The suburban citizen., 1901-08-03
The Lost Miniature
G6T 4 is rather a peculiar case" hC
began.
BY a. ID. Lee.


thinks his case peculiar. II
reality It generally proves unusual
only to the one concerned In it.
My book was turned face down, on
the window SILL was ready to lis
ten, but Allyn did not go on at once.
He sat quietly gazing out of the win
dow across the river. The smile was
still on my face as l suggested:
This peculiar case certainly has
Its iSeroine?"
1T has a 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
rom his old associate had certainly
been good for him. 1t was a pleasure
tO look at him
Just now his expression puzzled me.
I 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 ii
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 for an instant"
Such picture, 4 dainty little head
covered with short curling hair; a del.
icate, loving teasing face; dark, full
bewltchlng eyes. The throat was
bare, and an indistinct mass Of white
gauze ended the portrait
You must love her" 1 spoke with
conviction.
Il do" returned Allyn, "most sin
cerely" .......
Still his expression puzzled me. An
inscrutable smile played over his 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
Alyns face.
Il think she is fond OF me-" he re-
piled simply.
stretched out my hand and Allyn
grasped it warmly.
"I do believe" he said, earnestly,
'that if ever a man was fortunate
that man is l. VIII you care to listen?
used to tel you things when l 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 became
grave. ,.. 4
"It was year ago. One night, or
morning, rather, landed on the ferry
on the way TO my lodgings. l couldn't
get a street car nor 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 fell 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 nay
self out on my couch"
Allyn snapped The case shut and
paused a moment
"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.
Il quickly shut the case and put
myself 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.
"I told you this was a peculiar case.
and you will think, 1 fear, that l am
a peculiar man. But the more
looked at her the more 7 wanted to
LOOK. l never parted with the minla-
ture. l 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. l became absent-minded. The
fellows complained, but came to
have an engagement always when
they wanted me. My engagement
was with this-rhe lady of the minia-
ture. l had lost my heart to her.
About the original OF the photograph
/ reasoned this way. She would not
be carrying her own miniature around
in all probability. It must have been
lost by a friend, and, probably. here
was the hard part of It all, by her Low.
er. If l advertised it he would claim
1t and l should not meet her.
II didn't advertise. did something
far more irrational 1 spent my spare