Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-10-12
CuApr. p VYI

CHAPTi. 2 XXI.
Between six and seven O'clock on the
next evening, an elderly man. dressed
like a gentleman farmer, hastily entered
the shop of a picture dealer, situated III
the West End, and asked, in n nervous.
impatient manner to inspect some very
pretty water-color drawings that were in
the window. The shopman produced
them. Instead, however, Of examining
the picture itself. the gentleman seemed
chiefly interested in the back o. 1t
was growing dusk. and he carrie he
picture to the door and carefully
iEed the blank surface at the back. In
one corner was family inscribed in pen
Gil the word CLARA"
With an exclamation Of pleasure, and
a frightened face, he went back to the
| counter. and asked the shopman for the
address of the painter. The young man
| hesitated. Il beg pardon sin" he said;
but it is not usual to give the addresses
of the ladies and gentlemen wlo work
! for us without their permission
Let me see your master, said the
/ gentleman, sharply.
| In a few minutes the principal himself
! came forward.
II wish to purchase all the drawings
! you have by this artist and at the same
/ time to be favored with her address.
| am not asking this for the qualification
of idle curiosity. The lady | believe to
! be a very near and dear member Of my
! family. whom | have lost sight of for
! several years-whom | believed to be
/ dead Five days ago l was looking in
| at the window of a picture dealers in
| the Strand. when l saw exposed for sale
Il watercolor painting. representing my
/ own cottage down in Suffolk. | have
/ lust such a picture at home, and there
was a popularity Of touch about this
one that led me to believe, wild as the
thought seemed then, that both were the
work of one hand. | weE' INTO the shop,
and purchased the picture. | was not
deceived Inscribed in a corner at the
back was the word Clara But the
salesman could give me no information
about the artist; they had bought it
about two years ago, with several others
OF a young girl whom they had never
seen since. My nephew dined with me
that day. and | told him of the circum
| stance He at once requested the affair
to be left in his hands. lie came to my
hotel last night to tell me that he had
every likely picture dealer. but had not
met with the slis ltcst success. AS this
was my last day in the city l thought
would take q l)ok round the picture
shops myself. | have been, about all
day, and was just about to give up my
search in despair when l caught sight
of these. thought they looked like her
work, and. sure enough, here is her Sig
nature in the corner. Yet, stay mo-
! ment; to make assurance doubly sure. |
will show YOU her likeness, painted some
sax years ago. You viii be then able 70
tell me whether it is the same"
He produced the identical miniature
that SIlas had found in Little Bethle-
Rem, and which, it will be remembered,
he had left in Il pocket of the clothes
deposited with Mr.. Jonathan Rodwcli.
The shopkeeper hestated no longer,
but at once handed over to him the re-
ouired address. The gentleman purchas-
ed the pictures at a very handsome price.
got into cab that the shop boy had
fetched for him, and drove away in
the direction of the northwest.
He arrived at Mrs Wilson's about s
O'Clock ana knocked at the door. Ia
his inquiries. the servant replied, Miss
Clara has gone with missis 10 the play
house; and | do not expect she will be
home until late"
Does she frequent places of amuse-
ment much! Is she often out of an
evening""
oh, dear no: this is the first t.nc
have ever known her to so; she is never
out late"
How unfortunate! But I must see
her tonight, at whatever hour she may
return. will come back at twelve"
Mary looked very much astonished at
the idea of such a late visit. Mr. iona
than Rodwell ordered the cabman TO
drive to the nearest hotel where he en-
gagged a bed and waited impatently the
passing away of time.
At y o'clock he knocked again ut
Mrs. Wilson's door. They had not re-
turned Would Mary permit him to
come in and waltz Mary did not like
the idea of admitting a stranger at such
an hour. and she alone in the house.
But he looks a gentleman She thought.
land he is old enough to be my father"
Don't be afraid; l am not burglar,
my dear" said Mr.. Jonathan, smiling.
and slipping coin into her hand
I He walked into the parlor, and Mary
lit the lamp. One o'clock by his watch.
and still they had not come He was
growing uneasy; he could not sit still;
he walked up and down the room, with
his watch in his hand, counting he min
utes. The rumble of wheels at last
H. ran out to the door: the 'iglt was
dark he could not perceive any object
but faster and faster, nearer and nearer
came the roll of the wheels, until they
stopped before the house.