THE PHOTOGRAPH.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13108, 6 May 1908, Page 4

THE PHOTOGRAPH.

(By HERBERT JAMTESON, in - "M.A.P.") Iris Cheeth,am ' VTaB dispensing afternoon tea in the drawing-room, when the news of her fianoe'e perfidy was broken to her. 'Iris, -, said Mrs Hanbirry suddenly, reaching for her second ••maid-oi-hoaionr" and seeking some verbal cover for the act, ''how- did Mr Newton enjoy his motor ride on Monday?" i>l iss Cheetham was too surprised to be discreet. Had she. been on her guard, she would havo smiled pleasantly, and replied nonchalantly, "Oh, very much, I believe, - ' and passed an to inquire affectionately after Mrs Hanbury's baby. Taken completely aback, she merely exclaimed, with open-eyed wonder: •'Motor ride? I never knew- " '•Ah, then, perhaps I shouldn't have said anything about it. But Mr Newton soemed to bo enjoying himself so much that I made sure he would have told you. , ' It was useless to pass the matter off now. Four cairs of eyes-—and all femini-ne —were closely watching her. "Where did you see him?"' "He was hi a motor coming up Highgate. Hill. I. was going down in. a, tram; of course, he didn't soo mc. It wu.s the Dodsons' car. There were only Miss l>odsan and Mr Newton iv it.' , "No chauffeur?" inquired one horrified listener. 'Oh. of course, there was the chauffeur, but ho sat in front. 1 didn't reckon him." '•Highgato Hill," said Iris, shortly, "is not the kind of hili ono likes to wnlk up." But that did not settle the matter —at lea.st, not for her. Two questions were still unanswered. Why was Alfred Newton in the neighbourhood of Highgato Hill at all. Also, why was ho ascending it in the Dodsons' motor car, tete-a-teto with tho undeniably pretty Milly Dodson ? The Abernethy road, whiero the Bodsons and Cheethams both reside, is a select suburban thoroughfare. No ono in it keeps lees than two servants, probably half a dozen (at the most") rise, to three. Tho Dodsons are- the only people that attain to tho dignity and luxury of owning a motor car. That ear, kept at a local garage, is at once the pride and envy of all other inhabitants of the road; to tho Cheethams. indeed, it is a veritable thorn in the flesh. The Cheetham girls—there is a younger one than Iris at college—havo publicly given out that their father, Major Cheetham, is too devoted tx> horses ever to take to motoring. To his intense personal discomfort, the Major is made to hire a horse about once*every two months in order to give artistic verisimilitude to the statement. Now, that explanation is lonig, but every word cf it necessary. You understand perfectly now how Iris Cheethajn felt when she learnt that her lover had boon seen with the Dodson. girl in the obnoxious motor. That night Alfred Newton came, as usual, to the Cheethams' house. Iris received him coldly. After drumming a little with hie fingers on the elbow of the sofa he asked bluntly -what was wrong. "I don't think, Alfred," she pouted, "that there ought to be any secrets between us." "My dear girl, I have none." "Oh, yes, you have. You never told mc about your rido in tho Dodsons , motor car." He laughed. "Who told you?" "Never mind! You were seen, thatfe quite sufficient, ajnd there's a dreadful lot of gossip about it. I must say I do think it fast." • "Fast! Why, their chauffeur drives the thing at the paoo of a hearse. But there, you're not in the mood for be- , ing teaaed. What else did you hearP" "Only—who was the othea- occupant of the car?" "Oh, I say, don-'t bo jealous I There was really no cause. tthall.l tell you how it all came, about r , " ; "If you promise to tell tho absolute truth." "Of course 1 There's nothing to keep back.. Well,' Miss Dodson drove into town to bring her father out. She often does thai, I believe, on fine days. Dodson's office is next door to mine in. Leadenhall street." "Indeed!" "I oan-'t help it, of course, but it is next door; there's no getting over that. I had knocked off Business for the day. and came out of*the building en route for the railway station. There wa's tho Dodsons' car standing by tho aide of the kerb, Milly Dodson in it, and her father on tihe pavement talking to her. I bowed) aud. was passing on, when he caught mc by the arm. 'Newton, , he said, 'how would you like to drive home in our ear? Milly has come to feitch mc, but I've an important Board meeting on, and can't possibly leave for art hour, and a half at the earliest. Do jump in—there's a good fellow—«nd take my place.' Well, of course, it isa't every day that one gets the chance of a spin in a motor. I jumped-in and—that's all." Iris looked stonily in front ,of her without speaking a word. "Haven't you anything to say?" ho asked. . "Only this! Suppose tho chauffeur had been njono in tho car, would you have got iv?" "Certainly! Look here, Iris, you're most absurdly jealous. There's not the slightest ground for it. I can't think how you can possibly oe so small/ "Small} , IP" He was really angry now. "Yes, small and potty in the extreme." There was no reply from Iris, save tears galore. They wero still falling when, half an hour earlier than usual, /Alfred took his unhappy leave. Subsequently, in the privacy of her room, Iris dried her eyes, and proceeded to tho concoction of a scheme of revenge. Ho had accused her of smallnces and pettiness. From any man the accusation would havo been insulting; from a iover, who ought to say nothing but what vrae pleasant, it was positively hateful. Was Alfred's own nature so uig and generous that lie could afford to launch these untrue charges at her? Had he not a taint, at any rate,< of the jealousy which ho had declared wos devouring her J , Ah, that was it. fcflio must make him jealous. Not only make, him ous, but make him admit his jealousy. Then peace would bo rfM'stablished between thorn, and tho sun would shine onco more. Now, how wwe the tiling to l>o worked ? The idea oame with morning light. Years ago, before her engagement to Alfred, there had been another aspirant to her hand—a distant cousin of hers, Ned Morris hv name. Ne<l, although a nice,boy, had one of those hopeloise artistic temperaments that fall short of artistic fulfilment; he never succeeded in anything, was usually in debt, and, of course, wholly impossible as a husband. Alfred, a prffctical business man without any artistic leanings, naturally despised him utterly. To have brought Ned himself now upon the field would have been lovely, but that, alas! was impossible; he was in a distant part of the -world, aad had not been heard of for months. HowevßT, she could, and would, do the next best thing. In a drawer upc stairs full of odde and ends there -was a large photograph of Ned, taken in costume, on an occasion wfaeii he and she wore acting in some 'amateur theatrical*. One© Alfred had expressed a dislike to the photograph (he hated "to see a follow make eraoh an absolute guy of himself")j o-nd she— these wore the early days of the engagement, of course —Ind promptly bajik&ed it to obscurity. Now, she wouM resurrect it. hne would plat© it in th© very centre of

