Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-13
Written for THE EVENING STAR
A THOUSAND POUNDS.
By PHILIP BoURKE MARsToN.
Copyrighted 1861
fConciuded.)

BY PHILIP BOURKE MARSTON.
Copyrighted 1861
(Conctuded.)
And how Jared the day with Rosei Well, she
cried herself into q desperately bad headache,
Tor which she drank copiously of strong tea.
Very early In the evening she undressed and
went to bed, and being unhappy and wakeful,
took a novel to read herself sleepy. That was
the woman's way of getting sleep, as Reginald's
had been the mans. She will never forget that
evening. Forever the novel she read then will
be associated with her trouble. Roses stood on
her dressing table. She will "never again be
friends with roses!'
The feet OF the passers-by, as from her bed
she could hear them, seemed to be treading into
her brain. At length the book grew indistincf
10 her sight, she blew out the candle, and slept.
The next morning Reginald awoke weary; his
head throbbed. and his tongue Glove to the roof
Of his mouth. He took bath and put on fresh
clothes. His work awaited him and he began
upon 1t. So he made up bis mind TO face the
life which lay before him. The next day he
commenced painting his first large oil-picture.
The weeks went by, and brought one specially
hot July day-one ofthose real sweltering days
on which London Is absolutely unbearabIe, one
ofthose days In which the sun seems to have
burnt up the very sources of the winds, o day
TO make all the London odors painfully mani
fest.
Reginald Longhurst was working away In
his shirt sleeves, q pipe in his mouth and q jug
OF beer by his side, thinking that If any money
were his he would fly from London, and some
where within sight ana sound Of the sea, would
rest his weary brain and his yet wearier heart
when the studio bell rang sharply; he
opened the door and admitted Edward Fuller
ton and little sharp-nosed man, introduced by
Fullerton as
"My friend, Harry Jones, who loves art and
whatever Is distinctly preciousp'
L0nghurst did the honors of the studio as well
as the hot weather would allow. Mr.. Jones
asked the price of q small drawing. With not
the least expectation of selling 1t, and hardly
knowing what he was saying, Reginald put q
price upon 1t which was far in excess Of its
value. He was, therefore, quite thunder-struck
by Mr.. Harry Jones' maxim: himself the pos
sessor OF the picture.
II like your touch, Mr.. Longhurst," said that
gentleman, sand like your choice of subject I
hope we may have many more transactions of
this kind. III look in again some day this
week If may. Just now I'm rather pressed for
time. Good morning, and many thanks"
So saying he withdrew himself, and Long
hurst drained of his beer, washed his hands,
assumed his coat and took the train some
miles out into the country. Getting back
bate TO town he dined well for q man whose
dinner was often no more than bread and
cheese. Besides tasting good food he had tasted
pure air, and he had heard the nightingales.
Fortune in one way, at least, seemed to be
turning her wheel in his direction. Two or
three days afterwards he had another visit
from Mr.. Jones, who bought with most lavish
hand, and talked of com mission for the great
picture. Now more prudent man would have
his but Reginald ,a,I had only
$500, he started for Florence, taking his big
picture with him. He returned in March, hav-
ing all but completed it; also, he brought with
him many small paintings and drawings,
whie6 found An eager purchaser In the highly
Well," said Reginald, when he had display
Cd his picture to his friend Fullerton, "what say
"Reallye"
Really"
swell, like 1t very much. book 1t for q
Reginald's pale face flushed with pleasure, for
Fullerton was known to be first-rate Judge OF
II hope Jones will bid for it, went on Regi.
maid, looking at the picture lovingly. "Its
something wonderful, the way In which he buys
you smiling at so? Because you think he gets
well. he certainly does get some amount
But that was not the point''
"Well, then, what was ite" and Longhurst
flushed almost painfully, as is the wont Of SEN
sitive people when they fancy they have some
how made themselves ridiculous.
more about 1t than a cat"
"But all the same he buysr'
mo, he does not"
"Opee again. what do you mean9 I didn't
know you went in for mysteries
Il go In for no mysteries. 1 repeat, that he
does not buy the paintings! He is but acting
for some one else who is The real purchaser. Is
there anything mysterious in that?'
do you know who the person is?'
Il do, and though was enjoined to secrecy as
was my informant, i half think that you ought
70 know, as to know it might change your life
happily. The purchaser then, is no other than
..ImpossioIer' answered Reginald. "Miss Bell
ward Ia not rich"
.Was notP' rejoined Fullerton, "but Is. On.
expected fortune left her-Or something of that
kind-didnt pay much attention, but heard
the facts. Really, old boy, she must be very
wait a. minute" said Longhurst, and for
many minutes there was silence between them.
his lips quivered. When he spoke his voice
sounded hard and strange. He began:
Fullerton, we have been friends for some
time now?"
surely
"And have never yet asked favor of Won.
. very rich man win you give me 81, Door
don't say lend, because Idon't believe should
ever be able to pay il back!'
replied the esthetic. "For cash down, as they
Il would give you my soulr
"fes, but don't at all trdnt your soluble
NOES I'm not sure that you have one! and if
you had, find one quite enough. But have
. proposal TO make" he Lit a cigarette and
looked hard at his friend, who cried impul-
siyeiy:
Il accept before hearing itr'
mo, that won't do. We may be esthetic but
We must also be business-Iike."
The proposal was then formally declared
and formally accepted. When Fullerton took
leave OF his friend, he left in his possession a
DRAFT for 81 900, which Longhurst lost no time
In converting into Bank of England notes.
The stormy March twilight was closing in
Hiss BEilward sat alone in the drawing-rOOfn
listening to the wind as IL Numbered about the
house, and gazing into the fire with her large,
sad-iooking eyes, Suddenly, at the sound OF a
nrm, impetuous knock at the street door, the
color rushed into her face, and her heart beat so
violently that IL seemed as il you could hear it.
NO, she mad not been mistaken as to the knock,
In q moment more the door opened, and the
servant announced, MIR. Longhurst"
The door closed again, and they stood facing
one another. There was something in his loDk
just visible In the twilight, at which she
0inched, and she began timidly for one who
was not lacking in courage:
You have come to"
ITO pay you " he Kissed between his teeth
coming close TO her, and fairly striking neI
ultant triumphant rage
Reginald !? she said, pleadingly, but he
went on, every word coming with calm con.
ceutratec bitterness:
after the way in which we parted how dare
you TO put this humiliation upon me Did you
think should not come to hear of it? Do Won
think that in my grave could have rested with
dared you do 1t? How dared you give what
would rather die than accept from the woman
who chose TO shatter my lite, forsooth, because
OF few impatient words? But pardon me-