The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-23
THE PRESS.
A Queen of Spades.
BY NJ, W. HAZELTINE,

1t twas vexatious chance which kept
me from New York when the Tyrrels ar
rived, for l thereby missed Bob Lyon, who
came home in the same steamer.
A. decent Difference to the claims OF kin
dred would have werded that sentence other
wise, and, indeed, l am fond OF Aunt Tyr.
rell, while Clara-but let that go. was put
STRIPPING, look you, graphing Latin syntax,
and she was just learning to make eyes and
prattle French, and, no doubt, the verb we
corrugated in those languages described
callow, temperate yearning quite different to
the peremptory passion for which you, mad
am (who inspire it, have Saxon name.
But Bob,-or Robin, as we liked to call
him, recognizing, in rude, unconscious way
the sturdy honesty and simplicity of the lad
had laid hold of some college mates The was
no general lover) with a grasp which absence
possibly, and the slow alternative Of time,
but nothing else, would loosen. Our early
friendships strike their rockets deep, and
good many years must pass, and some rich,
foamy natures be parched to thin arid soils,
before the crop of household interests quite
strangles those hardy growths.
Well, was not there to sieze the old boys
hand, march him off to my own snuggery,
and laugh with him over the vernal days
when he daubed my class-books with nymphs
and warriors, and revealed his dream of be-
coming great painter. These diversions the
young artist lost, but he did not want for hos
pitality during the week he tarried in Man
haitian.
"Of course you come with us, Mr.. Lyon,
TO Grammercy park. I don't know how we
shall requite all you did for us in London
poor unprotected creatures that we were
and on the voyage, too. You must not
think of going to hotels. So that is settled"
Thus did Aunt Tyrrell prescribe the move
ments of my tractable friend, and though
az v,At xu1,u hnt116 har
brighten if she disapproved the suggestion.
It is true, Robin meekly protested that he
ought to go to his people in the country, but
It was clear studio had first to be chosen,
and some preparation made for the autumn's
campaign, which he admitted might require
day or two. Yon are aware, however, that
the selection of studio, embracing grave
questions of light, frontage selection, and
immunity from noise, not to speak OF the
traditions and associations which evolve
an aesthetic atmosphere, is business not
lightly despatched. The ladies, too, were
sincerely anxious to attest their gratitude for
the patient guidance which had laid open the
art-treasures of Britain from Sir Richard
Wallace's thesaurus even to those unfinished
masterpieces (yet sacred from the vulgar eye)
of embryo academicians, and were fain, by
way of quittance, to show their guest those
unrvalled collections which aff1uence and
enlightened connoisseurship have accumu-
lated in this island. And it may be that one
of his companions in that edfying round
could 60 back farther than those London
days, and recall long rambles in Florentine
galleries, when few, plain, thoughtful words
had provoked wistful sympathy and quick
encd girlish mind 10 unaffected zest.
1t is scarcely possible to know less, in a
worldly sense, of a young gentleman, whom
one chance or another has repeatedly thrown
in your society, than the Tyrrells knew of
Mr.. Lyon. Concerning his outward circum-
stances and personal history, beyond the fact
that he was class-mate and friend of mine,
those ladies were quite in the dark. Not that
Robin could lay claim to that austere discre-
ton and nice reserve which some circumspect
but rather empty pated fellows succeed in
passing for the very finest breeding. On the
contrary. he would chat most freely about his
little triumphs and Teverses, his aversiOns
and private hobbies, and conide to you, on
moderate encouragement, the cherished
dreams and wishes of his heart. But then,
these all happened to be bound up with his
vocation OF painter, which did, in truth,
evoke what solicitude and fervor he had; and
1t no more occurred to this eccentric youth
to call the roll of his connections and &C.
quaintances, or descant on domestic mat
tiers and the doings of the people at home,
than it occurs to many lively persons TO talk
Of anything else. You might as proftably
their way toward sunshine, as try to make
make Robin comprehend that his own earlier
struggles were anywise commendable or note
worthy.
His reticence did not offend Miss Tyrell.
A capricious, fanciful, rather arbitrary young
woman was my cousin, who I remember, at
our children's parties would often tease me
with her hayward behavior, and was &C
ana turn q hs day
many ingenious gentlemen, whose sprightly
anecdotes find favor in drawing rooms, do
not esteem Miss Tyrell sympathetic.
Now an artless headlong enthusiast, like
my friend Robin, would make, should sup
pose, capital butt for female raillery; yet,
strange to say, this variable damsel bore her
self very humbly in his society, and after
those Florence experiences before referred to,
would let him pour forth his quirks and the
cries wild enough, I dave say), for hours to
gether. Or it might be, when pause fell,
she would hazard some queer little notion of
her own, which Bob was sure to proclaim
vas tly suggestive. 1 will not quarrel, how
ever, because high-fown rhapsodist may
have preferred girls company to my own,
for while have read Taine, and can impart
to my discourse, when choose, very deli
cate aesthetic flavor, trust I graduate too
justly the claims of life to dawdle away my
mornings In art galleries, or climb steep hills,
as Clara will, to see the sun pop out some
seconds earlier.
would not deny that Bob's absorption in
his art, and single hearted devotion to that
mistress is very fine thing indeed, and
refreshing spectacle in these languid times;
but obviously it must isolate the artist from
the sympathies and pleasant commerce of his
kind, and lead him into many gaucheries
and some neglect of the social amenities.
Whether Robin had lnckily escaped those
untoward consequences may appear from
some account of an interview with Miss Tyr
rell which took place, the evening before his
departure, Bear in mind that he was prac-
tcally taking leave of the young lady, as it
was most unlikely she. would see him in the
morning.
Sand you mean to bury yourself in a farm
house, the whole summer?'' Miss Clara said
to Mr.. Lyon, having for once been persuaded
to discuss mundane topics. 81 give you a
month you're no Arab after ali. You'll
soon weary of those deserts, ard we shall
welcome you back to civilized life. We
that Is, mamma. wants you to come to New
port.
"You don't know my country" said hon
est Robin; 81 think no man leaves it willing
ly. You would love its rugged scenery, I
know that. There's nothing like it east of
the Sierra"
This was the moment to ascertain the pre-
else state and county wherein the home
stead lay, but the damsels mind perhaps was
not dwelling on matters geographically.
II might like it," she said obviously, "for
week or two; but should perish with no
body to talk to. Of course there can be no
society" this was put forward interrogative-
ly,-"none that you would care for in those
wilds ?'
.Only my own people," said Robin, gently.
"They are fond of me, of them.'
90" she began, and stopped suddenly,
flushing quite rosy with regret and selt-ra-
proach. suspect Miss Tyrell, intent on
certain vein of inquiry, had dropped uncon-
ciously that urgracious phrase. She tried
another tack.
my poor picture" this was a portrait
Mr.. Lyon had been commissioned to paint
''will you promise not to neglect itP Perhaps
1t might better wait till autumn. Are you
sure you shall need no more sittings?"
"Quite sure" he said. sit ought to be fin
ished in a week. I'll touch nothing until it
is done, Miss Tyrrel, and then forward it in
stantly."
Perhaps the covenant to cede so promptly
lady's likeness is not particularly fattering