The Penn's Grove record., 1884-08-02
A STUDIO STORY.

My dear FRIEND" murmured Lady
Rosina Smythe, ''you are unhappy"
"Unhappy?-T'm the most misera-
able dog alive, at the present moment"
Sat the present mOmentl' echoed
Lady Rosina, ''thoug you are herel'
eyes. though | am here. You see,
1 have to go away, I can't stop here;
and this is the only place where for a
moment ] forget the worries that beset
me-"
"Worriesl o, 1 am sorry. But why
not confide in meP 1 might be able to
help YOU"
Impossible, dear, generous creature
that you are, you could not help me-"
''Do not judge so hastily-you do
not yet know my powers. But, at all
events, remember that / am your
friend"
Gould l forget it?''. he answered in
a murmur that was attuned to her gen.
tie and suggestive tones.
"But you do forget it when you re-
fuse to tell me your troubles. You say
you don't like to leave my drawing
room; yet yours is one of the most
beautiful studios in London. Don't
you like to return there, and look at
the lovely pictures and live in their
midst?"
''No," answered Mr.. Smart, vigor-
ously; ''I'd much rather not live in
their midst. They ought to be m
where else; not in my studio. AS
things are, l shall have to give up that
studio soon."
80, it's money, is it?"
"What else should it bep'
"Your pictures don't sellP"
GAS l am alone with a friend l Will
not mince matters. They don't"
"Yet people say they are clever"
said Lady Roslna, musingly.
"But they are satisfied with saying
it. They don't buy them"
''And they are well hung at the ex-
hibitions?"
so, yes!' said Mr.. Smart, with some
thing like a sigh.
"And you have painted most of the
beauties of the day."
True" answered Mr.. Smart, de-
sp~ondingly. "But even that does not
make a sale. 1 thought my 'Maidens
Bathing at Early Dawn must have
sold; every face in it is that of a we'll
known beauty. But no; it's in my
studio STILL"
There was a pause. Lady Rosina
was buried in thought. MIR. Smart was
moving restlessly about the room; it
was his inability to sit still which had
first made Lady Rosina observe that he
was not in his usual gay humor. He
was a handsome fellow, somewhat
spoiled by an affected air and exagger-
ated manner, and with the look rather
of one who knows how to spend
money than of one who knows how to
make it. Yet Mr.. Smart really had a
very pretty talent for catching a like
ness, as Lady Rosina knew, for she
WAC a QdDDlCI III III III dASos
After a few moments Lady Rosina
spoke. "Will you paint mep" she said.
"You know l WILL" responded Mr..
Smart, with admirable fervor.
mot once" she went on, ''but half
a dozen times. 1 have never yet had
justice done me. You can do it if you
Will; in return, 1 will make your for
tune"
Mr.. Smart paused IL his restless
movements and looked earnestly at
her. Hitherto his eyes had dwelt on
her face with a certain rapture of ad-
miration which he had well-learned
how to express; now there was in them
a cold, searching look.
''Is this b~usiness?" he said, in a very
low voice.
at is business" she answered in
the same subdued, intense tones. She
perfectly knew the meaning OF what
she said; for Lady Rosina, having had
for her birthright blue blood and pow
erty, had married Mr.. Smythe, who
was something in the city," and who
had impaired to her the spirit of com
merce which is so grand and powerful
in the present day.
When will you come to sltp" asked
Mr.. Smart.
Tomorrow afternoon" answered