The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-05

sidewalk east OF the casino arch at
Narragansett pier. The young man
coming leisurely toward it is gazing
out at sea. and IN his dreamy, aPpre-
riative eyes is something of the
speculation of the artist calculating
perspective and distance.
As he nears the arch he glances up
to note the time. The two hands of
the clock are pointing directly over
head, as though elasped in entreaty to
the vertical sun. The young man fol-
lows the custom of the place and ia kes
out his watch to compare time. AS
he does so he notices the white square
at his feet.
The address is up and boIt.ly writ
ten:
Robert Leighton. artist,
Ecols de Fart,
Rue St. 1iIIaire,
Paris"
With a quick movement he rcscnes
the envelope from its position.
"S,range - impossble!"' he says,
wonderingly. and. oblivious Of the peo-
pie who are passing him on the side
walk, he reads the snperscript ion
again and again. his face growing more
puzzled and incredulous with each
perusal.
"It is certainly meant for me-" he
says, at last: but how in the name Of
all that is inscrntable did it happen
TO be lying here? It was evidently on
its way to the post Office, for 1t is not
postmarked; and it is just IS evident
that the writer is somewhere in his
interesting little town. wonder who
II can be? ! did not know that ! had
an acquaintance in all New England
and certainly not one who knew my
Paris address. was sympathizing
with myself as heing a stranger in my
own land; aud 10, and behold. here
am publicly displayed on the sidewalk
of this enterprising resort, in less than
twoShours nfter my arrival. Well,
c'est pour moi. so will open IT,"
He stands aside and raises his hat
rs two ladies pass. He does not know
them by name. but they were in the
same Pullman from Kingston. and one
Of them had bowed in acknowledgement
Of his services in raising car win
dow. Tie waits. until they have gone
by. and then follows as far as the
shadow of The arch A small boy wh'rl>
around the corner with an armful OF
newspapers. and he buys one mcrhan'
ically and thrusts it into his pocket
when the sidewalk is again clear he
takes ont a penknfe and opens the
letter.
II is brief. but does not go far te
solve the mystery:
"Narrasansett Pier. July l. 1901.
cousin Robert Leighton: Your uncle
directed In his will that al his painting
and cug!os should be forwarded 10 you.
ild not know your address. or would have
written before. Please let me know how tc
send. Cordially,
"YOl'R COUSIN CLARA"
"fhe interest deepens.' he thinks
as be folds the, letter and carrf'lll,
places it in an inside pocket. "Who Is
Cousin Clara? Which of my uncles i.
II who has made me custodian of his
paintings? l, cannot he Uncle Charles
for he has boys OF his own. and wou'G
scarcely bequeath his treasures away
from them. Uncle VIII and Uncle Ton
are both sea captains, and would hard
ly know a painting from a chrome:
and, besides. ! saw them in Liverpool
only few weeks ago. I wonder If il
can be the old East Indian whom Aunt
Helen married? He never saw me. bu
7 was always sort of favorite will
Aunt Helen. Perhaps She comniun
Gated some Of her liking to him. Bu
where does Cousin Clara come in, ant
how did she get my address?
1t is hopeless muGdle, he tells him
self. with sudden irritation. and he vii
forge. the whole matter. But he does
not. As hf crosses Exchange place hi
glanccs sharply at the different faces
In the search he finds himself watch
ing the passing groups cf ladies'. won
dpring which one Of them may be
Cousin Clara. and II She has missed The
letter. Tie has half mind TO return
to the arch and keep watch.
custom. he eeks-+h~-'nrgest and mos
talkative group and skil,fully absorb.
himself into it. I!e is a good converse
tionalist and sympathetic listener
and the cotcrie cordially accepts him
Now and then fresh ma terial is added
TO the gossip, as new arrivals take tht
places of those who fall away. HI
listens attentivcly to he introduction:
and tries to catch each name. Al
length he hears some one say "Clnra.
and h" thinks his quest is to be re
wardcd: but TO his disgust the owne1
of the name is d1'mpv little girl o
ten. and he turns away in vcXation
Ofcourse. he tells himself, impatiently
there are probably hundred Claras ir
the place.
The heat has called ont an unusually
large number Of bathers, and he tents
scattered along the beach and tb'
chairs in front of the lighthouses are