The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-05

houses of the leaders of rank and fashion
 and, to hasten the remarkable tale, in les
 than a year led an earl's youngest
 daughter to the altar. During the suc-
 ceeding two years Drew and Lady Cecilia
 became themselves the leaders of a cer-
 tain section of the "world," but at such 6
 pace of in-regulated expenditure that ir
 little over two years, in spite of repeated
 assistance and the intervention of friends
 the record of their folly was duly pub.
 iished and a retreat to the continent be-
 came imperative. Lady Cecilia died
 soon after in giving birth to a son and
 Drew, thus cut of from the sphere oi
 fashionable display, philosophically re.
 sumed his palette and brush.
 During these years my father had seen
 little of Drew, and had heard but seldom from him. The year after his wife's
 death, however, that irrepressible once
 more arrested the attention of the world
 by the exhibition of two pictures, which,
 with uncommon unanimity, the critics pronounced to be masterpieces. My father hastened to London-saw, and
 worshiped. He met Drew, whose de- gage appearance had more of the tradi- tional artist than he had ever before at- fected; was charmed with the cordiality of the great mans reception of him, and spent much time in his society. Upon my fathers return to the country, he car ried Drews autograph in his pocket book, for the possession of which he had parted temporarily with two thousand pounds. Soon after this, and according to arrangement, my father and his cratic friend made a tour together through Worcester and Gloucestershires. The artist was companion to whom the most fastidieus could not object, his conduct and conversation being those of gentleman and man of cultare. A dis dain of the worlds applause was indeed sometimes traceable in his manner and remarks; but the impression made on my fathers mind by this indifference to what men usually long for was such as rather to enhance his respect for his fel- low-traveler. find many circumstances noted in MT. Charlton's diary at this period which go far to redeem Drew's name from the charge of original or pre- meditated heartlessness, even discount ing them at the high rate demanded by my fathers utter want of knowledge of the world. He was both good hearted and open-handed, and capable, as many incidents showed, both of selt-sacrifice and magnanimity. But the sequel proved that the unhappy mans moral fibre was scarcely strong enough for the strain to which his unsuitable desire to dazzle ex. posed it.
 For Drew had still another and as vet unbent string to his bow. He did not at once give up his studio or his paint. ing but he now sought more and more constantly the society of men on Change brokers, and comp pany pro- moters, and appeared less and less in the coteries of art. His new associates soon recognized his consummate capacity as a hnancier; and Drew's name began to figure On the directorate of first one and then another company of the very best repute. He then commenced to fnesse with stocks and shares-his caution at hrst being equal to his judgment, with the result of giving him once more the command ofconsiderable sums of money: with these he continued to speculate, till in few years he had repaid my father, set up once more handsome establish ment, and kept his carriage and riding horses. Everything he put his hand to to flourish; and it is evidence of his ability, as well as honesty of purpose, that every one of the companies he was personally instrumental in floating had proved commercial success. His hand, however, was getting weary holding this cumbrous mercantile plough. He sought to amass wealth speedily. and then seek fresh woods and pastures new" for the exercise of his genius. In short, he be- gan to plunge, now successfully, now dis. asrously. His transactions demanded frequent accommodation, which he at first obtained readily, then with difficulty, at last-on no consideration. What he made to my father to obtain possession piece-meal of his entire fortune, l know not, but do know that it was swallowed up in the desperate at tempts Drew made to break his fall by Stock Exchange gambling. The crash came at last, and this gifted but infatu- ated man disappeared forever from Eng. lish society, to die poor aud alone in a humble lodging at Rome.
 My father was ruined man. He had not only lost every shilling of his money, but stood, at the time of Drew's flight, for bills to the extent of sev- eral thousand pounds. His friends ad- 'ised him to seek immunity through the courts, but he stolidly declined. The to the living of Brierleigh came opportunely. My father then en- cred into an arrangement to pay interest 'n the debt with portion of his revenue, and to reduce the capital as circum- stances would allow, meantime under aking to maintain policies of assurance 10 cover the amount in the event of his death. He refused my Aunt Marjory's generous offer to place the whole of her own money at his disposal to relieve him. ;elf of the terrible incubus "It was a iebt of honor and friendship" was his 'nly formula to every protest. And for ,ver twenty years that little studio under he southern garden wall was the scene 'f sustained and heroic, if quixotic, struggle to acquit the memory of his un- table friend, regarding whom to the end l