SHORT STORY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 223, 13 June 1908, Page 11

SHORT STORY.

A MINIATURE LOVE AFFAIR,

I was just hurrying ■ out of the house after dinner when one of the servants stoppod mo. "If you please, Mr. George, tho master wishes to seo you in the library." I began to wonder which of my various misdeeds had come to my father's • knowledge. I knew too well what a summons to. tho library in the evening meant. However, I had to face the music," so I strolled into the room looking as innogent and unconcerned as possiblo. My father was turning ovor somo papers at his desk while smoking his after-dinner cigar. "Ah, George, I wanted to speak to you," he said. "What is it; sir?" I askei respectfully, i There was a humorous twinkle in his eye as ho turned to me. "You are aware, George, that polygamy is not allowed in this country." I stared at him in amazement, and then seeing that he expccted an answer said, "Yes, of course." "Oh, you are aware of it—then why do you mako lovo simultaneously to my private secretary and at,least two' of the girl clerks in my office?" This was a facer. I tried to look virtuously indignant, but tho twinkle in my father's eyo was too much for me, and I laughed- outright. _ "Not that 1 object to your making love," continued my father with tho utmost calm. "Y6u are doubtless quite, able'to support a wife on the very liberal allowance I give you." This shot went, home, for only the previous week I had had to get him to'advance mo fifty pounds to square off some overpressing creditors. ', "But," he went on; "I can't.'aUow your lovo affairs to annoy mo in business. Miss Davis was once a most-capable secretary— now sho is watching you come in and out of the office,' and consequently • grows more careless day by day. ,1 never had to find fault with the work of Alias Crewe or Miss Carruthers boforO you came to business— now I feel like clearing them out every day. I can't allow you' to divert my employees' attention from their work.- If you must marry one of them, for heaven's sake marry her and have done with it. Then I can get rid of you both and secure some competent help." "But I never had the remotest intention of marrying any one of them." > "Then stop this nonsense; I pay these ladies to work —not to ( listen to your tomfoolery. You understand—this is final. Flirt with whom you please outside tho office. In tho; office strive at any rate not to take other peoplo's attention, away from thoir work. Now wait a moment before you set out for the club, or othdr intellectual resort you purposo to patronise this evening. I have two or. three letters here which you may as well post." , As I stood by his desk, watching him gather up tho letters I bbw a little ivory miniaturo. It was a-portrait of one of the prettiest girls ,1 had • ever seen. The face seemed in a way familiar, and yet I couldn't place it. The more I looked at it the more I admired the brilliant complexion, tho' soft brown eyes, and tho-wavy chestnut hair. "That's a very pretty miniature," I said in as casual a tone" as possiblo. "Oh, that! , Ah! It's, just, slipped-out with theso papers." "I seem to know, the face," I said. My father made no-reply. ' "Queer," I'continued, "that that face should bo so familiar and yet that I should not bo able to put a name to it." "Very queer," replied my respected parent. - "It is not one of tho Miss Judds, is it?" "No." ' '

"May I ask •who it is?" "You .may, but I cannot take on myself tho responsibility _ of adding to the number of your lovo affairs. . Hero are tho letters. Good evening." As I left the house I resolved that by hook or by crook . I would make the acquaintance of the original of that' charming miniature. Tho face haunted mo all tho .evening. I could think of nothing but that brown-haired beauty with the radiant eyes. I formed a dozon plans for solving tho mystery of her identity, but as thoy all depended on my father, and I know ho would not give mo the clue, they seemed impracticable, Howovor it occurred to me that if I consulted my sister on • the matter sho might bo able to otfor me somo help. Sho would know all the lady friends of our family. So tho • noxt night I told my sister Maud •all about tho miniature. Sho listened with the 1 utmost eagornoss and plied me with questions. ' . : "How was'she dressed? How was her hair arranged? Did she wear any jewels?"' "My doar girl, the miniature was only that of a , lovely face. I can't say how her hair was arranged, only it was the prettiest hair I have over seen." "Can father be goiug to marry again!" she cried. ' I had never' thought of this, and the idea staggered mo. It seemed to me that I had better never know tho lady of the miniature than make her acquaintance and find that she was to'bo my step-mother. "He'd nover think of marrying again," I said. "Why not? Father has been a widower 10 years now, and he is-a young man for his years. Oh. 1 how I shall hate her." "Perhaps sho won't have him," I said. I regret to state that in my mind I pictured ■tho brown-haired beauty telling my father, "I am much flattered by your proposal,' Mr. Tatham, but my heart is another's. I have promised your son George that I will be his' brido." Maud shook hor head. "I _ shall write to Aunt Agatha and ask her advice at once." "I shouldn't, if I wore you." "She's oiir nearest relative." "She's an awful old cat." "Just tho sort of person we need, George. If father is to bo stopped from doing this absurd thing we want someone who will have the moral, conrago to be, outspoken." "Well, she's never anything elso. But in my opinion she'll only drive hun to it." "Say what you like.... I" shall. write to hor to-night;" 1 "Well, ask her fr- wnd her advice by post. The last time she > came here T gat sick of esoorting the old girl to the theatre and concepts every evening. You remember howthe pater developed a convenient sore throat.which did not keep him from business, butt' prevented him facing night air. Look here, Maud—at dinner to-night 'turn the conversation to tho subject of miniatures. You might be able to draw the pater." During tho dinner tho ' talk hovered round the subject of miniaturos all the time. I nover knew that my father possessed so.much information" on.tho subject. With a'twinkle in his eyo ho dwelt on the origin of miniature painting,-described some of the gems of < the Walla co Collection,. and told us stories of the'fabulous prices some had realised at sales. In fact ho was a perfect fountain of information, but on the one point we were interested in he was silent. He knew well enough what I was driving at. I could tell that by his amused look all through. However, he made no direct reference to tho matter till dinner was nearly over. Then he said to me, "I should try and control your latest infatuation, Georgo. You may be layins up a tremendous . disappointment for yourself." I judged this was a reforenco to tho fact that matters were already cut and dried for his marriago. ' But I replied as cheerfully as I could, "I don't think anyone oould bo disappointed in so charming a lady." My father surveyed mo carefully, and then observed in the most casual way, "It seems to mo, Georgo, that you'vo tho makings of a good all-round idiot./' I did not follow him to the library. I judged that his conversation might have a tondoncy to bo a trifle too personal. When I returned homo from the City the next evening tho first thing I heard when I entered tho houso' 'was tho voice of Aunt Agatha. For a momont I hesitated. Should I dodgo this highly disagroeabloold lady by going out again and not returning till midnight? However, my. curiosity overcame my dread of my aunt. Sho was scolding Maud, and I thought I should like to hear what sho had to ,6ay. As I stepped into the drawingI room I heard her remark, "I ought-to bavo

