The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1904-03-19
HAVE made u discovery,
JOHN said Mrs. Mans
field. looking UP from her
knitting

'
& " i john" said Mrs. Mans
g g field, looking up from her
knitting.
Box John Mansfield, retired
me.shaii, Alderman and Mayor Of
Pimperne. looked up from his paper
"A discovery. my dear?' he said,
assuming his best nagisterial manner.
Pray what IL the nature of this re-
markabie Occurrencey'
Il find that Miss AnsOm has photo
graph OF yourself, which she treasures
in secret"
What do you mean. my dear:' ex-
claimed Mr.. Mansfield.
''This morning" explained Mrs.
Mansfield. Il entered Miss Ansom's
room and found her absorbed In the
contemplation OF some object which
she held. She Ind evidently not heard
my knoci;, but the noise OF my entrance
startled her. and, as she hastily hid
something ina drawer. u photograph
fell to the floor. She snatched 1t up.
flung 1t into the drawer and closed 1t,
hut. not before had recognized 1t as
your photograph. / pretended not to
have noticed the photo, preferring to
have an explanation from YOU
Mr.. Mansfield was the picture Of
helpless amazemcnt.
Miss Ansom, 1t must he explained.
was bright and charming young lady.
whom Mrs. Mansfield had recently ell
gagged as n companion
II am quite Mt loss to explain the
affair."" said Mr.. Mansfield, In tones
quite unlike those OF the Mayor OF
Pimperne. Possibly 1t was given to
her by a mutual friend"
"Then why should she make mys-
terry of 1t. and gloat over 1t in private? p"
demanded Mrs. Mansfield, grImiy.
my dear" said Mr.. Mansfield, with
etand you! II l mistake not 1t was
something she hid in the drawer which
she 'gloated' over, not the photograph"
Il nm not SUI, which 1t was" said
Mrs. Mansfield, with strained calm
ness.
Now that the first shock of amaze
ment was over, Mr.. Mansheld's pomp-
oslty returned rapidly.
''Ah, very possible, my dear. Miss
Ansom, whom l have every reason to
think is young lady of good discern
ment and sound Judgment. has found
something In my public life which she
has been good enough to admire. Miss
Ansom has mad every opportunity Of
studying my work for the past three
months, and also the general course
Of municipal life In what, think, may
he regarded as noble borough. What
more natural, then. that this young
lady; seeing the portrait of gen.
tieman clad In the robes and insignia
Of the office Of the chief magistrate Of
this borough, displayed in the photog-
rapher's window. and. recognising in
that gentleman myself. should pur-
chase that photograph"
Mrs. Mansfield listened with immov-
able features.
"a very good explanation" she COM
mented, "if 1t had been one of your
official photographs. But the one In
Miss Ansom's possession is one of
those you had taken about two years
ago, before you were elected Mayor.
We ordered only few Of them, re-
member, and l thought we had dis
posed of them all. The question is
how did Miss Ansom obtain one?
did not give It to herr"
''Then can only say that you must
lrs mistaken, my dear" said Mr.. Mans
field. with asperity. ION your own
confession you only saw 1t for an in
slant. How can you be certain that 1t
was photograph Of myself?"
'If you think my eyes deceived me,
perhaps you will believe your own!
The photo is still In the drawer. Miss
Ansom has had no opportunity of re-
moving 1t, for sent her on an errand.
1t Is In the first draw of. her dress
ing table. II you wish to satisfy your
curiosity"
Mrs. Mansfield, do you think that
I am going to steal into u lady's room
and pry into her private affairsY' cried
the Magistrate. rising. You forget
yourself, MADAME .sla...
: Mr.. Mansfield went upstairs In high
dudgeon to make some alteration In
Ills dress preparatory to going out.
He was forced to acknowledge him
self quite at loss to account for that
photo being In Miss Ansom's posses
sion, which admission was rather ex-
traordinary on his part.
He prided himself on his keen in
sight. his strict 'impartiality and his
firmness In discnarging his magisterinl
duties. But an exhibition of these
qualities was not confined to the bench.
OF the latter he had made lavish
display in his home, as Mrs. Mans
field found to her cost.
: 1t was only twelve months ago that
his .uubending will had driven their
eaIy son, Jack. to eouth Africa.