Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-11
FAMILY PORTRAITS.

on certain morning IN last June was STOPPING
70 Issien shoelace. having taken advantage for
sae purpose OF step OF a corner house in St
James square, When q man passing behind me
"WeilP' said he. aloud, after a short pause. dur
ing which, wondsred-I could not see hIm-what
hewas doing. 'ths meanness OF these rich folks is
disgustingi Not coat of paint for a twelve
month"; should be ashamed to own q house and
leave it lire thati
The man was stranger to me, and his words
seemed as uncalled for as they were nl-natured
But being thus challenged looked at the house
Itwas great stone mansion with a balustrade
atop with many windows and long stretch OF
area ratings. And certainly IL was shabby.
turned from it 70 the critic He was shabby, too
q little red-nOSec man wearing a bad hat eft Ia
Just pOssble"I suggested. that the owner NAV be
"Ughl What has that TO do with it?r my new
friend answered eontemptuousy. "He ought TO
"And your natg" I asked, with winning polite
ness. at strikes me, an unprecedented observer
As PAD nat; My DO you not get new one?'
Cannot anord itl he snapped out his dun eyes
sparkling with rage.
cannot a1oId III But, my good man, you ought
'You tomcatf What have you 10 do with my
hatf smother your was his kindly answer; and
he went on his way muttering things uncompli-
was about TO 60 to mine and was first falling
DOCK To gain better view OF the house In Ques-
presence or listener, a thin, gray haired man,
VINO, hidden by a pillar OF tue porch, mus have
heard our discussion. HIS hands were engaged
with a white tabIe-cIoth, from which he had been
shaking me crumbs. lie had the air OF an upper
servant OF the best class. As our eyes met he
spoke
Neatly put, SIR IL may take the liberty OF
saying So" he observed with quiet dignity IL
IVES pleasure 70 witness, ''and we are very much
Obliged 70 you, The man was a snob, sir"
too
s.And fool, sir. Answer a fool after nis folly.
You did that, and be was nowhere-nOwhere at
all except in the swearing line. Now. might
ask ne continued; III you are an American, slT3'
some time In the states"
Ioould have tancied that he sighed.
81 thOught-but never mind. SIR, he began. al
was wrong IL Is curious how very much alike
gentlemen. that are real gentlemen, speak. Now,
dare swear, sir, thatyou have taste for pic
Twas incline1 to humor the old fellows mood.
81 ike good picture, admit" said.
asked you 10 step inside and look at one or two"
he suggested. timidly. 81 would not take
Rubens In the dinlng-rOOm that cost a mint or
money In their day. have heard, and there is
no one else In the house but my wife and my
II was strange Invitation, strangely brought
about. But ! saw no reason FOR myself why /
should not accept II, and followed him into the
hall II was spacious but sparseiy furnished.
The matted door had a cold look, and so mad the
gaunt stand. which seemed 10 be fixture, and
boasted but one umbrella, one sunshade and one
dog whip. As i passed a half open door l
caught a glimpse or small room prettily
on the walls. But these were OF a common
order. dozen repllcas or each and all might
be seen In walk through Bond street. Even
this oasis OF taste and comfort tod The saLne
story as had the bare hall and dresry exterior,
and laid Is 1t We're finger on ones heart
trOd softly as / followed my guide along the
strip OF mating toward the rear Of the house.
He opened a dOor at the inner end of the hall
and led me into a large and lofty room, built out
Ia II AZ nj n hull
room, At present IL rather resembled the latter,
for &c was without furniture. ''NOw," said the Old
man, turning and respectfully touching my sleeve
10 gain my attention. '.nOw you will not consider
your Labor lost in coming 10 see that sir. IL Is
th0ny Van Dyck, and Is judged 10 Oe one OF the
finest specimens OF his style In existence"
was lost in establishment; amazed. almost ap-
palled! My companion stood by my side, his face
wearing placid smile OF satisfaction, his hand
pointing slightly upward To the blank wall before
Us. The blank wall! Ofany picture, there or else
where In the room. there was no sign. turned
TO him and then from him. and felt very sick at
heart The poor old fellow was-must be-mad.
! gazed blankly at the blank wall. 'By Van
Dyck?" repealed, mechanically.
