The Western news., 1901-05-08

That same afternoon his ONCE boy
handed him small package which had
come by express. He opened it and
gazed fascinated at the portrait in the
blue velvet case; pair of brown eyes
which seemed to be smiling at him, a
well-poised head and glimpse of white
shoulders half-veiled by diaphanous
drapery.
Hastily he began to open the letters
to learn something of this lovely, mys-
terious visitor 1t was with a sensa-
ton of disappointment that he read the
following:
Dear Sff-Compelled to live on farm,
which l loathe, l thought it would be
pleasant to hear from somebody in the
outside world. l am like princess shut
up in an old castle with moat; / do
not know what a moat is, but old castles
always have them. l have no doubt it
| will improve both Of us to write to one
another; that is. if you are educated. II
you are not, and you misspell common
| words shall not write to you at all. In
letter to me a person once spelled
"sure" with an H. and despised him
takes. l send you my, portrait by ex-
press. / don't think it fatters the orig
inal wear long trains and great
many diamond rings. l am fond Of poet
ry; adore Tennyson and l know nearly
all Of Lady Macbeth's part. How happy
You must be living always in dear, dear
Chicago! l, alas! am lonely exile! Oh,
for one more glimpse of those fair boule-
wards, but my cruel father-but we will
not speak Of it. Please do not send
me your photograph. l have pictured
you in my mind and do not care to have
the vision rudely shattered, as it might be
should you send me your portrait. Re-
turn mine as soon as possible. My rela-
tives call me Jane, SO you must address
my letters with that name. I will let
you know my views upon various matters
when our correspondence really begins.
GERALDINE WOODVILLE.
Never had the young man been SO
puzzled; could the original of that por-
trait, with its sweet and earnest face.
be the author Of this singular letter? 1t
must have been written as joke; still
it was a pity this young girl had felt
inclined to reply to such an advertise
ment and that she should have sent her
portrait to an utter stranger.
He wrote q bright and chatty letter
in reply, such as he might have sent to
one Of his sisters, requesting permission
to keep the portrait for a little while,
and signing his own name.
Jane promptly replied with flowery
epistle, in which she said he might keep
the picture for a week longer. Before
this was answered he received an inyi-
tation to dinner party from benedict
friend.
Barton was somewhat late in arriv-
ing, and his hostess whispered as they
shook hands: Il was afraid you were
not coming, and wanted you to take
the prettiest girl in the room out to din
ner." Then aloud: "AIiss Woodyille. al
low me to present Mr.. Barton. Ger
aldine, you shall scold Mr.. Barton for
being late." And he stood before his
Michigan correspondent!
She did not recognize him of course.
that was not to be expected. During
the dinner he led the conversation to
the subject of life in the country. Il
am now country girl" said Miss
Woodville smiling. Il am visiting our
hostess for few weeks"
you dislike the country very much, l
believer"
"Why should you believe SO? have
but just finished school and this will
be my first winter there. So far have
seen it in its pleasantest aspects"
Then you are not like an exiled prin-
cess in moated castle?"
Not in the least. Our house is a new
and modern one, and does not resemble
a castle ia any respect"
He looked at her curiously: not the
culver of an eyelash revealed the fact
that she associated the idea of a castle
with that of a letter written to a man
named. Barton. He glanced at her
hands; her fingers We're not covered
with diamonds. Only one little stone
twinkled and winked in the rosy glow
of the shaded lights. They talked of
art He mentioned ivory portraits. She
grew quite enthusiastic concerning the
work OF friend who one day was sure
to make her mark in the world 'She
painted one Of me which l gave to my
mother last Christmas. 1t is really pre-
cious as work of art, but it t1atters me
dreadfully."
Il do not think so," he replied, warm
ly.
How can you possibly know?" she
asked, laughing. This young woman
was certainly mystery.
He managed to see her frequently
during the weeks following the dinner
party, but never by word or look id |
Geraldine betray any knowledge Of 80 |
S16." Meantime Jane had lost his let
ter, and with it his address, and was
feeling very uncomfortable in regard to |
the portrait which she was afraid he |
intended to keep. And Leigh Barton |
was gazing at the pictured face more
often than seemed necessary consider
ng the fact that he was constantly find
ng some excuse for beholding the origi-
II