The Huttig news., 1909-03-06
 
 SAINT |E:L||.Iz.AbE:I ==--=----===---=--=-====;s:--=== ====;s:--===-=====--==-==-- By ANNA B. EATEN.
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By ANNA B. EATEN.

Copyright, by Shortstory Pub. Co.)
 It was a steady downpour of rain, such as taxed the resources even of our merry house party, that sent me to seek amusement in the portrait gallery at RedferR hall From the time of my arrival week before. I had loved to stroll lai1y, specu- lafing over the history of those knights in q beruffled danes of the past. My special favor ite, however was the portrait of a lovely young girl kaeeling before her prie dieu, telling her rosary. She was not strictly beautiful, but her face wore such sweetly pensive expres- sion, with so rapt and tender look in the eyes, that she seemed 10 lack only the halo to become saint.
 It was before this picture that stood, absorbed in admiration, when the housekeeper passed through, on her way to her quarters. took the opportunity of gratifying my curiosity.
 That picture? Oh, that is Saint Ef3abeth." she announced, in reply te my inquiry Poor thing," brush ing her apron across her eyes, .sit's a sad story-the tragedy of the house, you know"
 l did not know, but was so anxious to learn that Mrs. Fairbanks was finally prevailed upon to return with her sew ing and relate the history of my favor ite portrait. And a long story it is, she preluded, as we settled ourselves in eozy aleove where we could be free from interruptions, yet within sight of Saint Elizabeth at her devo- tions. "A long story. though her life was short enough, poor dearl There's very few people as knows of it but me. My mother was housekeeper at the tine, and she told me all the facts of the case"
 After brief silence during which Mrs. Fairbanks dropped her work and gazed pensiYely at the Madonna like face. as if questioning whether she should divulge it's hallowed dis tory, she continued:
 'It was in Master Rupert's time
 
 from what mother said-a sort of mixture. His mother was a Spaniard and he got his quick temper from tha, siae of the house. but he was cold and self-centained on the surface, like all the Redferns; SO you see, when he did gise way to his anger. 1t va something fearful. Mother said that at such times everybody got oE. oi the way who could possibly do so Still he was fattered and made much of, for he was rich and titled. and the young lad es they smiled on him, and their mammas entertained him. but ii was all of no use. He cared nothing for any of them. He just buried him self in the library with his books, or up in the studio with his pictures, Tor he was fine artist and could have made a fortune With his brush if he had minded to. which only goes to prove that the Bible tells the truth when it says: To him that hath snall be given. Mrs. Fairbanks paused to take breath after this bit of Scrip tural philosophy.
 
 folks they sort of gave him up. They all came to the conclusion that there never would be mistress at the hall but, bless me; they made a mistake. One summer Master Rupert flew off on a sketching trip-he was always doing that way. starting off without a moments notice, and expecting ais things to be all packed up and ready Well, he met her by accident in some cutoff the-way place in the mountains and it was all up with him. He made up his mind to marry her on the spot Every one wondered afterward at his choice. To be sure she had a lovely face, but then she was only a slim bit of girl, with shy, shrinking ways; not at all the grand lady you'd thiak he'd have picked out for the mistress of this great house.
 KS for the girl. roor little thing. living there in the wilds, she had noth- ing to say in the matter except her yes" at the altar. It was all fixed up between Sir Rupert and her moth CT: she simply obaysd her mother now, as she had done every hour of her life. It probably never occurred to her that she could do anything else
 "Ah, but it was a gala day, they say, when the master brought his wife home, The bells were rung, bonfi7as were built, and fower-gifls strewed blossoms in th4ir path. She seemed awed by all the splendor, and a little frightened at being the center of so much attention. She shrank closer to her husband and glanced up at him timidly, but, instead of cheering her by a sweet word of encouragement. he just spoke stern like to her, as if to remind her of her duty. Oh. yes, he was fond of her; you could see that by the way his eyes followed her from place to place. but. like all the Redferns, he didn't believe in show ing it.
 Well, there were gay goings-on for time The house was full of guests, and my lady was made much of, and some of her timidity was beginning to wear away; but now it was the masters turn to grow uneasy. It al