The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-04-28

Ambition to get leading parts induc-
ed me to throw up good position in
the North Of England to Join man
ager starting at Salisbury. The bust
ness turned out disastrous, the thea
tire closing in a fortnight. I, an ute:
stranger to the place with a wife and
babe, was taken i'll, and could hardly
stir for days. But for good-hearted
landlady, | do not know what would
have become Of US,
One morning, however, over a mel.
ancholy pipe in the grassy hollow be-
low Old Sarum, a r9y Of hope dawned
upon me. In my anxiety and depres-
soin one old acquaintance had alto
gether slipped my memory. This was
Mr.. Atherstone, an art dealer OF
Bond street. He first knew me when
| had become assistant to a well
known engraver, and watched my pro-
gress with great interest ! wrote
telling him the whole story Of my
misfortune. A prompt reply followed
Apart from proof Of Mr., Atherstone's
good feeling for me his letter contained
news that read with surprise and
pleasure-not without reason, as the
following extract will show:
81 want you to undertake a commits
sion that requires tact and discrmina-
ton. 1t is private inquiry, and has
to be carried through at Shrewton
Court. Merivae, the seat Of Lord
Mountfalcon, within a few miles IRON
Salisbury. Obtain permission from
the owner to see his art treasures. |
shall forward to you a iewelled minia-
ture of Lord Mountfalcon, and want
YOU to ascertain If It is a facsimile OF
one in the collection. That Is the
least important point of the inquiry
with which entrust you, Find out,
at any trouble, and with all the SIKH
You can command, the circumstances
under which the fac-simile came to
be painted. There is a keeper OF the
galleries: try and make friends with
him. Keep the object Of your Visit as
dark as possible"
On again hearing from the art deal
er wrote to Lord Montfalcon askin2
permission to visit his picture gal
leries. BY next post | had the mos
courteous of replies, acceding TO my
request. One thing puzzled me, TN
handwriting of the note signed D!
the nobleman was familiar to me
Where had before seen 1t coul'
not recollect. Next morning | wen
over to Merlvale. Shrewton Court slt
uated in a spacious park, command
many picturesque objects. one Is
graceful Ionic temple, half hidden
a mass of frs and white elms' so muc
did II strike my fancy that left IN
halfway TO obtain a close view.
was prevented, however, by sinsula
incident. AS | approached a youI
girl In white bounded down the marpl
stems. Her melancholy, yet beautii'
face. and sunny tresses decked VIII
pansies and lilies, might have pee
Opbelia's. To my perpleXity she az
vanced and courtesied three times u
rectly afterward a matronly "onla
ran ont of the building. She quiet
took the girl by the hand and led NJ
away.
The Sbrewton collection would
famous il only for its Florentlne al
Venetian masterpieces. While aDsor
ed before them light football penn
aroused me- l turned and saw l'o
Mountfalcon. His open, handson
face would have been an excellent le
tor NJ introduction anywhere, He sal
81 have seen you before; was II n
Charles Surface at Exeter
From theatricals Lord MountfalcoI
talk glided into matters OF pictori
art. i'm which he was evidently
enthusiast. Half an hour passed. al
his lordship remarked;
"T must now leave YOU On no
count miss the small blue galleri'
There is a portfolio of Remoran
etchings that must have special val
in the eyes of practsed draugh
man. Perhaps you might also IKE
look at my bronzes, canoes ana M
1atures?"
81 should, my lord" answer
''very much. Are there many!
"Yes, a large number" replied
Iordship, every representative, IT
billiard and Cooper to Ross and MOI
My portrait by Moule l regard as
as anything painted by Cosway
keeper shall now attend to you
will have orders to let you see a
thing in which you may take an
terest."
When the keeper entered the n