the drawing-room manteJpiece, -where Alfred would be sure to ccc it at once. Sho ptctured his disgust as his cyee foil on it. Sbo would Je* him. think that, since last evening's estrangement, her heart had been turning fondly to Ned, and th.at that was the reason of tho picture's sudden resurrection. Then*, of course, his jealousy would Waze forth. SJie would accuse him of smallnese and pettiness. After the first shook of surprise he would surrender and plead for her forj-iveewee. There- would be tander words of reconciliation, sealed by kisses, and all •would be as before, the Hkeness that had worked, the oraok> being packed upstairs again like a disgraced child. By 10 \.m. Ned' 6 photograph, cleaned with breadcrumbs, occupied the premier position on the drawing-room mantelshelf. It was three o'clock the same afternoon. "A gentleman has caHed to see you, Mass." "Not Jfr Newton?" Her thoughts harped on the one string. "Xo, Mi Sβ! A gentleman Fye never soon before I've asked him into the drawing-room." "But didn't he grre you his name?" '■No, Miss, he wouldn't. But he looked quite the gentleman, Miss, or I shouldn't, of course, havo let him vi." , ■ Iris flew to her room to tidy her hair. Persons* whd £are no n~unes were usually, after subscriptions, but v.liocVor th©'mysterious visitor be, no-thing was to be gained by appearing dowdy in his presence. She had a slight suspicion, too, that it migltt be a friend of Alfred's with an olive branch. fcjlie turned the drawing-room handle and entered. A mun. was standing on th© hoa-rth-rug, with his back to her, keenly contemplating Ned J e photograph on the nian.telishel'f. The feu re s-rervr<l -wind, and she faced— Ned Morris himself. In her surprise sho stood like c statue. Ho came forward, both hands —big. bronzed hand6—outstretched. ■'Ned!" ehe cried. "Como back?" "Yes, J'm .back. Don't, look co startled ? I'm far too much sunbuirnt •to be a ghost." "Bi it—you—never—wrote." "Not to a Irving soul. I wanted to tak© you all by surprise. Iris, how you've grown." ''Nonsense." "Oh, but you're inches higher, or is iz the heels? It's good to be home again, good to come back and find such a welcome awaiting ono. All the way here I was thinking—how would Iris receive mc? How would she look upon one who, five years back, dared to love her? Then I was shown into tins 'room, and there, etaring mo in the face, was that old photograph of mine. I almost went down on my .knees with gratitude; the relief was so tremendous." "Ned, you don't think " "Think? I know. Who could have kept the photograph in that place of honour for five long years wit you, Iris? And why? TJon't blush! It was the nioest way of keeping mc in mind, wasn't it? It's a beast of a photo, but how much it has meant to you all these years 1 Don't speak r Let mc finish first 1 Now I can speak with perfect confidence. Iris, you know in the old days how I loved youP" "Stop!" "Why, what's the matter?" . "Oh, can't you see?" She held up her left hand. "Fm engaged, hare been for nearly two years, now. It's— Alfred Newton." i Ned's _ next behaviour was truly astonishing. Instead of quivering like a dog under the lash, he flung himself into a chair, and fairly rocked 'with laughter. -'' "■ " "Yes, I knew that." ..'"' "Knew?" "Alfred told mc himself an hour or two ago. We met ono another in the city, had a wh—cup of coffee together! I was only joking just now. *The idea oame when I saw that beastly photograph up there. Did I ever look euch a fool as-that picture represents mo? 01V,-by ■■the. way, Alfred gave mc a note for you. Hβ was going to post it; but it would save time if I brought it as I was coming here. Better read it. Don*t mind mc I" Iris did read it>—promptly. Hear face beamed. A darling note! Alfred must have ransacked the dictionary for words of contrition. Tho storm was over; the sun shone again. Ned was standing at the mantelshelf. Suddenly,he seised* the photograph and tore it across. ' "It's all right, Iris. I'll give you! another likeness of recent one. I'm.going to put this in the fire. I ehouldn't like my wife to see it." "Your wife?" "Yes, she's waiting in a hansom at the corner. May I bring her in?* , "