St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-08-29
THE LOST IMMATURE.

My book was turned, lace uo"h' vi
the window sill. 1 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 suggested;
"This peculiar case certainly mas
its heroine"
ut has heroine, yes"
Alyns 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 at him.
Just now his expression puzzled me.
l could not fathom it, but it invited
me to continue.
"Have you her photograph with
you"
eyes"
He drew out of his breast pocket
small red leather case and, opening It,
handed it to me. 1t needed but one
SlduCe az Inc pdluIeu w "a w H ~
exclaim impetuously:
"You love her. No one could doubt
that an instant"
Such a picture! A dainty little head
covered with short, curling hair; deli
cate, loving, teasing face; dark, full,
bewitching eyes. The throat was bare,
and an indistinct mass of white gauze
ended the portrait.
"You must love her." l spoke with
conviction.
81 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 sheW l hesitated over the in
quiry remembering what manner OF
man it was who had gone from US a
year ago.
A gentle expression passed over
Alyn's face.
81 think she is fond of me-" he re-
piled simply.
l stretched out my hand and Allyn
grasped it warmly.
81 do believe" he said earnestly,
"that if ever a man was fortunate that
man is l. Will you care to listen? |
used to tell you things when was
boy" he added alphabetically.
picked up my sewing, always lying
ready against such times as this, and
leaned back in my rocker.
Allyn reached for the picture. He
leaned his head on one 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.
ut was a year ago, One night-or
morning, rather-I landed on the ferry
on the way to my lodgings. l couldn't
get street car or cab. In fact,
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. A
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
paused a moment.
"Some time the next day I awoke
and the first thing that attracted my
attention was this-open on the fool
and her eyes looking up at meme IL
that condition"
An expression of disgust good to set
came over the mans face.
II quickly shut the case and put my
self and my room in order. Then sal
down and studied herr
Still absorbed in his narrative, Aly1
opened the case again and dropped hi
eyes on the photograph.
81 told you this was a peculiar case
and you will think, fear, that am {
peculiar man. But the more l looked
at her the more | wanted to look.
never parted with the miniature.
carried it around in my pocket ant
thought and thought about her unit
she became living presence to me,
beautiful woman always with me.
became absentminded. The fellow
J complained, but l came to have an er
gagement always when they wante
} me. Ny engagement was with this
the lady of the miniature had los
my heart to her. About the original o
, the photograph l reasoned this way
. She would not be carrying her owl
Q miniature around in all probability. I
0 must have been lost by FRIEND ant
l probably-here was the hard part of
abby her lover If l advertised il
1 he would claim it, and l should no
meet her.
81 didn't advertise. 1 did something
far more irrational. / spent my spar
:, hours searching. l visited stores AM
! walked the streets. haunted the res
Y lence part of the city. | went to tn
d opera and scanned the boxes rathe
!. than the stage. Needless to say, di
r not find her; yet l never lost hope.
Q felt l must find her and look at hel
o felt this afresh every time l opene
Q this case. | would not give up tn
I search. When l had exhausted ever
! resource of my own, l did somethin
0 which had shrunk from doing before
- I haunted out the best detective in tn