Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-07-06
ENDING THE STORY
BY MILDRED WHITE


Milliceuts letter spread before her
The room she was in might have beer
part of picture Of long ago.
The girl turned her eyes on The let
ter My dear nameSake,' il began
II hope that HE bracmg air of WIN.
elm is doing for you all that the doe
tors prophesied, and il is fortunate
that | was able TO take advantage of
my old friends hospitality, for your
sake Remember me lovingly TO Laila,
and now am going TO tell you u story,
the story of your old maid auntS life.
All girls love a love story, do they not
And most girls ne one time or another
have known love, either In its happi-
ness or it's disappointment. | knew Il
in sorrow. Many years ago, when |
looked as sweet and fresh as you do
now, my dear, | was betrathed, rs we
called Il then, 10 the fortuue-faVorcd
young master OF the very castle where
In you are today guest. His sister,
Laila, was then, as nov, my faithful
friend.
what joyous times we had together
until a Tancied cause for jealousy sep.
arated me from the man | loved.
Women in rivalry for love are, l sup
pose, the same through all the ages !;
and II was such an unprincipled and
untruthful creature who brought me
sorrow. What matter now the pltiful
nature of those long-ago lles2 Ny
lover In his madness rushed off TO
marry, for spite, gentle soul who de
served better treatment; friend she
was, too, of Laila's and mine, who
lived or perhaps not knowing her own
disappointment, only until her young
son was born.
"Sad and widowed. John Meredith
came again TO seek my hand, but |
we were never married And even ms
| refused him, his old hot anger arose,
and he swore to haunt me in reproach,
living or dead.
MY dear. | was still deeply grieyed
when, as time passed, ] came 10 learn
OF his death. Indeed you may see the
portrait Of the man for love of whom
your aunt lived single nll her days
hanging In the wainsccted room over
looking the sea. When you gaze at
those dark eyes, be sorry that they
were not softer In expression,
She sat thinking over Aunt Mil
licent's story ms twilight descended
and a purple mist seemed to rise from
the sea. Then, presently, as though
drawn by some unseen power, the girl
looked toward the portrait Slowly,
but positively, the tall painted figure
swayed forward and Millicent jumped
with startled cry. AS quick as her
cry, the picture fell back into place.
Brayely, she advanced TO test il With
her hands The oiled surface was firm
II Its place.
81 am getting to be as bad as the
servants" she told herself, and went
briskly 10 Join her aunt's old friend.
But Miss Meredith had gone down to
the village, the housekeeper told her.
and would she have tea In her room ?
The uncapuy influence again drew the
girl.
81 Will have IT," she replied. '1n the
front tower room"
She tried TO persuade herself, as
again and again her eyes sought the
canvas in the panel, that she was cur
Ing herself of an illusion 1t was just
as she had finished her second muffin
that the unbelievable happened. Noise
lessly, the great panel swayed out,
then back and In place of the painted
man stood a living, breathing one.
The same dark eyes gazed, wonder
ing into young Millieent's own; the
same dark hair just touched with sill
very gray brushed the high white fore
head and then the picture spoke-at
least, so II seemed TO Mlliccnt.
And the speaker echoed her own
confused thought. Are you asked
q pleasing voice, "a real person, or am
! having vision OF the years7'
Deliberately he came forward, while
the space where had been the picture
was now but shining panel.
The wonder Of his eyes was reflect
cd In those Of the girl your eyes are
softer" she answered irreyelantly,
"and your chin Is less determined"
The man smiled. THAN whose, for
instanceY he asked.
"Then the eyes and the chin Of my
Great-aunt Mllllcents lover she an
swered him perplexedly
The mysterious invader retraced his
steps until he stood before the panel.
Come here" he said gently. and
compare MS closely"
AS lac spoke, he touched some hid
den spring and the painting swung
back into place,
at Is really q secret door into this
my fathers study" the man er
planned Il only was permitted to use
Il when boy. Returning to my old
home today from long trip abroad
It occurred to me 10 use II while full
filling my aunt's errand. ! was sent
10 bring her young guest 10 dinner
Aunt and ] had been to the village 10
gether and | admit" added John
Meredith the Second, that for one
mysthed moment / thought ! was see
Ing q visionary Millicent from the past
whose picture have known
Down the long stair, arm in arm,