been told before, so that your father could have been informod, and nipped this scandalous business in the bud." "Good evening,- aunt," I said, ooming forward. Aunt Agatha glared at me. "Good evening," sho said, "I've been hearing about your latest love afiair. Falling in love with a miniature, indeed, when there are plenty of well-trained domesticated girls far - too good for you." I ignored the obvious allusion to my four unmarried oousins, and strove to propitiate the good lady by inquiring after her rheumatism. "Worso than ever,", she snapped. "And at this moment, when my doctor prescribes for me perfcot rest, aild an utter absence of all mental worry, I hear of this affair—made worse by a disgraceful rivalry between father and son —an old fool and a young fool. I asure.you that the passengers in the next carriage must have heard me groaning all through tho journey. But it was my moral duty to come, and I am here." .At that moment my father watered tho room. Ho started when he saw Aunt Agatha, but contrived by a great effort to greot her genially and, asked what lucky chance brought her to town. . "Lucky chance, indeed I This is one of the saddest days of my life. Poor Maria is scarcely in hor gravo (thus my aunt expressed the lapse of 10 years) "and now I find that you aro about to bring disgrace on the family by marrying some hussy." My father's look of blank astonishment was a thing to bo remembered. "I—going to get married ?" he exclaimed in amazed tones. "Yes; don't try to hide the truth from me. I know all about the shameful rivalry between you and your son. Pray don't think I am not awure of the miniature concealed in your desk." ' At tho word "miniature" my father burst into an irresistible fit of laughter. In spite of my aunt's look of horror he continued to laugh till I foamed that he would go into a fit. When he had partially recovered he gasped, "Come. into, tho'library and I will show ymi my beautiful prize." / "This merriment on such a subject is. most unbecoming," said my aunt. • " But her womanly curiosity impelled her to follow him. . Whon my father reached his desk ho said, "Perhaps I ought to explain that this miniaturo is. that of a lady now married." "Maud," said my aunt, turning to my sister, "leave this room at once. It is no place for you." ' . "Let her stay," said my father.He opened his and took up tho miniature., • . "A beautiful face," he exclaimed meditatively; "seldom have I seen so much sweetness and charm in a human countenance." "A disreputablo hussy I" began mv aunt. "Hush, Agatba." • . "A creature who is a disgraoe, to her SOX " • ."Wait a minute—l found this the other night -amongst some- old papers of my poor wife's. Look at •it.",. Aunt Agatha stared.blankly at the miniature and then dropped it on the floor.. "Why it's .myself—my portrait as a girl!'" she cried. My head seemed to swim. Good heavens 1 I had fallen in love with-- Aunt Agatha. In another minute Aunt Agatha had regained her self-possession. , I knew perfectly well', . John, that these foolish children had'brought me'up on a wild-goose chase. But I", had to satisfy them against my own' better judgment. If they had/been judiciously trained this would never have happened." "Perhaps I am to blame," said my father. "I saw this charming protrait had impressed George and I allowed liim to remain under the delusion that tho lady was of his own ago. Ultimately, of course, I intended to explain that it was his aunt. I; trust, Agatha, you will pardon George's su6oeptibiiity." For . tho first time in'her lifo my aunt beamed on me. "Ah! it is curious that that picture might have been takoii from your cousin Alice, George. It is her very image. You must oome down and see for yourself directly you can spare a few days. Well, as I am here, John, I may as well run round the sales for a day or two." After, • she had left tho room my fathei turned to mo. " You,see what susceptibility to a pretty faoe leads to. I should not have thought that any sano. person would have fallen in lovo with your Aunt Agatha. However, if this hideous climnx teaches you a little' commoh-sonso, I shan't—even if your aunt stays' hero a weok—rocrot your miniature love affair."—Radcliffe Martin in " M.A.P." I ' '