The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-01-03
LADY BARBARA OF
THE MANTELPlECE
BY Albert Lee.
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Copyright, 1900, the Authors syndicate)

ATE one afternoon toward the
, IL close of September Mr.. William
Minton Tappan alighted in front of
! Hadley Hall, the old Virginia mansion
which he had leased for year with the
| intention of settling down to the life
OF country gentleman, if the estate
proved to his liking. He 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 ten-mile drive from the nearest rail
road station.
This library pleased Tappan greatly.
The tall bookcases, the broad table, the
deep armchairs-everythin seemed so
complete-and upon the walls still
hung the family portraits. One es-
pecially attracted Tappan's attention.
1t 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 of
the canvas appeared to return n look |
as fixed and as frank as his own. She |
stood with her hands gracefully clasped |
in front of her, and faint smile |
seemed to play about her lips. The |
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 a Dor
trait of Lady barbara" great-great-
aunt of Mrs. Hadley, "who done gone
live a hundred years ago." And SO. !
every evening, Tappan sat in the IL
brary and communed with this beauty
of bygone century.
As the weeks slipped by Tappan be-
came convinced that he must be the !
owner of Hadley Hall. He was thor
oughly satisfied with the property, and .
with everything connected with 1t. He 7
therefore wrote to his agent that he )
had concluded to make the purchase. :,
lie 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 panp -
of regret, almost of resentment, which y
his statement caused. a
The arrangements for the sale were
'apidly made by the agent, and it was 4
'greed that Mrs. Hadley should come
N from Richmond and remain at Had =
ey Hall for such time as she should =.
equire to pack what she desired to re- 7,
am. Iappan decided to make a fying .
rip to New York during that period. -,
nd to bring back with him half a dozen -;
riends to help inaugurate his owner &.
hip Of the Virginia estate. Va
lie remained a week in the citv but
ound little charm in its attractions. so e0
did his thoughts wander
ack to the library in Hadley Hall. 20 20
AT last his impatience grew to such ~
roportions that he suddenly deter
llned to hasten back to Virginia fall ,i -"
Tough he had not expected to return =.
uch before Thanksgiving to make s sn
ne last appeal to Mrs. Hadley. The ~
ca had occurred to him that she mipbt
ermlt him to have copy of the Dor
ant. He was not expected at Hadlev faS
all Tor week, but he announced his Tel
turn by telegraph. ~ ev'
On reaching his house Mt about civ ri'
CLOCK IN the evening he was met at the d
or by Uncle Pete, who offerer Mrs 80
'dleys apologies for not being on ou'
ma TO receive him, but she had over. wa
erted herself in packing and had re- .he
'ed early with severe headache III
e e would see him in the morning.
lappan repaired to the library nj chr
&C. but to his great disappointment, yo'
portrait of Lady Barbara had been as
moved and blank wall stared al hin, rod
'nl the empty frame. He turned IN hln
cie Pete, who stood nearby and mel
q: You may serve me a liobt sun dist
',.9 IN "9 room and went up the broad IN
lirease to his apartments. to
"ieeiy touched what the old ~
want brought him, so great a de. o
ession had fallen upon him. He lad.
'ea the fioor for half an hour. smok- Toll
vigorously, and at last determined trol
return TO the library, where he tool, thli
Nn book at random and, settling mo
* IN the great chair he had adopt- 1901
Tor MS own, tried to become in shll
ested in his reading. whi
'appan never knew exactly how eha .,,
g he had been sitting in the Ii. 'oiu
ry' when he thought he heard n sur
mt noise as of some one entering us
room, and the sound of the rust' Al
OF silk skirts. He looked up from OF
book and glanced mechanically IN
the back of the chair toward the aral
r. Then he sat bolt upright, ora. ora.
ching the leather arms. and Tho qul.