The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-09-28


thinks his case peculiar. In
reality It generally proves unusual
only to the one concerned in It
My book was turned face down, on
The window sill. I 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 I suggested:
This peculiar case certainly has
Its Seroine?"
/. "It has heroine, yes"
f'Alyn's eyes were so frank as they
met mine. His gaze had not been so
direct nor his face 80 clear the last
time had seen him. A years absence
Irom his old associate had certainly
been good for him. 1t was a pleasure
to look at him.
Just now his expression puzzled me.
4 could not fathom 1t, but it invited
me to continue.
Have you her photograph with
your
Eyes"
He drew out of his breast pocket a
small red leather case and opening II
handed 1t to me. 1t needed but one
glance at the painted oval to make me
exclaim impetuousIy:
"You love her. No one could doubt
that for an instant"
Such a picture. A dainty little head
covered with short curling hair; a del
icate, 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." I spoke with
conviction.
II do" returned Allyn, most sim
cerely."
Still his expression puzzled me. An
hnscrutable smile played over his face,
but he delayed beginning the story he
had volunteered to tell.
"And sheT I 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.
II think she is fond Of me-" he re-
piled simply.
1 stretched out my hand and Allyn
grasped 1t warmly.
II do believe" he said, earnestly,
pthat IL ever q man was fortunate
that man Is I. VIII you care to listen?
I used to tell you things when I was a
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. Hc
seaned 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.
'It was a year ago. One night, or
morning. rather. landed on the ferry
on the way to my lodgings. I couldn't
get a street car nor 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. A
slight fall of snow had whitened the
pavement and made distinct this case
beneath the light. I had just strength
and sense enough left to pick 1t up,
tumble up the stairs and stretch my
self out on my couch"
Allyn snapped the case shut and
paused moment.
"Some time the next day I 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.
II quickly shut the case and put
myself and my room IN order. Then
q 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, I fear. that am
q peculiar man. But the more l
looked at her the more I wanted to
look. l never parted with the minia-
kure. / carried 1t around In my pocket
md thought and thought about her,
until she became a living presence to
me, a beautiful woman always with
me. 1 became absent-minded. The
Fellows complained. but I came to
have an engagement always when
they wanted me. My engagement
was with thisAthe 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. 1t must have been
cost by a friend. and. probably. here
was the hard part of It all. by her Low.
er. II I advertised 1t he would claim
It and should not meet her.
"I didn't advertise. did something
tar more irrational I spent my spare
hours searching. visited stores and
walked the streets. haunted the
residence part of the city. I went tt
the opera and scanned the boxes rath
n than the stage. Needless to say.
did not find her; yet never lost hope
I felt I must ind her and look at her
I felt this afresh every time I opened
this case. would not give up thu
search. When had exhausted ever
resource of my own did something
which had shrunk from doing be
fore; I hunted out the best detective
In the city and told him to spar'
neither time nor money In finding her
.'..Within TIVE wseks ! reesivsd . lot