The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-09-18
III N[an@' ''' H'Hpr'RE
; ,,;,|,s,, qGnoeel $. 1ag
GREET Britain RIGHT RIGHTS

No one suspected that the visit to
that old country house would cav an
impression on the mind of 7-year-old
Agnes Wilton that the course Of her
life in later years would be materially
affected by 1t. Her mother, Mrs. Will
ton, certainly did not suspect 1t. Yet,
80 it was.
1t was a quaint house, not a large
one, but full Of curious antique urni-
ture and ornaments, dating back to the
early years of the reign of George III.
There were strange brass candlesticks,
miniatures of persons who had flour
1shed about the year 18OO-in short, 1t
was more like a curfo shop than a
dwelling house. Its owner was Mrs.
Monmouth, an old lady of &C or there
abouts, whose dress and anner were
old-time, n in complete accordance
with the furniture and all that sur
her.
Mrs. Monmouth had been the bosom
friend Of Mrs. Wilton's mother, and
Mrs. Wilton felt it incumbent on her
to pay the old lady a visit from time
to time. While her mother was talking
to her hostess Agnes decided that she
could roam over the house and inspect
all the curious things it contained.
The chests attracted her, with
their ornamental carvings of goblin
heads; the great, four-post bedstead
| was an object OF ave.. but the hand
painted miniatures interested her more
| than anything else. She went from
room to room In search Of a fresh one,
and at last entered an apartment where
n espied one that captivated her en-
tirely.
The others had been of elderly men
and women, but this one was the por-
trait OF a young man, probably of five
and twenty years, with a bright, hand
some face, merry looking eyes, and a
firm mouth Just curved for a smile.
Agnes was too young to read those de-
tails, but she was charmed by the
general appearance of the young man,
and the position of the lips, denoting a
desire ito laugh, impressed her greatly.
A pleasant smile always attracts chill
dren, and Agnes was emboldened tc
take the miniature from the bracket
and gaze at it more intently.
IF O were my uncle I should love
o very much" she decided, turning
the miniature at different angles, an6
noting that the eyes appeared to follow
her at every turn.
She looked at the back of the gol6
setting, and there she saw two locks O.
hair, one dark and the other fair, witt
the initials H. F. The discovery die
not interest her particularly, so SHIT
again looked at the face.
Agnes"
Her mothers voice recalled her tt
ilCISSIl. SLie IluIIlSoly T6plcCGQ the MN.
iature, and ran downstairs to answer
the call. They went into the garder
but Agnes took no notice of thu
flowers that We're growing, nor did sh.
remember how long they stayed will
Mrs. Monmouth; all her hough wer,
centered on the ~iniatur
Agnes never visited the house again
and the memory of it faded from he
mind, except that she retained a haz,
vision of the face in the miniature. sh
went away to school and d%evelope,
Into q beautiful nader ere the reco1
lection Of that face was brought bac]
to her in all it's vividness. She SCENE,
to recall the smile, and that it was
face to love, but the whole picture di
not come back to her till fate threw tn
miniature into her hands.
Whether it was chat the love of tn
antique was born in her, or whethe
that childish impression had engen
dered the fondness for ancient things
| she could not determine, cut the fac
remained that she developed a grea
: liking for antiques and curios. She wa
, constantly on the watch for sma.
!, "bargains'' Of that description, such a
} she could afford out of the generou
: supply Of pin money allowed by he
; father. Among her young lady friend
!, she was secretly regarded as a bit {
l a crank on the subject, and they wor
: dered how so charming a girl could be
5 stow SO much attention on musty, out
: of-date articles.
: There was one curio dealer in a littl
3 shop situated in an off street in a larg
T West End t~horoughfare who knew Mis-
! Wilton very well. She was often i
his shop, looking for things tina ST
4 was able to buy, and admiring othe
{ articles which We're beyond the limi1
0 of her purse. When anything likely
3 suit Miss Wilton anne into his hand
L he invariably reserved for her to hay
e the first chance Of acquiring 1t.
: Good morning. Miss Wilton" sal
4 the curio dealer one morning, as Agnt
entered the shop. II have somethir
0 here which appears to be in your line
g "Oh, what is it," queried Miss Wi
ton, with evident interest. Let me 81
it, please"
The shopkeeper brought a sma
cardboard box from the back of tt
> ter. Removing the lid and a layer
tissue paper, he drew out an ebje
y that made Agnes utter a cry of su
: prise and pleasure.
), It believe it is the very one!" 81
4 cried, taking Il from him. Eyes, it /
d The miniature I saw in that old coul
! try house, and there are the two loci
o OF hair and the initials on the back!'
a 1t all came back to her. There w;
: the handsome face, the merry eye, Il
l. lips parted ready to smile. The co
d tune Of early years of the nineteen
centurySthe fr..,rled shirt, the scarf
coat and TIE stocR round. the nee
r. Agnes gazed at 1t With eager eyes
- IT must have if!' she declare
y. Where did you get it, and how mu
! do you want for it?"
"a The dealer smiled at her eagerne:
~ but he was too honest n too part!
- to his beautiful young customer to ia
w advantage Of her enthusiasm n raj
=, the price.
- cit was brought here about a we
- g by a respectable old lady, who SO
~ it was hers, and who wanted to sell
T did not doubt that 1t was her pro
,b erty, and, to speak the truth, T belle
-, she was very hard UP. Quite an {
= woman, 1 should say, although S
~ carried her years well. I'll let you ha
it for s shillings more than I paid ht
ne L tlinlx- that,S faiE-I rn11St 90 I'm q liui