The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-04-18

udu fuduc alIu iCIuU>t Ill tiic utiu vi
battle and prominent in the councils Of
his State. He was q singularly hand.
some man, of commanding mien, and
wonderfully magnetic. One of that
rare type we meet once or twice in q
LIE time to remind us that Col made
man as the crown and glory of His ere.
alive work not as an at er-thought a
man from whose rasence one wen,
forth refreshed and made stronger; q
man with a warmth of affection for men
in general to which before he Nigh,
have been a stranger.
The first evening spent at Hillerton
l count among the ew happy ones OF
my life. 1t was tacitly agreed that moth
ing in the way o business should mar
the first hours of our reunion; indeed,
they passed SO swiftly while we sat be-
fore the great fire place talking of early
days that we were startled by the ven-
cradle clock in distant al owe announc-
ing midnight with due elaboration and
solemnity.
The olonel and were alone before
the bla ing fire-in at, we had been
tor some time-and this emphatic decla-
ration OF the old time-piece that the last
hour of the twenty-four had passed
brought us back with something of a
jerk to our present whereabouts.
"Well," laughed Hillerton. as he
sprang up. poker in ana, and
assailed the drowsy fire, s.here
we've been sitting lik" two boys just
beginning the holidays and
eRjoying the usual privilege OF keeping
late hours But your coming. Ned, has
been like shalt of sunlight. though a
dark cloud is following close upon it.
However, after your long ride over the
mountain roads you will not quarrel
with your bed, re kon. Before we
retire let me give you glimpse of the
picture-gallery it's on our way up
stairs-as want You t, see the picture
of Sir Guy l u ed to tell you of at col
lege. Don't mind the hour. Some of
Il portraits W II appear all the better
by candle-light. especially Sir Guys.
Lighting a couple of large wax can
dl S and placing one in my hand, HI
lerton Id the way through everal
APP: rtments to the one designated.
There" exclaime | he, pausing be-
fore full-length portrait. IS the pic
ture of Sir Guy, and tradition says q
very faithful one. Fellow, ca ven into
the panel, is the famous verse 1 once
It'd you o."
confess that | was startled, rs, in
the wavering light of the tapers, l
gaZed upon the portrait about which 50
recently had been thinking and had
heard so much in my co lege days. At
the first glance itseemed as if the figure
int In onf f,fc ,r,t
me, ough in a second more the il
fusion, if it were one, had vanished. |
saw before me, painted upon a broad
panel of highly polished oak the picture
of strong, dstermined-looking man,
dressed in he pi turesYue garb of the
old cavaliers. His head was barred.
the flow ne locks were slightly flecked
with gray, the neatly trimmed beard
was snowy white, and the eyes large,
keen and stern i'm their expression. His
left hand rested upon the richly carved
hill of sword. while with the other
extended. as If in the act of command.
he held the baton of a field-mars al.
The right foot was advanced a tribe be-
yond the line of the body, and this
slight distinction. together with the
brightly polished background of the
picture, caused, think. the tleeting M
preston made upon me when l first be-
held it.
"Come, you must not linger all nirht
Ned, over that freak of my worthy an
cestor," and Hillerton's CHEEKY voice
recalled me from my reverie. 81 here
was touch of martinez in the old gen.
tleman, he continued, as he slowly
conduct I'd me to the guests chamber.
1.-The picture was painted upon that
panel by his express directions some
three years before he died, and the
verse carved after that event by special
directions in his will"
"ihe art st, poor fellow, was ona
whom he picked up in Basic, and
brought him a-rosS tie seas especially
t. paint this picture. He almost
starved the man Will he was slit n. to
him, have been told. because he held
that a man did b tt rwork on an empty
stomach and meal in prospect than
he could after diSpoSing of the meal.
He pinned the thinner down to the mi
nutest details of / is person and cos
tune, and regu red that the portrait be
rig dly correct. 1t has come down to
us that the poor artist, ANXIOUS to please
attempted o improve a Ii tie upon the
original by introducing benevolent
smile into the severe features of Sir
Guy, and was OBLIGED to paint the
whole head over again to appeaSe his
benefaci or. 1t is from these facts we
trust the picture as being one of extreme
fidelity"
But here we are" and my host
ushered NE into spac gus apartment,
land l trust y u may forget yourro Oh
Quincy and all the troubles OF this sad
life in the refuge provided for the
poorest of us-sound sleep! d with
an i'll disguised sigh he babe me good
night. Twas not long in seeking re-
pose, but did not find it. Sir Guys
picture-it strange history-the poor,
half-starved artist the quaint verse
about I'm bond QriD1)ef'-any amount
of vain con ecture a out the treasure
these and many other members of q
motley throng of thoughts took pos
sess on of me and drove out sleep.
1 had lain thus, l supposed. a very
long time, when Leard slow and
stately footsteps approaching the door.
1 hey came on. measured and regular,
passed by and died away along distant
corridor.
A strange presentiment seized me. I
listened intently. soon l heard faint
echoes of far-off foot alls. Then the
slow, regular tramp. tramp of steps
themselves f flowed upon their echoes.
They drew nearer, grew louder, till at
last the door was reached, the knob
turned, creaking loudly as it did so,
and in stalkei no less a person than
Sir Guy Hiiierton the exact counter
part of his por RAFT.
The flicke ing freight PLAYED over