The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-31
1.-THE Lost Miniature
By a. D. Lee.

Ny 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 heroine"
1T has heroine, Ses."
Alyns eyes We're so frank as they
met mine. His gaze had not been so
direct nor his face so clear the last
time I had seen him. A years absence
from his old associate had certainly
been good for him. 1t was a pleasure
q. to look at him.
-, Just now his expression puzzled me.
could not fathom it, but it invited
me to continue.
Have you her photograph with
you:"
"Yes.'
He drew out of his breast pocket a
small red leather case and opening it
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 a picture. A dainty little head
covered with short curling hair; a del
!. icate, loving, te sing face; dark, full
: bewitching eye The throat was
bare, and an in stinct mass of white
gauze ended the portrait
"You must love her" I spoke with
conviction.
81 do" returned Allyn, "most sim
cerely."
Still his expression puzzled me. An
inscrutable smile played over his face,
n but he delayed beginning the story he
had volunteered to tell.
"And she?" 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.
Il think she is fond of me-" he re-
piled simply.
1 stretched out my hand and Allyn
grasped it warmly.
II do believe" he said, earnestly,
s'that if ever a man was fortunate
that man is 1. Will you care to listen?
I used to tell you things when 1 was
boy" he added, apologeticaliy.
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.
1T was a year ago. One night, or
morning rather, landed on the ferry
on the way to my lodgings. l couldn't
get q 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 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 my
self out on my couch
Allyn snapped the case shut and
paused q moment.
Some time the next day I awokc.
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
I sat down and studied her"
Still absorbed in his narrative Allyn
opened the case again and dropped
his eyes on the photograph.
Il told you this was peculiar case.
and you will think, fear. that am
q peculiar man. But the more I
looked at her the more I wanted to
look. I never parted with the minia-
ture. 1 carried it around in my pocket
and thought and thought about her,
until she became living presence to
me, a beautiful woman always with
me. became absent-minded. The
fellows complained, but I came to
have an engagement always when
they wanted me. My engagement
was with this-tbe lady Of the minia-
ture. I had lost my heart to her.
About the original Of the photograph
I 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 it all, by her low
er. If I advertised it he would claim
it and should not meet her.
81 didn't advertise. I did something
far more irrational. l spent my spare
hours searching. l visited stores and
walked the streets. l haunted the
residence part OF the city. l went to
the opera and scanned the boxes rath-
er than the stage. Needless to say, I
did not find her; yet never lost nope.
Z felt I must find her and look at her.
/ felt this afresh every time 1 opened
this case. l would not give up the
search. When 1 had exhausted every
resource of my own I did something
which I had shrunk from doing be-
fore; I hunted out the best detective
in the city and told him to spare
neither time nor money in finding her.
"Within two weeks received note