Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-20

poverty which caused him TO be back
ward in his rent payments. He was ac-
customed to 20 away for weeks, or even
months, together without leaving any
address; he was thus absent now.
One steady wet day, when Sybil had
played, read, worked, till she got the
fidgets in all her restless limbs, a
curiosity which had already been
awakened became imperative. She sent
for Mrs. Rogers, and asked whether she
could not see the deserted studio.
There's only rubbish, miss" said the
landladv; but please not to move any
of it. or he will 90 on at me like anv-
thing when he comes back. Not that he
has any right, being in arrears, but he
has way with him, and | am soft
hearted, and he pays what he can. This
is the key
Svrl took it and ran upstairs. But
when she turned the lock feeling of
shame came over her, as if she were Drv-
ing, or at least trespassing. However,
she pushed the door back, and entered a
most untidy apartment. There were
easels. one with a half-finished painting
upon it: there were various articles of
/ costume, male and female, scattered
/ about: in one corner stood a dummy
! figure, attired merely in yellow boots
| and spurs, and cavalier hat and
! feather. Specimens Of ancient armor Law
| in heap, from which prOtruded likewise
a modern musket and bayOnet, cricket
bat, foils and single-stlcks. There was a
rack of curious pipes, German and Turk
ish There were casts of famous statues,
and what seats and tables there were
were imitation antiques. Two large port.
fOliOs on stands took up good deal of
room and the litter was completed by the
! heaps of pictures in various stages of
progression-very early stages, indeed,
most Of them-piled up here and there.
/ The walls likewise were covered with
pictures, some of which were finished.
One, an Ariadne, just waking up to the
fact of Theseus' desertiOn of her, was
hOnO-cd with a very smart frame which
had been hung almost out OF sight by the
Hanging Committee of the ROYAL
! Academy Exhibition. The longer She
looked at the picture the more it pleased
her, and at last she got quite indignant
with the Academy officials who had hung
it in a bad place and with the public who
had not bought it. Then, gradually feel
inc at home, she went in for a regular in
spection Of all the studies and sketches
and half-formed designs in the room
and at last even dipped into the portfo-
| liOS. The result was that, instead of
passing the ten minutes she first pro-
posed to herself in the studio, she spent
the whole afternoon there and talked of
nothing but her discovery to Cousin
Emily all dinner-time. Not content with
that she introduced her to the studio on
the following morning, though the
weather was fine The elder lady took a
fair interest in the pictures, but she was
not So enthusiastic as the younger; en-
thusiasm is apt to fail US before our eyes
and teeth.
con, Cousin Emily! Is it not shame
full that such a beautiful painter should
get so little for his wOrks-barely enough
to live on-while mere daubers are paid,
oh, ever so much?"
1T is pity he does not try daubing,
then"
Oh, he could not do it; real genius
cannot be concealed. He is a handsome
young man-melancholy eyes, and beard
dark, Of course; but he is not really mel
ancholy; quite the reverse. And so
good! He half supports his mother, who
is the widow of an Indian officer, with
only her pension to live on that is why
he has debts"
Why, Sybil! how did you come to
know all this about Mr. what is his
Nance"
"DOria is his name, but have never
set eyes upon him Mrs Rogers told me
all have just repeated"
"Ohr' said Cousin Emily, who had eX-
perienccd the nearest approach to the
feminine sensation called turn" which
l,ar nj. ha
at all events affected.
1t became quite habit of SybiPs to
run up and look over the absent artists
sketches, and no doubt she would soon
have begun to criticise and find fault,
only before she had time to reach that
state she left the lodgings
1t was not likely that a well-connected
young lady of good fortune, and subject
to no authority but the law of the land
and public opinion, should be allowed to
remain long hidden in London. People
who have money always find relations,
connections and friends who are always
glad to see them. In fortnight Sybjl
and Cousin Emily were domiciled in a
hOspitable mansion in Belgrayia.
One June morning Harry Doria was in
his studio painting and talking at inter
walls to a friend who was a sad loafer,
but atOned for it by buying a picture
now and then, and who was at present
lounging on Il sofa smoking a Turkish
pipe, the flavor of which pleased him.
well, how do you get on-pretty
well, | hope?" said the loating friend.
Excuse me mentioning it."
Harry was not the least diScOmposed,
Il am" said he, certainly doing better
this year than | have ever done before;
this year, when it does not matter, and
have only myself to provide for
Don't talk like that, old fellow; you
made your mothers declining years COM
Portable, and have no cause for regret
As the old ties break we form new ones
Apropos, are you going to marry the heir
ess?"
"What heiress?"
Mercenary man! Have you so many
in your eye? Why, Miss Nugent, of
course; everybody has settled it for
you"
Perhaps everybody has decreed that
[ am going to have the Koh-inoor set in a
scarf-pin. Poor Miss Nugent! | mag
inc that she expects to do better for her
self than to marry third-rate canvas
spoiler"
Well, you are pretty intimate, at all
events"
4 have met her out at parties, GER
tainly; and we talked together good
deal, having many subjects of interest in
common; but the idea is ridiculous; she
is a great deal too rich"
That is fault most fellows would
| look over observed the other, laughing.
Il could not" said Doria. Fancy 1t
being IN your Wife'S power to tell YOU,