El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-18
THE LOST miniature.
u Reformed the Man
Who Found u.
BY A. D. Lee..


1T is rather a peculiar case" he be-
gan.
smiled wisely. Every one thinks
his case peculiar. In reality 1t gener-
ally proves unusual only TO the one
concerned in IL.
My book was turned, face down, on
the window sill I was ready to listen.
but Allyn did not go on at once. He
sat quietly gazing out of the window
across the river. The smile was still
on my face as I suggested:
This peculiar case certainly has
its heroine"
lit has a heroine, yes"
Alyn's eyes were SO frank as they
met mine. His gaze had not been SO
direct nor his face SO clear the last
time had seen him. A years absence
from his old associate had certainly
been good for him. 1t was a pleasure
TO look Mt him.
Just now his expression puzzled me.
! could not fathom it. but it invited
me to continue.
Have you her photograph with
your
Yes"
He drew out of his breast pocket q
small red leather case and, opening it.
handed it to me- 1t needed but one
glance at the painted oval to make me
exclaim impetuously:
You love her. No one could doubt
that an instant"
Such a pictured A dainty little head
covered with short. curling hair; deli
cate. loving, teasing face; dark, fun,
bewitching eyes. The throat was bare.
and an indistinct mass of white gauze
ended the portrait.
-Ycu must love her" I spoke with
conviction
II do" returned Alyn-"most sincere
ly."
Still his expression puzzled me. An
inscrutable smile played over his face.
but he delayed beginning the story he
had volunteered to tell
"And sheY' | hesitated over the in
quiry remembering what manner OF
man 1t WAS who had gone from us
year ago.
A gentle expression passed over
II think she is fond OF me-" he re
piled simply
] stretched out my hand and Allyn
grasped 1t warmly.
Il do believe" he said earnestly,
that IL ever a man was fortunate that
man is /. VIII you care to listen? 1
used to tell you things when / was
boy" he added apologetically-
picked up my sewing, always lying
ready against such times as this, and
leaned back in my rocker.
Allyn reached for the picture. He
Lon mol his head on ono hand and his
elbow on the table. In the other hand
he held the case where his eyes could
rest on the face. His own face be-
came grave
cit was a year ago. One night-or
morning. rather-I landed ON the ferry
on the way TO my lodgings. l couldn't
get n street car or a cab. In fact, l
was too drunk to think of either, so
stumbled along just keeping straight
enough TO escape the police. In front
of my lodgings is an electric light. \
slight fall of snow had whitened the
pavement and made distinct this case
beneath the light. / had just strength
and sense enough left to pick it up,
tumble up the stairs and stretch myself
out on my COUCH
Allyn snapped the case shut and
DauStu Il
Some time the next day l awoke
and the first thing that attracted my
attention was this-open on the floor
and her eyes looking up at meme in
that condition."
An expression of disgust good to see
came over the mans face.
81 quickly shut the case and put my
self and my room in order. Then sat
down and studied her"
Still absorbed in his narrative. Allyn
opened the case again and dropped his
eyes on the photograph.
81 told you this was n peculiar case,
and you will think, fear, that am a
peculiar man. But the more / looked
at her the more L wanted to look.
never parted with the miniature.
carried it around in my pocket and
thought and thought about her until
she became a living presence to me, a
beautiful woman always with me. /
became absentminded. The fellows
complained, but / came to have an en-
| gagement always when they wanted
me. My engagement was with this
the lady Of the miniature. had lost