The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-09-17

before the fire In the dining room and
looked up at the pictured face of Mis-
tress Mowbray. He compared her face
with that of another Elizabeth Now
bray, a cousin of Harry Dickson and
also a descendant of the lady in the
/ picture. 1t was an old story now, ten
years old. He and Beth had quarreled,
and she had returned his ring and gone
back to her home in the south. They
had never met afterward, but he had
never forgotten.
Randolph placed not the slightest ere
dence In the story Of the apparltion Of
Mistress Mowbray, but the idea Of
spending an uninterrupted evening be
fore the portrait appealed to hin. I'm
able to longer withstand the glance Of
the tender eyes, he buried his face In
the upturned palms of his hands ans
gave himself up to unhappy musings
Hour after hour was tolled by tht
tall clock In the hall. and when the bell
chimed IL Randolph reused himself
with slight start from the half doze
In which he had INDUCED.
Involuntarily he gazed at the por-
trait. and great wonder came into his
eyes. He wheeled his chair away from
the fireplace and stared. He rubbed
his eyes, looked about the softly light
ed room and stared again.
There was the same youthful figure,
with its gray plumed hat, gray gown
and rose pink cloak caught together by
one slender white hand. 1t was all as
1t had been before save that now
there was life In it--life in the soft
brown eyes and In certain tremulous
movement of the pink bowed lips.
With white face and unbelieying
eyes he watched the figure step slowly
down from the frame, and he saw the
movement of the purple velvet dra-
peries that formed the background.
She stepped upon the wide mantel-
piece, which was devoid Of ornament,
and made an imperious gesture with
her hand, and as she did so he was
conscious of the heavy scent OF white
lilac from the branch she carried.
my good sir, pray assist me to the
floor" she said In low, vibrant voice.
AS in a dream, Randolph hastily
fetched a chair and supplemented Its
height with q hassock. With grave
courtesy he extended a hand to the
lady on the mantel, and as she gave
him the tips of her fingers he felt the
warmth of flesh and blood.
Lightly she stepped down, gathering
her skirts gracefully about her dainty
! gray shod feet, and presently she stood
beside him, looking timidly at him
from beneath the shadow of her long
lashes.
my Godr' he muttered, staring from
the vision before him to the empty
frame above the chimney piece.
With quick movement the girl
slipped the pink cloak from her shout
ders and removed the gray plumed
hat from her crown of dusky hair ut
is only |, Mark" she said wistfully.
"I-don't understand-yet" He pass
ed hand over his dazed eyes.
She stepped forward and pressed
upon a carved portion Of the mantel.
Instantaneously there was movement.
and the painted canvas swung into
place with a little click. There was
Mistress Mowbray In her accustomed
place above the shelf. and beside him
Was-Beth.
1T is one of Harry's jokes" she ex-
planned In q low, GREATNESS tone. HE
wrote me month ago and asked me
to come here and enact the apparition
Of Mistress Mowbray. 1t was favor
tie pastime when we were children.
for there Is q secret stair behind the
chimney. and the portrait is really
door which opens upon 1t. Harry said
that 'skeptical friend would spend
the night Of the 18th here and asked
me to play the part. was reluctant to
do such a thing but Harry has been
very kind to me-and | consented
They did not tell me who the 'skep-
teal friend would be. and 1t was-a
surprise to me-when | looked down
upon your upturned face
She leaned against the tall back of Il
chair with down bent head and CULVER
Ing lips.
And you could have gone back-and
away from me ngaln-and | never
would have known" he said, vague
wonder dawniag in his eyes.
She did not reply
"But you stayed-you made yourself
known to me-you came down to me,
What do you mean, BethT
She lifted her head slowly and look
ed at hm through misty, joyous eyes,
and he understood
Hannah's voice broke crisply upon
the blissful silence a cabegram, Mr.
Randolph"
Mark tore open the yellow envelope
at is from Harry" he said, gather
ing his love into his arms, "und he
says, Bless you, my children
The College Game.
Sllas Whipperwill had not been in
college over n month until he began