Soldan High School - Scrip Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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vt' 1, e In -'f -The D1 - -A a moment he began to grow very pale and trembled so violently that the miniature, for it was a small picture, dropped to the floor. I was greatly alarmed, and I suppose he must have noticed it for he said, It is nothing, Dennis, do not be alarmed, it is just one of my heart attacks. I picked up the miniature from the floor and gazed at it. It was of Marie Antoinette, painted on ivory, enclosed in a small gold filigree frame, which was greatly tarnished. The whole thing was really quite beautiful, marred only by a small crack across the face of it. I could see nothing which would cause my friend's queer conduct. Soon after- wards, I took my departure, advising Crawson to go to bed, and promis- ing to return at an early date. As I neared my place of business, I suddenly recalled the fact that I had gone to the shop really to buy my wife a painting! I laughed aloud to think of how my mind had wandered and so I resolved to return the next day to make my purchase. But my plans were to be changed. Upon reaching the bank I found that during my absence that morning a telegram had come requesting my presence at an important conference at Chicago. I also discovered that this would detain me over my wife's birthday, so I presented her with a liberal check, telling her to buy what she wanted, and left that night for Chicago. During that time I thought many times of Crawson and that minia- ture of Marie Antoinette. I tried to imagine the cause of his queer conduct the day that his daughter had brought it home. At last the long week in Chicago passed and I went again to the shop of William Crawson. He was very glad to see me and he appeared to be very excited. I was puzzled anew by his attitude, but I was soon to be enlightened. He locked the door of the shop upon my arrival and took me upstairs to the small apartment in which he and his daughter lived. He had, it seemed, inquired at the bank for me and learned that I was to be back in a week, and so he had rather expected me. When we were seated comfortably across from each other, he began, I sup- pose, Dennis, you thought it very queer that this miniature ftaking it from a drawerj should affect me as it did the other day. I replied in the affirmative and told him I was very anxious to know the reason. He then told me the story of part of his life which I shall endeavor to put here in my own and as few words as possible. When Crawson was about twenty he had been disowned by his father, who thought him guilty of a theft of a large, expensive jewel owned by his mother. This, a ruby, was very valuable and had been

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r- if lf ' e - ef - it esfef a The Miniature 67- S I sat at my desk late one night trying to think of a suit- 'wn able gift to present my wife on her birthday which was rapidly approaching, my eye happened to fall on a small advertisement in a magazine which I had just stopped reading. W. L. Crawson-Art Shop , if.. Art Shop! just the thing! I would buy my wife a painting, as she was very fond of them. I would go the next day to this shop. Crawson-Crawson the name was very familiar, but still I could not recall to mind where I had heard it before. The next morning as I sat at the breakfast table the name Crawson came back to me with such force that I overturned my coffee cup. Crawson!-William Crawson had been an old school mate of mine! I then made a few necessary explanations to my wife, who was still lamenting over the soiled table cloth, and hurried from the house to seek the shop of W. L. Crawson, Art Dealer . Dennis! my old friend Dennis johns, come closer to the light, man! How you have changed! I'm afraid I wouldn't have known you but for your card. But you still have your same hearty laugh! My, I'm glad to see you again ! I had reached the shop of my friend, and upon entering presented my card. The reader may judge for himself how pleased he was to see me. I was quite taken back at first at the great change which had taken place in him. Of course, it had been some years since I had seen him. He was my senior by five years, yet he looked so very old, and as if some problem troubled him. We settled down and had a long talk of the by-gone days, until all ideas of time had fled. Once or twice a customer interrupted us, but it was his daughter, Ellen, that really stopped us. She came rushing in, threw her hat into a nearby chair, tossed a small parcel into her father's lap and then stopped as she became aware of my presence. I had by this time studied this beautiful girl. She was scarcely eighteen and very lovely looking. She resembled her father in several ways. She greeted me in a very cordial manner and then turned to her father. Daddy, do you see what I bought today in a pawn shop down town? I was passing and saw it in the window and liked it so much, I bought it. We can probably get a good price for it, too, if we wish to sell it. It is also a real antique. Crawson had by this time started to unwrap it. When he had Finished, we received quite a shock. For after he had looked at it for 6

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X..-. 'B 11: --- v Lg A -3---1-Q-ff Y .,X A- u ifv- handed down through many ages to Crawford's mother in the form of a ring. Crawson had an older brother, Lee, who was a very worthless fellow and consequently was continually getting into trouble. It seems that it was Lee who really stole the jewel in order to pay a huge gambling debt. Lee was, however, very crafty and sly, and by clever manoeuvering had thrown the guilt of this theft on his younger brother, William. Then came the discovery of the robbery and William had been turned away from home, never to return. Soon after Crawson went to visit Lee, and easily forced him into writing a signed statement of his guilt. This the brother sealed inside a small miniature and promised laughingly to present William with it after the death of their father. He then made him leave and warned him about returning. Crawson heard of his family from time to time from different sources, so he did not give up all hope of ever establishing his innocence. Although Crawson was determined to get the important miniature, he was really without an idea as to how to do so before his father died. Crawson had never told his wife or daughter about the miniature, and after the former's death he practically gave up all hopes of recon- ciliation with his father. Then his daughter, in ignorance of its value, had bought the miniature in a pawnshop. That was the end of his story. The next day I went with him to his father's residence, and he was joyfully welcomed by his father, who had regretted his hasty act many times, though he had been too proud to admit it. He was very glad when he read the paper from the miniature. He then told us of Lee. He had caused his father nothing but sorrow, and he was now spzinding five years in prison for some matter of no importance here. We found, through tracing down the matter of the miniature, that Lee's wife, needing money badly, had sold the miniature. Then Ellen, admiring it, had brought it home. Crawson, together with his daughter and father, have now taken up their abode in Paris, where his daughter is studying art under the great masters. Recently I received an exact duplicate of the miniature painted by her, and you may be sure I prize it highly. -Virginia Farrar, '5. eww eww ew ess be-:ad was S