The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-12-13

evidently come a long way for that pur.
pose. / am charmed. flattered and abash-
ed all at one time--charmed and fiat
tered TO receive any one who comes q
distance to pay homage to art"
He put his hand on his heart and bow
ed with the air of a prince. His belief
that Mr.. Mallett had come TO visit and
compliment art In his person was so evil
IDENTIFY genuine that the sensitive gentle
man felt almost unhappy to have to un-
deceive him; but time was pressing. He
had none for the observance of unneces-
sary politeness. He took the little photo
graph from his pocketbook and held 1t
toward CASTELAR,.
81 believe you took that picture. Now,
l want you to tell me where the grave
of which this is a picture is to be found,
how you came to take the photograph,
whom you took it for, and any other cir
cumstances you can remember in connec-
ton with it."
The Spaniard leaned forward with his
hands on his knees to look at the pho
tograph, but he did not attempt to touch
it. He stared at it earnestly while Mr..
Mallett was speaking, and, when he had
finished, he looked up with a scared face
as he answered:
Il said something was wrong about
that affair at the time, and now my
words are coming to pass. | did not like
the job, | can assure you; l have an
~antipathy to graves and collins and all
that reminds one of death, and | would
not have taken that picture for untold
gold, but that | was enslaved by the
beauty of the lady who asked me to do
it. Monsieur has not seen such another
tall, shapely, with eyes, hair and skin
perfect, and her voice soft and sweet like
a silver bell. lie cOaXed me to do it
against my will, and | crept into the viii
lage graveyard one morning at 3 o'clock
with my camera, before even the busy
sisters were out of their cells, and took
the picture for her. You may see how
imperfect the picture is, how many
tlemishes it has, and you must not judge
of my usual work by it, for my hand
shook with fear-' The soul of the
artist was ousting the shade Of the aris-
tocrat.
Never mind the blemishes, Senior Cas-.
t~ellan," interrupted Mr.. Mallett. 1.-THE
photograph Is good enough for my pur-
pose. l want you now to tell me the
name of the lady who gave you the or
der, the name of the convent where the
grave is, with directions for getting
there"
Castellan's hands went up in dismay.
You cannot get there. 1t would be
sacrilege. No man is permitted to en-.
ter the gates but on two days in the
week, for a couple of hours at visiting
time, you understand, when the holy
sisters are all shut in their cells at pray.
ers."
Still l must get to see that grave
before sunset tonight, and l will give
two hundred francs to any one who will
help me-"
1.-TWO hundred francs! 1t is a large
sum here in Villa Silentio. There is q
servant woman who does the errands
for the convent ladies, with whom an
acquainted, who might be induced
He paused thoughtfully.
THAT is settled then. And now how
| far is it, and how are we to get there?'
Mr.. Mallott asked, rising briskly from
his chair.
SuobSildh hlOllOucu ulLu DdCh W LIE
seat.
"You must leave this to me entirely
monsieur. One ill-considered step might
balk your plan, and rob the servant and
me of our reward. 1t must be done
during vespers, If at all; and in the mean.
time l must see this woman and make
my plans. 1t is now two, and, if l might
advise refreshment and rest before we
start on our expedition, monsieur would
be more fitted for it."
Zone moment" said Mr.. Mallett, al
CASTELAR, rose to call his daughter to
their guest. "Tell me the name of the
convent before you GO"
1T is called the Convent of the Eoly
Assumption, and it is but FIVE minutes
walk from here"
And the name of the lady who or
dered that photograph"
"Ah, that / never knew! My accom-.
plice managed all the business part OF
the affair, as she will do now, and the
lady's name was never mentioned"
Senior CASTELAR, went through the from,
door into the market place, p~ausing on
the threshold, with his fingers on his
lips, to say:
Until six and a quarter then, au re-
voir.''
(To ne c~ontinued.)