The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-03-23
An Awkward Situation.


Ambition to get leading parts induc-
ed me to throw up a good position in
the North of England to join man
ager starting at Salisbury. The busi-
ness turned out disastrous, the thea
ire closing in a fortnight, /, an utter
stranger to the place, with wife and
babe was taken i'll, and could hardly
stir for days. But for a gCod-hearted
landlady, | do not know what would
have become of us.
One morning, however, over mel
ancholy pipe in the grassy hollow be-
low Old Sarum, a ray 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
l had become assistant to a well
known engraver and watched my pro-
gress with great interest. l 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 l read with surprise and
pleasure-not without reason, as the
following extract will show:
81 want you to undertake commits
sion that requires tact and discrimina-
ton. 1t is private inquiry, and has
- be carried through at Shrewton
yourt, Merivale, the seat of Lord
.aountfalcon, within few miles from
Salisbury. Obtain permission from
the owner to see his art treasures. |
shall forward to you iewelled minia-
ture Of Lord Mountfalcon, and want
you to ascertain if it is facsimile of
one in the collection. That is the
least important point Of the inquiry
with which I entrust you. Find out,
ut any trouble, and with all the skill
you can command, the circumstances
under which the fac-simile came to
galleries; try and make friends with
him. Keep the object of your visit as
dark as possible"
On again hearing from the art deal
or | wrote to Lord Montfalcon asking
permission to visit his picture gal
leries. By next post l had the most
courteous of replies, accedng to my
request. One thing puzzled me, the
handwriting of the note signed by
the nobleman was familiar to me.
Where I had before seen it I could
not recollect. Next morning l went
4N,, Nrrt.t cit
uated in a spacious park, commands
many picturesque objects. One is a
graceful Ionic temple. half hidden in
a mass of frs and white elms So much
did it strike my fancy that | left the
pathway to obtain a close view. 1t
was prevented, however, by a singular
incident. AS I approached young
girl in white bounded down the marble
steps. Her melancholy, yet beautiful
face, and sunny tresses decked with
pansies and lilies, might have been
Ophelia's. To my perpleXity she ad-
vanced and courtesied three times Di
rectly afterward a matronly woman
ran out of the building. She quietly
took the girl by the hand and led her
away.
The Shrewton collection would be
famous If only for its Florentine and
Venetian masterpieces. While absorb
ed before them light football behind
aroused me. l turned and saw Lord
Mountfalcon. His open, handsome
face would have been an excellent let
ter of introduction anywhere. He said,
81 have seen you before; was it not
Charles Surface at Exeter?
From theatricals Lord Mountainous
talk glided into matters of pictorial
art, in which he was evidently an
enthusiast. Half an hour passed, and
his lordship remarked:
81 must now leave you. On no ac-
count miss the small blue galleries.
There is a portfolio of Rembrandt
etchings that must have special value
in the eyes Of practised draughts-
man. Perhaps you might also like to
look at my bronzes, canoes and min
iatures?''
"I should, my lord" l answered,
'svery much. Are there many?"
Eyes, large number" replied his
lordship, Every representative, from
Hilliard and Cooper to Ross and Moule.
My portrait by Moule regard as ine
as anything painted by Cosway. The
keeper shall now attend to you, He
will have orders to let you see any
thing in which you may take an in
terest''
When the keeper entered the mys-
terry vanished about the handwriting
sent to me the day bevore.
l had known Mr.. Samuel Cracken-
thorpe, and we were no longer on
speaking terms. We had become inti-
mate at Exeter, where he was then
. lawyers clerk and small money
lender. 1t was not long before found
out he was mean, willy, intriguing.
treacherous fellow, and on discovering
him grossly dishonest. l angrily cut
his acquaintance. We met, of course,
like perfect strangers. but Cracken-