The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-11-13
The LOST MINIATURE.
BY A. D. Lee
1t Reformed the Man
Who Found 1t.
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"It is rather 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 1t.
My book was turned, face down, on
the window sill. l 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 has
its heroine"
"It has 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. years absence
from his old associate had certainly
been good for him. 1t was 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
your
Eyes"
He drew out of his breast pocket
small red leather case and, opening 1t,
handed it to me. 1t needed but one
glance at the painted oval to make me
exclaim impetuously:
-. L. H. A4T16
that an instant"
Such a picture! A dainty little head
covered with short, curling hair; a deli
cate, loving. teasing face; dark. full.
bewitching eyes. The throat was bare,
and an indistinct mass of white game
ended the portrait.
'You must love her." l spoke with
conviction.
II do" returned Alyn-"most sincere
ly."
Still his expression puzzled me. An
inscrutable smile played over bis. face,
but he delayed beginning the story he
had volunteered to tell.
"And she?' l hesitated over the In
quiry remembering what manner Of
man it was who had gone from us
year ago.
A gentle expression passed over
Alyn's face.
81 think she is fond Of me-" he re
piled simply.
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 listen2
used to tell you things when was
boy" he added apologetically.
l 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.
at was year ago. One night-or
morning, rather-I landed on the ferry
on the way to my lodgings. couldn't
get street car or a 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 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
II told you this was peculiar case,
and you will think, l fear, that am a
peculiar man. But the more looked
at her the more l wanted to look. !
never parted with the miniature. l
carried it around In my pocket and
thought and thought about her until
she became living presence to me,
beautiful woman always with me. ]
became absentmlnded. The fellows
L 20 hox
gagement always when they wanted
me. My engagement was with this
the lady of the miniature | had lost
nv heart to her. About the original OF
the photograph reasoned this way:
She would not be carrying her own
miniature around In all probability. 1t
must have been lost by friend, and
probably-here was the hard part of 1t
abby her lover. If | advertised 1t,
he would claim 1t, and | should not
meet her.
81 didn't advertise. l did something
far more irrational l spent my spare
hours searching. visited stores and
walked the streets. l haunted the resi-
dence part of the city. l went to the
opera and scanned the boxes rather
than the stage. Needless to say, l did
not find her; yet never lost hope.
felt | must find her and look at her.
/ felt this afresh every time opened
this case. l would not give up the
search. When l had exhausted every
resource of my own, did something
which had shrunk from doing before
I haunted out the best detective In the
city and told him to spare neither Tune
nor money In finding her
"Within two weeks | received note
from him. He was obliged to leave
the town suddenly. He wrote some
thing like this:
"I've found her at 800 Water avenue
Imogene Munroe. VIII give you par
ticulars when return tomorrow. She
Is anxious to recover the miniature.
"But could not await the next day
and saw no reason why It would D'
necessary. had the photograph ant
would take 1t to her Because OF 1t
should insure myself reception a
least.
~ went to 300 Water avenue tina
evening. 1t is an elegant residence II
perfect keeping with the case and face
/ had scrubbed on my card. The finde
Of the miniature The maid who ad
mitted me said that Miss Munroe va