The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-29
A "MODEL FATHER. {"
Story Of a Scheming Tragedian
and His Pretty Daughter.
Low Cunning and Selfish Ambition on
the One Hand, and Innocent Purity
and Dutiful Devotion on
the Other.
BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.
CHAPTER XIH.-CoNcLUpEp.

prepared for the evenings labors, and
while the friends sat chatting, the maid
brought up singularly dirty piece OF
rough cardboard on which was written
'Rev. Stanley Vyvyan."
Now tell me-" said Hogan, ''what
you think of me as model-hunter.
The two went down together and en-
countered in the hall bent and totter-
ing old man with a great beard.
This way" said Cassidy. and the
man followed, stepping slowly and
with difficulty; Have y ever been
model before?'
That degradation is reserved for
me-" said the new model, in deep and
husky tones.
And each hours Joy wrecked with week
of teen.
but it has never yet fallen to my lot 10
earn my living by any Inen. al service. "
Has he been drinking?" asked Cas-
sidy, aside. mo, l think not" re-
sponded Hogan.
That's his regular form, me boy.
He never speaks except with a verse
out of Scripture.
Take off your hat" said Cassidy,
sand let's have a look at you. Now
you'll Just sit here. dye see, in this
armchair on the platform, and hould
on to this halberd, like that. Wait a
Now there v are. Head little more
to the right. Left foot out bit. That IL
do. Now We can rest bit and take it
easy till We re wanted.
Cassidy, moving away with his head
on one side, surveying the model with
the look of a connOisseur.
Take it easy. You're not wanted
for the next five minutes, any way"
The students turned in by ones and
twos, and the model being finally ar
ranged, the work began, enlivened
after the manner of student labor by
the singing of popular airs and the
whistling oil operate selections.
"He's picturesque enough, isn't he?"
said Hogan, in a whisper.
Cassidy had begun to regard the
model with a new interest, and he an
swered Hogan only after drawing him
away into a distant corner of the room.
al believe you've made 4 find with
vengeance" said he then. Hes amaz-
inoly altered. with the hair about his
face, and the badness that's set in. But
] ought to know that nose and those
eyes, and believe it's no less than
Montgomery Bassett!'
Rubbish said Hogan.
I'm not so sure of that, me boy, ,"
answered Cassidy. Give him black
wig and shave him, and he might be as
loike is two peas.
THAT'S not Bassett,' said Hogan,
contemptuously. He said ne was eighty
and odd Just now, and he looks every
inch of it. ~
Well" said Cassidy. resignediy,
she's here now. whoever he is. You II
see if Cameron spots m"
Cameron at that minute appearing,
Cassidy welcomed him with 4 manner
somewhat forced and unnatural.
What dye think of the model,
JACKIE
He'll do we'll enough" returned
Cameron, unconcernedly and walked
round the room from easel 10 easel
glancing ut the work.
Well, now," said Hogan with a
laugh, "Vyvyan's Vyvyan still, isn't
hep
Pm glad was wrong" answered
William.
A notable silence stole over the room,
and the master of the life class, turning
round, saw that the model had shifted
his position slightly. The students were
all staring at him, but not a pencil was
at work Cameron was directly In front
of the model throne, and the Reverend
Stanley Vyvyan was moving slowly to-
ward him with head and hands only.
The painter looked up and caught the
models eyes. He fell back with out
stretched hands, and then dashed for
ward Just in time to seize the bar OF the
halberd as the blade swept round at
him, and the striker lowered at full
height on the throne.
''Be Moses" roared Cassidy, 'ft's
Bassett, after allr'
There was no struggle to speak of.
Cameron had the halberd out of the
mans hands in the twinkling of an eye;
and Cassidy, Selling the model from
behind, dragged him back to the seat,
and pinned him there with a grasp
against which it was vain for him TO
wrestle.
''Of all men else 1 have avoided thee"
cried the model; "but get thee back.
You prosper, do you? and I am even the
natural fool of fortune. finland me-
sir! I'll join with black despair against
my soul, and 20 myself become an en-.
emvr'
Jack" said Cassidy, holding on be-
hind. ''he's as mad as a halter"
Made cried Montgomery Bassett.
PUT me to the test, and the matter
aptly will reward, madness would gam
Dol from. You live yet" he said. his
deep tones more husky and shaky than
of old. But where is my daughter?
Give me back nv daughter
'.Run for q doctor, one of you fell
lows" shouted Cassidy. 'sOh, / beg
your pardon, Hogan; I forgot We.
Come and look at this demented old
rascal, and see if he's mad or not
Years of whisky, and brooding, and
remorses had done no service to Mont
gomery Bassett's mind; and, if he was
not absolutely mad, one delusion was
fixed within him, permanent and I'M
shakable. Outside the influence of that
delusiOn he was as sane as ever; and
the nature of his error might make it
dangerous TO the business interests of
the commonweal to set him down as
mailman. He had only persuaded him
self that the man whom he had injured
had injured him-a feat performed
every day in the year by the ablest as
well as the least able of men.
Were most of US mad, more or
less said Hogan, cheerfully; ''but I'm
inclined to think. be the oye of IN. he's