The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-03-01
THE PHOTOGRAPH
by moLLIE mATnER

Janey sat looking at her adoret
friend.
Why" she asked impulsIvely, "dc
you never have your picture taken
Mollie2 I have not seen one In the
house, and you would" Janey's eyes
were csresslng, make such lovely
picture"
Miss Mollie Deming. splnster, smiled
"No one would value my photo
graph unless 1t might be you" she
replied. my relatives would doubt
less write polite notes Of appreciation
when they received them, and rele-
gate them to some aforementioned cor
ner."
"You know better than that" Janey
jcered.
She jumped to her feet.
Anyway, want picture and am
going to have IT, You look especially
lovely today, like some sweet shepherd
ess lady, with your soft crinkly white
hair, and your true-blue eyes. Poor
Terry will be glad Of job. He really
should have been an artist In the city.
Sentiment holding him here, alone pre-
vented"
MoIlie Deming laughed, when she
and the girl Jane were at home again.
"Terry posed me 80 many times and
was altogether painstaking, that his
efforts should be rewarded with sue
cess" she said.
"You looked" Janey unused, $50
pretty. and, sort of wlstful, sitting
there-Nlollie! Do you know, that Is
the way your eyes always impress me,
by their usefulness? Tell me, please,
did you have an unhappy love affair?
j wonder so much about you ut times
] suppose, because love you. would
be your confldante, Mollie."
The older woman gazed tenderly,
thoughtfully, into the eager young
face appraised to hers.
People would tell you-your own
mother may have told you, Janey-that
] was in a careless, untlInking way,
noted years ago for my cOnquests. 1t
was at the time considered clever to
flaunt ones captivating power. And
well, well, there were many young
men who came to my uncle's home,
and |, uncles ward. and charge, played
merry game of hearts with them
ALL my own heart ever untouched In
the game. Some day. hoped to find
my true love, to marry and settle
down to life OF devotion. And when
he came, my own love, 1 knew him;
knew him instantly, by the thrill Of
joy that filed my days. And he loved
me. That, | did not doubt. Why
doubt the sincerity of this man, when
others had been sincere? l think l
lived In dream" Miss Mollle's eyes
were misty, across the years; still
her voice trembled its sorrow. II live
on In that dream of the past" she
ended, sadly.
Janey's hands went out to her. "He
died then?" she questiOned-"your
lover" {
81 almost wish that might tell you
So" Mollle hesitated.
NO" she added, "for the first time.
] will speak the truth. 1t was thought
that John Douglas, like others, had
been Tilted. But one knew, and after
John disappeared this friend of his
came and told me the truth. 1t was
whom John Douglas had Tilted,
heartessly, and with purpose. The
friend said that he had been instructed
a. coll Inhn IaIihapa talu
planned my punishment, as he had
deliberately, and oh, so skillfully,
acted his part.
"He was charming in manner, you
see, and well known for his winning
way with women. SO, coming to our
small town, and hearing of my merry,
neyer-may-care tllrtatiOns, John Doug
las confidently and successfully planned
the retaliation of winning my own
heart, to cast II as carelessly away.
But this | could not guess, as he held
me close in his arms and bade me
goodby. until tomorrow.
Tomorrow he promised gently. 4
will come back to you. Tomorrow.
my dearest, watch for me-
$50, through all the tomorrow have
watched and waited; and have lived
how YEARLY no one may knOw-my
punishment"
When Janey framed her friends
photograph and placed 1t upon her
dresser, she was moved distressfuliy
later to hide that same photograph
away. For the sadness of Mollies
pictured eyes had a provoking trick
of bringing quick tears to her own.
"That mani" exclaimed Janey con.
temptously. Fancy being true to the
memory of such creature"
Then one day, as Janey entered I'M
announced Miss Mollie's sitting room.
she faced picture. And the two
central figures facing the picture con-
tiDued, happily, ObliviOus Of her pres
ence.
1T was fatel !" the distinguished APP
pearing man was saying, and even In
her establishment Janey responded
sympa thetically to the sincerity OF that
voice.