Weekly commercial herald., 1885-10-30
IN LUCK AT LAST,
BY WALTER BEsANT.
Continued From sunday, october ISL

-cSSAAAAk anu klFluB tue k4oo u FctSOho.
For his own part, he felt guilty, because he
could put so little heart into that kiss com
pared with all previous embraces She was
a stout, hearty little woman, who could
never have been in the least beautiful, even
when she was young. Now on the middle
line, between forty and fifty, she looked az
II her face had been chopped out Of the mar.
bic by a rude but determined artist, one
who knew what be wanted and would toll
crate no conventional work So that her
face, at all events, was, If not unique, at
least unlike any other face one had ever
seen Most faces, we know, can be reduced
TO certain general types-even Iris's face
might be classi6ed-while Of yours, my
brother, there are no doubt multitudes
Miss Holland, however had good eyes
bright, clear gray-the eyes Of woman
who knows what she wants and means ia
get it If size can.
"Well, my DEAR" she said, taking the onI
comfortable chair in the studio, 81 am back
again, and have enjoyed my journey very
much; we viii have all the travels this even
ing. You are looking splendid, Arnold"
Il am very well indeed And you, Claral
But need not ask"
mo, am always well. told you about
dear Stella, did | notl never had more
delightful companion"
80 glad you liked her."
'If only, Arnold, you would like her too.
But know"-for Arnold changed color-T
know one must not interfere in these matters
But surely one may go SO far with young
man one loves as to say, Here is girl Of
millionp There is not, Arnold, declare, her
equal anywhere; a clearer head never met,
or better educated girl, or one who knows
what a man can do, and how no can be
helped to do it,"
Thank you, Clara" Arnold said coldly;
II dare say shall discover the young lady's
perfections in time"
mot, think, without some help She is
not an ordinary girl You must draw her
out, my dear boy"
Il will, he said listlessly ~ will try to
draw her out, if you like"
1--WE talked great deal of you, Arnold"
Clara went on II confded to her some Of
my hopes and ambitions for you; and am
free to confess to you that she has greatly
modified all my plans and calculations"
"Oh!" Arnold was interested1 in this
''But. my dear Clara, have my profession.
must follow my profession"
''Surely-surelyl Listen, Arnold, patient
~. Anybody can become an artist-any-
body, Of course, who has the genius. And
all kinds Of people, gutter people, have the
genius"
''The sum-" said Arnold, just as if he had
lieen Lala Roy, ''shines on all alike"
"Quite so; and there is an immense en-
thusiasm for art everywhere; but there is no
art leader. There is no ons man recognized
as the man most competent to speak on art
of every kind. Think of that. 1t is Stella's
idea entirely. This man, when he is found,
win sway enormous authority; he will be-
come, if he has wife able to assist him, an
immense social power"
"And you want me to become that manF
"Yes, Arnold I do not see why you
should not become that man. Cease to
think of becoming President of the Royal
Academy, yet go on painting; prove your
genius, so as to command respect; cultivate
the art of public speaking: and look about
for wife who will be your right hand.
Think Of this seriously. This is only a
rough sketch; we can fill in the details
afterwards. But think Of it. Oh, my dear
boyl if were only man, end five-and-
twenty, with such chance before mel
What a glorious career is yours, if you
choosel But, Of course, you will choose.
Good gracious, Arnold who is thatr
She pointed to the canvas on the easel,
where Iris's face was like the tale of Cam
buscan, half-told.
''It is no one you know, Clara"
''One of your models?" She rose and ex-
amincd it more closely through her glasses.
''The eyes are wonderful, Arnold They
are eyes know As if could ever forget
theml They ara the same eyes-exactly
the same eyes. have never met with
any like them before They are the eyes
of my poor lost, betrayed Claude Deseret.
Where did you pick up this girl, Arnoldl
Is she common modelT
asNot at all. She is not model. She isa
young lady who teaches by correspondence.
She Is nv tutor--of course, have SO often
talked to you about her-who taught me
the science of heraldry, and wrote me such
charming letters"
''Your tutor You said your tutor was an
old gentleman
$50 / thought, Clara. But was wrong.
NV tutor is a young lady; and this is her
portrait, half finished. 1t does not do her
any kind of justice"
"a young ladyl" She looked suspicious
ly at Arnold, whose tell-tale cheek flushed.
"a young ladyl Indeed And you have
made her acquaintance"
"As YOU see Clara, and she does me the
honor to let me paint her portrait"
''What is her name, Arholdp
'She is Miss Aglen.
s'Strange TIE Deserets once intermarried
with the Aglens. 1 wonder if she is any
connection. They were Warwickshire Ag-
lens. But it is impossible-a teacher by cor
respondence, mere private governessl
Who are her peoplep
''She lives with her grandfather. think
her father was tutor or journalist Of some
kind, but he is dead; and her grandfather
keeps secondhand bookshop in the Kings
road close by"
IA bookshopl But you said, Arnold, that
she was a young lady,
$50 she is, Clara" he replied simply.
"Arnold!" For the first time in his life
Arnold saw his cousin angry with him.
She was constantly being angry with other
neople. but never before had she been angry
with him. "Arnold, spare me this nonsense.
II YOU have been playing with this shop-girl
cannot help it, and beg that you will tell
me no more about it, and do not, TO my face,
speak of her as lady"
II have not been playing with her,
Think said Arnold gravely: II have been
very serious with herr
Everybody nowadays is young lady.
The girl who gives you a cup Of tea in
shop; the girl who dances in the ballet; the