Middletown transcript., 1911-04-01
Max felt decidedly pleased

were of special interest to the
public just at that time because
his daughter was shortly to be
married to titled foreigner and
the wedding, in the magnitude of
its splendor, was to eclipse all
previous weddings.
A well-known photographer
hid received an order from a
magazine for photographs OF the
important rooms in the home OF
the bride elect, and Max, who
was the photographers right
hand man, was now on his way
to take the pictures.
Arrived at the house, Max
began with the drawing room.
He then proceeded to the library.
This room, though large and i'm
pressive because of the number
of books it contained, looked more
homelike and less awe inspiring
than the other rooms.
When he had the light and his
camera arranged TO his satlsfac
ton Max sent away the servants
who were helping him and pre-
pared to take the picture. AS
he was about to remove the cap
he heard the rustic of a gown,
and a woman's face appeared
between the curtains that hung
in a doorway directly in range of
the camera.
The face belonged to a tall,
slender creature, half girl, half
woman. When she saw Max she
seemed startled, but at sight of
his camera she recovered her
composure.
May I come inH She asked the
question in a hesitating way.
Max smiled at her. would
rather you waited a few minutes,
he returned, uneasily, unless you
want to be in the picture. Just
step back out of sight and l will
call you in moment.
The girls astonished face as
she obeyed him made Max realize
that he had been a trifle dictator
ial to someone who had more
right there than he. She evi-
dently lived in the house and he
found himself wondering, as he
timed his exposure, in what
capacity.
He came to the conclusion that
she was probably companion or
secretary to one of the family.
Her, dress, as well as her way of
carrying herself and her manner
of speaking, told him she was
not servant, and he knew that
the millionaire and his family
were out of town. They were
supposed to have slipped away
to give the bride,elect a few
days rest and shelter from
publicity before the wedding.
You may come in now, Max
called.
AS the girl entered the room
he noticed that she was very
pretty. She walked over to his
camera, which she examined with
interest.
Do you like this work? she
asked.
Why, yes, Max answered care
lessly, and he smiled. He
was a good-looking young man,
with b peculiar charm in his
smile which made it difficult to
refuse him anything he chose to
ask.
The girl seated herself before
the fire and began listlessly to
turn the pages of a magazine,
meanwhile asking questions
about his work until Max found
himself growing communicative.
He told her how busy they were
at the studio and that he pre-.
ferred photographiug interiors
to taking portraits Of actresses
and celebrities; interior work was
harder, but portraits became
monotonous.
This house is a beauty, isn't it?
he remarked.
The girl looked surprised,
then she smiled. Yes, it is a
nice house, she said.
You don't say that very en-
Enthusiastically, observed Max,
turning to lock at her. but |
suppose you're too used to it to
have. it impress you as ii does
me. There'll be fine time her
when that wedding comes off, he
went on. It's going TO cost
something, l tell you, but l like
to see rich people spend their
money. Itseems queer, though,
making such a fuss over slip of
a girl not out of her teens. Do
you know her ? he asked sud.
denly.