The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-23
PENELOPE.
PART l..

fAk !.
 There IS. or was-for in these days of change Il IS dangerous ;o make ones self responsible for the stability of anything d row of tall houses somewhat south of the kensington road. The ground-foor was built for shops. and seemed to fulfill its destiny but the inhabitants of the second. third and fourth floors were slow 10 arrive, although the top story. consist ing Of two rooms. afforded an enhancing s!ew of roof and ehmney-po, io the sorth. and of the dis:an; Surrey hills to the south.
 Intending tenants seldom revelled in the delights offered 10 them. Fiigh, after High: of unexpected wooden sialtcase frightened them away from the Elys.um they might attain, and few indeed we're those active and hopeful enough 10 reach the top. The interest and pleasure of the row may therefore be imagined when the TWO rooms on the fourth story d, Number Three were really taken and o. oupied.
 The excitement reached is climax when the tenants were seen 10 be ladies and guessed to be artists. Mr. Bladley. she spruce s,a,loner on the ground-i,oor. ~as mos, pressing in his offers of assist Anee, and Edward. the office boy. in- vented messages of the most openly m- possible character. in order 10 obtain some sight Of the glofies of upstairs
 He would arrise opPor;unely with half torn newspaper. CT a dusty anad- dressed envelope. which perhaps be- bnged 10 the ladies, Jus, IS some spe- eially tempting package was carried up. stars and he considered himself l priv heged mortal If allowed 10 assis: al ,he Gnpae king oi some ot the pictures ar busts, which found ln him an adriring. '; noi highly critical, observer. He ad- ,lsed as 10 the arrangement oi peacock : feathers over the Selvei-hung mantle piece. and ,eiled up and down willingly a,,h coa.s and other unn,efes;lns ob- es-'s. making himself generally useful and cNll. without. be II sad. much hope ot reee,sins many sh....ass ,n fa;aGn iof sll4ings were scarce m.:h the two sit,s. sf'o were making their ffs, star; la llie t.u; II sh,lAnss were scarce smiles were plentiful. and n Is seldom ,hai any room ls furnished or arranged amid such peals A happy laughter as echoed through those two cafpetless apartments
 !, was when the two rooms were ready. one forwo and the other for play. ,ha, he oco asion was celebrated bv d b,g ai- .eFnoon ,ea-party. al which a large and nondescrip, party assembled-mauy stu dents from the e!shboring school of 4r,. a few stately ladies who represented si,aev personally c! vicanously possible pupils. and l smau sptinkl,ng ot men {. most ot them kindly. eager and cutira And one of TWO utterly. completely and entirely bored.
 NJ Thomas Brown was in the latter category, Ills sis,e, had brought hlm. and was now drinking lea wi;h the oh ets IT ;he pretty back-room. where there sas no space ior him: aQd he stood m the wotk-room. looking in a aelan- sholy way at d picture on an easel. and ,Ding ,o conceal hIs devouring anxiety 10 escape from the atmosphere of at, eri,- uism.
 Now, wha, do YOU think ot ,ha, arm s.iid a valoe a, hls side: somehow there was an anxiety in the tone which surprised him had any human being ever asked his opinion on q poin, ot ar, before: !" Is the attitude constrained. or no 7"
 He looked at the picture, a; the straight shl,e-;obed hgure upon the canvass. a, ihe calm. impassive face. a, the droop- ng arms, which held a bunch of daffo. dis, a, the cold, uncertain background. and then turned to the speaker.
 am afraid" he said honestly. "l know nothing of drawing, and don, un- ders,and this"
 l, Is only study. of course; should nos dare 10 give il name to all of them but with quick glance which seemed n ocee 10 recognize him as in no way a dangerous critic. in my own mind mean !, 10 be Proserpine. dare say you guessed if from the faded daffodils.
 She looked al the figure with regreifu eyes. and Mir. Brown took advantage oi her preoccrpation 10 transfer his a,sen, ton from the canvass to herself He likec her decidedly better than her picture She was nice 10 look at, and difSeren rom other girls. Tom thought. although there were hundreds of young women 1T London crriously like her. even 10 he gray-green frock. her strings cf ambe, beads. and the bunch of daffodils a, he throat
 Do you know she said, ,urnins sound and looking up al him with smil, suppressed on her lips but gleaming ir her eyes, suspect you have been hor ribly bored this afternoon. You don care for pictures. and no one has ,alkes of anything else. I'm so sorry: bur wha can do 10 arnuse you: fyou will onl, tell me what you like. will try to b' sympathetic
 No man likes 10 md himself SC, on on, side by young and pretty woman, a unable 10 share in that which interests and delights her, unless indeed he car openly confess his ignorance as a proc of smiling superiority. Tern was tcc