EYES, sir; by Van Dyck," he replied In the
most matter-of-fact tone imaginab.e. $50, too,
Is this oae;" he moved as he spoke few feet TO
his left 1.-THE second peers first wife in the
costume OF a lady in waiting. This portrait and
the last are In as good state or preservation as
On The day they were painted"
Oh, certainly madi ALd yet so graphic was his
manner 50 crisp and realistic were his words, that
rubbed my eyes, and looked and looked again,
and almost fancied that Lord Walter and Anne
his vile, grew into shape before me on the wall.
Almost, but not quite, and IL was with heart full
OF wondering pity that accompanied the Old man.
In whose manner there was no trace Of Witness or
excltemen.. round the walls, visiting in turn the
Cuyp which ny lord bought In Holland, the Ru-
Dcns. the four LawrenceS, and the PhillpS-a
vary oarmeeide feast OF art l could not doubt
That the old Iaan saw the pictures But saw only
bare walls
..NOw think you have seen them, family por-
traits and ALL" he concluded as we came TO the
al n was M
TACT. with compaeenI pride. They are Iine pic
tures sir. They. at least, are left, although the
VERY fne pictures, remarked. / was minded
10 lie trn II he were sane on other points. Lord
Metheroy, said, Il should suppose that ne Is not
81 do not know. sir, one way or the other, the
servant answered with new air OF reserve. This
Is not his lordship's house; Mrs. wigraIn my late
lords daughter-ln-law, lives here"
but Tins Is the Wetheroys' sowp house" per-
sisted; knew much
ut was Iny late lOrd's house. AT his sons mar
Rage 10 was settled upon Mrs. Wigram; and little
enough besides, God knows!" he exclaimed queru-
lousy. ut was Mr.. Alfred's wish that some land
should De settled upon his wife. but there was
none out OF the entail, and my lord who did not
nke the match, though he Iyed To be fond enough
OF the MISTRESS afterward said settle the house
IN Town. In bitter Kind VI JOKE ike So the
house was settled ana $500 year. Mr. Alfred
Iel abroad, as you Know sir, and my lord was not
long In following him."
he was closing the shutters Of one window after
another as ne spoke The room had sunk into deep
gloom 4 could Imagine DOW that tue pictures
were really where he fancfed them. And LORD
MctnerOy, the late peeT?" | asked. after a pause
ibid he leave his dausbter-in-law nOtning?"
my ord died suddenly. leaving no Will" he re.
piled sadly THAT Is how IL al Is And the pres
enL Peer. who was only second cOusln-weIl /
say nothing about him" retlcence hich was
well Calculated 70 eonsisn his iordshlp the low-
est deep.
"He dld not help." asked
. -DeVll OF, Begging your pardon, sir. But there
X Is not my pace 20 talk OF these things DOUBT
nave Wearied you with talk about the family IL
j not my way" he added as II wondering al him
u, Only something Ii what you said seemed to
touch a chord Ike"
BY this time wewere outside the room standing
al me Inner tnd VI the hail. while he fuInbed with
lhs lOck OF the uOJr. snort passages ending In
swing doors ran out night AM lett from TINS point
and throush one OF these a tidy midiie-aged
woman wearing an apron suddenly emerged. Al
sight Oh NE sue looked greatly astontsaei al
have been showing the gentleman the pictures"
SAID ny guide, VINO was still occupied with the
door.
A quick fash Of pain altered and hardened the
WOhians lace 81 have Deem very much Interested,
InaiaIn." l SAID softly.
Her gaze lett NE 10 dwell upon the Old man
with Innllte affection. John had no right TO
bring you In, SIR she said p;imly. II have
never known him 10 90 such thing before and
Lord a mercy there Is the mistress knock Co
John, and let her In; and this gentleman" with
an ihg4lslu'e look at me, will not mind step
Iing Oit aside while her adysnip goes upst airs
Certainly not l answered I fastened 10
Draw back into one OF the side Passages, into the
OAiAest corner OF IL, and there sJOOI leaning
against The cool panels, my hat In my hand.
IA ne short pause which enSued before John
opened The door she whispered To me, You have
LOt told nIal, slr?"
AFaarr