. Jack. to South Africa.
Mr.. Mansfield had determined thai
his son should marry rank and beauty
In the person Of a daughter of q lOca
magistrate.
But handsome Jack Mansfield elect
ed to manage his own matrimonial af
fairs. and upset all his fathers brill
iant plans by falling In love with 9
pretty nobody. whom Mr.. Mansfielc
had never set eyes on-a governess ii
p house where he was visiting.
Finding all arguments, persuasion
hnd commands alike useless, Mr.. Mans
HELD finally told his son he must eithe
fall in with his wishes or leave hi
home forever, and look for no furthe
assistance from himself. Jack chos
fhe latter course, and within q weeI
bet sail for South Africa.
The loss Of her only son was . sourc