Free Mystery of the Hidden Painting by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

Henry thinks it’s Grandmother, but this lady looks so young.”
    Mr. Alden stared at the picture. He seemed to have drifted off into another world. Looking at her grandfather’s sad face, Violet said immediately, “It doesn’t matter, Grandfather. We’ll take the picture right back to the attic.”
    She picked up the painting, but Mr. Alden held out a hand to her. “It’s all right, Violet. You can leave it here.”
    â€œIs this our grandmother?” she asked.
    Grandfather smiled. “Yes, it is. It was painted when she was a very young woman, and very beautiful. But then, she was beautiful until the day she died.”
    â€œWhy was it up in the attic?” Benny asked. “Why isn’t it hanging right here?” Benny pointed to the wall over the fireplace.
    Grandfather sighed. “Well, children, it’s a long story. All of you sit down and I’ll tell you.”
    Benny and Violet sat at Mr. Alden’s feet. Jessie and Henry sat on the sofa next to Grandfather’s easy chair. They all looked at him, waiting for him to go on.
    Grandfather cleared his throat. “I gave your grandmother—her name was Celia—the necklace she is wearing in the portrait as a wedding present. I had had it designed by a very talented jeweler. It was one of a kind. There was no other just like it anywhere. Your grandmother loved it so much she had this portrait painted of her wearing her precious wedding present. A year after our wedding, we had a big party to celebrate our first anniversary and, of course, she wore the necklace.
    â€œOh, it was a wonderful party, with food made by the best caterer in town and an orchestra and beautiful flowers. When the party was over, Celia put the necklace in its velvet box and placed the box in her dressing table drawer. She intended to put it in the safe the next day.”
    â€œWhat happened then?” Benny asked breathlessly.
    â€œWell,” Mr. Alden continued, “she was so busy the next day helping the caterers gather together all the dishes and glasses and pots they had brought to the house that she forgot about the necklace. Until that night. She opened her drawer and took out the velvet jewelry box … but it was empty. The necklace was gone.”
    â€œOh, no!” Jessie cried out.
    â€œWhere was it?” Benny asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
    Grandfather shrugged. “We never found it. We looked all over. The police came the next day and questioned everyone who had been in the house the day before. Everyone—all the people who worked for the caterer, every delivery person, everyone. They even questioned me! But no one knew anything or had seen anything. The necklace was gone forever.”
    â€œBut the picture,” Violet asked softly, “why is it in the attic?”
    Grandfather sighed again. “I had hung the painting right over the mantelpiece after it was painted. I loved looking at it. But once the necklace disappeared, your grandmother couldn’t bear to look at the painting. It always reminded her of the wedding present she had so loved that was gone. So we took the painting down and put it up in the attic. After all these years, I had forgotten it was still there.”
    â€œThat is such a sad story, Grandfather,” Jessie said.
    Grandfather smiled. The sadness was gone from his face. “Well, Jessie, that was a long time ago. But I will tell you, that as the oldest granddaughter the necklace would have been yours.”
    â€œOh, Jessie, look what you might have had,” Benny said.
    The children laughed and Grandfather stood up. “Why don’t we all go into the kitchen and see if there is any of Mrs. McGregor’s chocolate cake left.”
    â€œAnd some milk,” Benny added.
    Grandfather laughed and put his arm around Benny’s shoulders. “And some milk,” he agreed.
    They all sat around the big table in the cheerful kitchen.