The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-23
g 2 = Z " ? ? 2 2
LADY BARBARA OF
THE MANTELPIECE {
BY Albert Lee.
Observation-Disclosures
Copyright, 1900, the Authors Syndicste)

II ATE one AFTERNOON toward III.
l close of September Mr.. William
Minton Tappan alighted in front OF
Hadley Hall, the old Virginia mansion
which he had leased for a year with the
intention of settling down to the life
of country gentleman, il the estate
proved to his liking. lie was met by
Uncle Pete, friendly old house serv-
ant, who conducted him into the house,
where Tappan was delighted at the old.
fashioned and comfortable appearance
of his surroundings. He ate the simple
evening meal that had been prepared
for him and then returned to the spa
cious library to smoke and rest after
his n-mile drive from the nearest rail
road station.
This library pleased Tappan greatly
The tall bookcases, the broad table, the
deep notwithstanding seemed SO
complete-and upon the walls still
hung the family portraits. One es'
pecially attracted Tappan's attention
II stood above the fireplace, in large
frame, and presented beautiful young
woman. AS he sat there alone in the
perfect stiffness of the night he could
hardly rouse himself from the fascina.
tion which this portrait seemed to cast
upon him. He gazed upon it for an
hour or more, and the young woman oil
the canvas appeared to return look
as fixed and as frank as his own. She
stood with her hands gracefully clasped
In front of her, and faint smiR
seemed to play about her lips. sThe
costume was old fashioned with short
sleeves, and cut low in the neck. The
face was that of girl of 20, with regu-
lar features and large, dark eyes that
stared straight out from the canvas.
The next day he asked Uncle Pete
about the picture, but the only infer
nation he got was that il was por-
trait of "Lady Barbara" great-great-
aunt of Mrs. Hadley, who done gone
live hundred years ago" And SO,
every evening, Tappan sat in the IL
brary and communed with this beauty
of a bygone century.
As the weeks slipped by Tappan be-
came convinced that he must be the
owner of Hadley Hail. He was thor
oughly satisfied with the property, and
with everything connected with it. He
therefore wrote to His agent that he
had concluded to make the purchase.
He also wrote to that effect to Mrs.
Hadley, and in his letter he stated that
he hoped the portrait of LADY Bar
bara" might not be included among the
heirlooms she would wish TO remove.
When she replied that she valued that
portrait above all her other posses
sions, Tappan was startled at the pang
of regret, almost of resentment, which
this statement caused.
The arrangements for the sale were
rapidly made by the agent, and it was
agreed that Mrs. Hadley should come
on from Richmond and remain at Had
ley Hall for such time as she should
require to pack what she desired to re.
tain. Tappan decided to make flying
grip to New York during that period
and to bring back with him half a dozen
friends to help inaugurate his owner.
ship of the Virginia estate.
He remained a week in the city, but
found little charm in its attractions, sc
constantly uiu HIS lHOuSHtS WuidSi
back to the library in Hadley Hall.
At last his impatience grew to sucf
proportions that he suddenly deter
mined to hasten back TO Virginia (al
though he had not expected to return
much before Thanksgiving to make
one last appeal to Mrs. Hadley. Thu
idea had occurred to him that she nigh
4 L ~ oft ha
trait. He was not expected at Hadle,
Hall for week, but he announced hi
seturn by telegraph.
On reaching his house at about 81,
o'clock in the evening he was met at TIL
door by Uncle Pete, who offered Mrs
,Hadley's apologies for not being OF
hand to receive him, but she had over
.exerted herself in packing and had re
tired early with a severe headache
sShe would see him in the morning.
Tappan repaired TO the library a
once. but, to his great disappointment
the portrait of Lady Barbara had bee
removed and blank wall stared at hin
from the empty frame. He turned t
Uncle Pete, who stood nearby, an
said: "You may serve me light sur
per in my room" and went up the broa
staircase to his apartments.
He scarcely touched what the oil
servant brought him, so great dc
preston had fallen upon him. III
paced the floor for half an hour, smol
ing vigorously, and at last determine
TO return to the library, where he too
down book at random and, settlin
back in the great chair he had adop1
ed for his own, tried to become il
terested in his reading.
Tappan never knew exactly ho'
long he had been sitting in the ]
brary, when he thought he heard
slight noise as of some one enterin
the room, and the sound of the rus
ding of silk skirts. He looked up frol
his book and glanced mechanical
over the back OF the chair toward til
door. Then he sat bolt uprigh
.clutching the leather arms, and tx
book he held fell noiselessly to tt
floor. Not Is feet away from him, @
the other side of the big library tabl
stood Lady Barbara. Her hands wei
clasped before her, as in the picture
she wore the same old-fashione
gown; her hair reflected the so
light Of the reading-lamp, but HI
eyes were opened wide with surpris
Tappan rose slowly to his feet, wit
out removing his gaze from the fa
of the beautiful girl who stood b
fore him, and cried:
"Barbara!"