Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-11-19
EY THE LATE HTGH CONWAY,
CHAPTER ",

CHAPTER Nv.
1t was early in Nav. Til. Academy had
been open about a week-.ong enough Tor
the newspsIpo. critic, /. tel thu Iu.,l.c what
il ought to admire Strange to say, this
wear TIE critics Nee una'imOus in bestow-
In. :heir IN ii II prais = a piece of st,,.u-
ary ; ana a great future for the sculptor was
pred ic.e1
\, the bulk of the nod people who pay
Their shiliin5 - at the tuinStiieS care little
tout statues one which attracts general
attention must he either very great one or
very tricky one as IA rule the latter.
Yet, No. 400 in the catalogue appealed
to no one by cheap sentiment or sensational
treatment. 1t was but the lightly -,irapel
figure of beautIi ul girl OnA just i'll the
first flush of womanhood. She was in the
act OF stepping hastily forward. Her arms
were ex;enled as if to welcome perhaps
embrace, some one who was coming toward
her. Her lace bore q smile oil eager de-
Light. The grace. the Zig .,tness the life of
til. fyure arrested each passerby. The fall
of the drapery, the position of each we'll
rounded limb, conveyed the idea of rapil
mo. ion 1t was mi. IL harl to eli we tina.
she was doomed to remain forever in one
fixed attitude. The stock rei.lik OF the
spectators was that il ininite they eX
pcciel to see her at the other side of the
room.
This statue bore no distinguishing title,
but those persons who turnel to their cati-
logues found. under the number and the
artists name, few words OF poetry:
Her hands outstretcaei
To greet the new love; while her feet
Tread, scornful, on the old loves gifts.
After reading this one turnel. of course.
to her feet, and found that one of them was
treading on howers-roSes and large star
shaped blossoms
Several people, while admiring the statue.
fancied they had somewhere seen the origi-
nal of that beautiful face; but, save the
sculptor, only one, James Herbert, knew
the truth. He cursed Leigh's impertinence,
but was too wise to take any notice Of it.
Yet he determined to keep Eugenia from
the Academy if possible.
She was in town, AMI in a weeks time
was to be married to Sir Ralph. Two
months after Mrs Cathcart had taken h er
niece abroad the baronet joined them and
renewed his proposals. this time with sue
cess. The girl stipulated that the marriage
should not take place until the spring. The
truth is, she wanted some months delay in
order to get rid of the memories of Gerali
Leigh, and by the time she returned to
England fiattered herself she had success
fully completed the operation.
She hal in the last few days heard some
talk about the statue, but mad steadfastly
kept her eyes from the art criticisms, fear
ing to see Gerald's name. Nevertheless, she
wished to visit the Academy, and was sur
prised when James Herbert. now amiability
itself, refused to take her there"
'sYou mustn't go this year." he said
''that fellows statue is creating quite O
furore."
.well, what of thatr asked Eugenia,
coldly.
He has had bad taste enough to repre-.
sent you. The likeness is unmistakable II
is maudlin thing-a girl deserving her old
love, or some such nonsense. Still, you'd
better not 60"
Eugenia said no more; but all day LONG
she was thinking of her brothers words and
longing to see what Gerald had wrought
That evening she dined out. At the table
were several persons who worshippsd art, and
Eugenia's cheek burned as she heard the
praise bestowed on the new sculptor
and the great future prophesied for him
Had she. after all, been wrongs Would il
not have been better to have followed the
mandates Of her hearth Had she not been
weak and mercenarya No matter; it was
too late now to repent. Poor Gerald She
must SEQ this wonderful image of herself.
Early the next morning, Quietly dressed
and veile1, she went alone to Burlington
House. Like many others, she stood trans.
fixed by the beauty and grace Of her proto.
type; but unlike others, she knew the mean.
ing Of the statue, knew the mute reproach
it conveyed. knew why the marble foot
trod upon those particular flowers She
had never told him the fate of his boyist
gift, but Gerald had often and often re
called the first meeting with her. Eugenia's
heart swelled as she remembered his brave
words and confidence in bimself--how SURE
he felt Of success. He had, indeed, sue
ceeded, but tho first great work from hi:
hands was O memento of his love for
faithless woman-herself.
Sir Ralph Norgate her impending mar
rage, her brothers. disdain and the world
sneers were forgotten as she gazed on thai
reproaching figure wrought by the man sh,
loved, but did not love enough. Tears wer,
in her eyes. She might have stood for az
hour healless of all save her sad thoughts
hal not the mention of Gerald Leigh's namt
brought her back to the fact that she wa.
surrounded by people,
Two gentlemen were at her side. They
were talking of the work and the sculptor
One of them she knew. He was lord, f.
nous fer his love Of art and encouragement
Of rising artists
Il tried to buy it," he said, "but found i,
was not for sale"
Commercially speaking" said his com
panion, sit is as well you cannot buy it."
'Whys The man must go to the top o.
bis profession"
II think not. Indeed, my belief is he will
do little more. have inquired about him
lie does not live the life genius must live
in these days, if he wants to succeed"
Il am sorry to hear it." said Lord -
moving away.
Miss Herbert left the Academy with al
echo OF Gerald's extravagant statement tina
life or death hung upon her love sounding
in her ears The conversation she had over
heard distressed her greatly. The though
that her treachery had ruined lif,
full of promise would not be dismissed
She spent a most miserable day, and it
misery was not diminished by the truth
which she could no longer conceal from her
self, that she still loved Gerald. She loved
him more than ever. Too latel Too late
And Eugenia Herbert wept, as many Others
= have wepa, that the past could not be un
Gone.
Sir Ralph Norgate AMI James Herber,
N4.i,i tit1 ~ s. 1EclI
society was little comfort to Eugenia. She
te.t now that she hated her lover-hated
his petite, hollow society ways AMI express
sloas-ha;ei that bias, look which SO often
sc1tl,l on his face. She hal never carel
for him Their Iowa making had been of q
fiigid kind-n9t, be it said, by Sir RaIph's
wish. He wa; rroui OF, and perhaps really
fond of the beautiful girl he had bought; SO
1t was scarcsly fair that Eugenia should
compare his polite woo;ng with that of the
impassionel boys, which rocked no obsta
cles-hee1eI no consequence Oh, if Ger
ed were a baronet and richl
Miss Herbert at that moment hated her
brother. Bitterly as she blamed herself,
she felt that soIne hing he had said. done OF
designed had induced her to refrain from
answering raj l. letter. If Only sh, had
to decide a gain.
Her bitter thou. hts made it impossible for
her to sit out the dinner. Very soon she
PIE ID ID Lea l,che an went tohar own room
to resume her sefrsvilirgs. She male nc
fur he ate mt TO lanish Garald from he,