Year: 1875

@'S - N'h


The mild, melancholy face seemed
almost lit up with smile; the head was
bowed in response: then the figure turn
ed, and slowly passed out at the door.
1 When Duncan arrived at ten minutes
past eleven, his train being delayed, he
found me stretched on the floor of the
studio in deep swoon. He happened
to have some brandy in his travelling
flask, and by judicious administration
of this, together with a plentiful appli.
cation of cold water, which he found in
the room, he presently brought me to
my senses. The condition in which he
had found me, and my wild look oi
alarm when | recalled what / had
witnessed, were quite sufficient to assure
him that something serious had happen.
/ ed, but it was some time before / grew
sufficiently calm to describe what l had
seen. / was yet too weak TO take the
initiative, but as soon as Duncan heard
my recital he moved instinctively to-
ward the cabinet, and, by the aid Of my
lamp, began searching the interior, while
| sat watching him with intense anxiety.
His search, however, was in vain. The
inside of the cupboard, the drawers and
smaller -recesses were subjected to the
mott severe scrutiny, but without ef-
feet.


A keen sense of disappointment stole
over me as l watched his fruitless ef-
forts; yet, Sc convinced was | that some
thing connected with that cabinet had
been the cause of the gho@tly visitation
of the last two nights, that my impati-
ence overcame the bodily weakness con-
segment upon the shock [ had experience
ed. l rose hastily from my cha r. and
snatching the lamp from Duncan, COM
menced a careful scrutiny on my own
account.


Not word was uttered while 7 pur-
sued my search. Duncan stood by, CON
Scious that he had himself explored ey-
cry crack and Granny with the utmost
care, and with an expression il his face
which indicated the hopelessness of any
further search. Still went on, urged
by an impulse which was perfectly ir-
resistihle, examining the same places
over and over again, and passing my
hand over every portion in the hope of
discovering some secret spring or slide


AT length Duncan said, at is useless:
there is positively nothing there. did
not reply. | could not. The sense Of
disappointment was still so strong, and
the perfect conviction that something
yet remained to be discovered. At
length | also felt that it was vain to
pursue the search any further, and !
turned away.


AsI withdrew my eyes from the upper
compartment, sudden thought flashed
into my mind. still held the lamp so
high that allthe inside Of the cupboard
was visible, and at this moment it oc-
cured to me that the color of the panel
at the back was not the same as at the
sides. Hastily thrusting in my hand, I
again passed it carefully over the panel,
and with thrill ofanxious expectation
felt that there was space of scarcely
more than a quarter of an inch between
it and the top of the cupboard With
some difficulty / inserted the point of
my finger and pulled 1t forward. 1t fell
fat before me, an exquisite work of art,
painted on panel, placed 30 that it might
not be seen at the back of the cupboard,
face inward, and fitting the space almost
exactly. A great cry of delight broke
from US both as we held it with tremb-
ling hands to the light.


1t was the Lost Picture.