The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-05-30

no more. Reluctantly taking his hat, he
went TO the Row, only TO acknowledge that
amid the throng Of high-born beauties no,
one surpassed the girl he was seeking TO dis.
miss from his thoughts. On his return he
was surprised TO realize the eagerness with
which he looked for the reply 10 his note;
the blank feeling OF disappointment upon
his servant telling him there was no an
swer.
The following morning he called at Fiji.
roy street.
Miss Gray was "not at. home" He went
of In huff, and sulked for two days, paint
ing in the draperies from the lay figure.
Then artistic despair compelled him to
knock under. lie wrote In almost abject
terms to Isabel, convicted Of q favorable re-
ply. The letter was returned with the words,
"Gone away
more grieved or annoyed as he repeated
aloud, "Gone away I"
III.
Bone nine or ten years have passed away.
Paul Smith, A. X. A., stands II not on the
very pinnacle Of fame, at least In a fair way
to lessen by one the three magic initials AZ.
tached TO his name. Clever and the fashion,
his portraits are in demand, and II TO the
chosen few the stamp Of genius be wanting,
none can deny his success in catching the
likeness OF his sitters, and seizing upon the
happy moment when they are looking their
best, as he puts IL, or by grossly aattering
them, rs his detractors-aud they are many
put IL. Euvious enemies and adverse
critics are but another proof, IL any be want.
ing, Of his success. He had made art pay.
windfall In an rnlooked-fof legacy had
enabled him 10 build up for himself COM
Portable fortune. aud gorgeous redbrick
mongrel Queen Anne, palace, among the pa.
latial shrines In that eminent painters cor.
ner, clustering together on the outskirts Of a
we'll known historical park. A park under
whose time.honored trees Addison and his
fair patroness walked and talked and held
their court; . bright constellation Of wit and
beauty, around whom iunumerabls lesser
satellites revolved.
The studio itself is q marvellous reproduc
tion Of Damascus room. II Is rich in curl.
ously carven wooden lattioes and screens
walls and arched recesses, whsreon gorge.
GUS mosaic and brilliantly colored texts from
the Koran shine out In maze Of lustrous
splendor. The whole is toned down by ths
subdued tints Of rich Oriental draperies fall
Ing In soft folds from under the horseshoe
arched doorway.
"Ao6 hhhOcht tuuidu Iukb CNcE u lUW, UIO6u
dtvan, filling deep recess. In front o.
these stand low tables inlaid with pearl and
ivory, while from the fretted ceiling hans
silver lamps, ostrich eggs, and the various
accessories that Eastern imagination and
skill can devise, plus Eau ebon slave" A
Hindu, who hands the fragant coffee in rars
china cups, in silver jswelled stands, or the
picturesque narghileh or amber mouthed chi
bouque.
The place Of honor is given to the un1n.
ished picture-"Love Tokens" whence Isa
bel dray's luminous eyes shine out III re
prOachful, indignant scorn, In the ill-starret
Franchise de Folk. The morning sun brings
out the lustre Of the rudy golden hair.
Once again two men are seated in thu
studio: Paul and friend, John Graham
an artist, less successful than himself. Pau
is holding up water-color drawing AND
surveying it indulgently, albeit critically
It was the sketch OF girl in fanciful peas
ant dress, crowned with wreath of haw
thorn.
81 rather think this May Queen will
fetch the fair lady. Lady May Bramstor
asked me to draw pretty get-up for her to
wear at the Duchess Of Cloverly's ball"
"Ahi" said his friend. ''By the tim,
your artistic design passes through th,
dressmak ers' hands you won't recogniz,
your own sketch. Lady Mayi 1 though
you were going In for December, not May p
This was in allusiOn 10 q certain wealthy
If somewhat mature, widowed countess
whose open partiality for the artist was the
talk Of the clubs.
Paul, not ILL pleased at the insinuation,
replied: MAY is the month for our profes.
SION when we are hanged, skied, or re
jected But apropos of Dscsinber--"
He opened portfolio aud taking out
drawing In colored chalks, passed 1t TO Ora
ham.
"Norma. That's for the Countess o
Steynbam, Lady Nays aunt, who goes ii
for High Art and the classics"
Graham, honestly admiring and secretly
enjoying his brother artists talent, in
quired:
"And which do you go in for, Ancient o
Ignoring the innusndo, Paul answered
severely:
emo ierp, and am of now to the Privat,
View. OF course we shall meet ?"
"No such luck. You forget I'm one of tn
rejected"
pardon me. old fellow! Better lucl
| next time"
As he spoke the successful man cordial
| grasped his friends hand, infusing a dslicat
shade of sympathy In his tone and q warn
pressure Of his fingers. Graham, fiattere
and pleased, took the hint, aud left. Pau
carefully rolled up the drawings, and ad
dressing them respectively to the Counties
of Steynham and the Lady May Bramston
lighted pipe, and proceeding to smoke
built up as fragile and glittering castle a
any In cloud land.
The Private View at the Academy wa
crowded as ever, spite of the additional &C
commodatiOn afforded by the spacious room
of the new building. II. AIS and A. r. Al
aud a host Of budding and as vet undscora
ted artists mingled with the gay throng @
butterfly beauties. These were arrayed II
all the glores Of the rainbow drapsd In "ar
rangements" of every variety Of fanhion
past, present, or to come, from the Conques
down the days of our own good and gra
oious Queen.
Paul was irresistibly drawn TO his owl
picture, portrait OF Lady May Bramston. l
was we'll hung, although above the line
Standing before It was tall and graceful
woman, from under whose small black bon
net CLEAN Of FURNISHED golden hair OF
capped. The artists quick eye noted the 81
feet Of the sunlight In bringing out the war;
tones.
"First rate back study" he reflected, a
he waited patiently TO see II the front vie,
was equally good. Turning slightly to re
fer to the catalogue, he saw an oval face
with clear, wsll-out, straight features,
pure colorless complexion, dark ourlip
lashes fringng the downosst eyes, consciou
Of and annoyed at his admiring gaze.
faint color slowly rose In her cheeks, addin
marvellous brightness and life to the hithsrt
statuesqus beauty. She had apparently
found the artists name, when, looking up
their eyes met, hers with startled look i
them. The rosy flush died out Of the face
and as she abruptly turned away, a jewsle
pencil dropped from her trembling fingers
Paul stopped, and. raising his hat, restores
II to her. Silently she bowed her thanks
and passed on. What haunting likeness
was there In the fscs, what vague resem
blance, recalling long since lost and fol
gotten memory ~
Isabel Gray-yes-she, the poor model
might have been like this majestic beauty
this glorious woman-hsd she, too, bsel
happy, rich, and In similar position
From room to room he followed her, as, look
ing straight before her, needless Of III
crowd, she hurried on. In his eager pur
suit hs stumbled over a gorgeous peacock
fsather-trimmed train. An ominous rem
| IN fha raaulk M NTH m al;a.s ..olo-