Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-06-02
The Story Of a Masterpiece.
Nv HENRY JAMES, Js
N TWO PAnrs.-PARr I
tCoNcLUpRD \

tion Of reticence He resolved 10 bafie H.
II am curious TO know" ;" he said, "whsther
You were ever in love with Miss Everettr
II have no hesitation in saying Yes," re-
Joined Baxter; fancying that q general con.
fession would help him moro than . particu-
lar denial ~ am one Of thousand, I fancy.
Or one, perhaps, Of only hundred. For you
zee I've got over it. I'm engaged 10 Be mar.
ried." so
Lennoxs countenancs Frightened. "ThAt's
it, said he SNOW know what didn't like
in your picture-the point Of view. I'm not
Jealous" /" he added. ~ should like the picture
better i'll were. You evidently care moth
ing for the poor girl. You have got over your
love rather too we'll You loved her, she was
Indifferent to you, and now you take your
revenge" Distracted with grief, Lennox
was taking refuge in irrational anger.
Baxter WIS puzzled. "Youn admit said
be with smile, "that Is very handsome 70.
venge." And all his professional self esteem
rose to bis assistance "rvs painted for Miss
Everett the best portait that has yet been
painted in America. She herself Il quite
satisfied"
"Ahl" said Lennox, with magnificent dis
stimulation; marian Is generous"
"Come, then," said Baxter; "what do you
complain of You accuse me Of scandaious
conduct, and I'm bound to hold you to an ac-
count" Baxters own temper was rising,
and with 1t his sense Of his pictures merits.
"How have perverted Miss Everett's sx-
pressioni How have misrepresented heri
What does the portrait lacki Is it Ill drawni
Is It vulgari Is II ambiguousi Is 1t immod-
estr Baxter's patience gave out as he
recited these various charges. "Fiddlesticksl"
be cried; ''you know as well as do that tho
picture Is excellent"
~ don't pretend to deny it. Only I wonder
that Marian was willing to come to you."
1t is very much to Baxter's credit that he
still adhered to his resolution not to betray
the young girl, and that rather than do so
be was willing to let Lennox suppose that he
had been rejected adorer.
"Ah, as you say" he exclaimed, "Miss
Everett is 30 generousi'
Lennox was foolish enough to take this as
an admission. "When say, Mr.. Baxter.n
he said, ''that you have taken your revenge,
don't mean that you've done so wantonly
or consciously. My dear fellow, how could
you help it, Tho disappointment was pro-
portionate to the loss and the reaction to the
disappointment"
"Yes, that's all very well; but, meanwhile,
wait in vain to learn wherein I've done
wrong" Ast
"Lennox looked from Baxter to the pict.
urc, and from the picture back to Baxter.
II defy you to tell me-" said Baxter. "rve
simply kept Miss Everett as charming as she
Is in life"
"Oh, damn her charmsl' cried Lennox.'-
"If you were not the gentleman, Mr.. Len.
nox," continued the young man, (which, In
spite of your high temper, believe you to
be, should believe you"--
"Well you should believe me7,
ening the portrait"
Lennox made gesture of vehement impa-
thence. The other burst out laughing and
the discussion closed. Baxter instinctively
took up his brushes and approached his can
vas with vague desire to detect latent
errors, while LennoN prepared to take his de-
parture.
"Stay!" said the PAINTER as he was leaving
the room; "if the picture really offends you,
I'll rub IL out. Say the word," and he took
up heavy brush, covered with black paint.
But Lennox shook his head with decision
and went out. The next moment. however,
he reappeared. "You may rub IT out" he
said. 'The picture is, of course, already
mne.n
But now Baxter shook his head. "Ah!
now it's too late" he answered. your
chance is gone"
Lennox repaired directly to Mr.. Everetts
apartments. Marian was in the drawing
room with some morning callers, and her
lover sat by until she had got rid of them.
When they were alone together Marian began
to laugh at her visitors and to parody certain
Of their affectations, which she did with IN
finite grace and spirit. But Lennox cut her
short and returned to the portrait. he had
49, 4 - l., z1l.l tnv,a nf a.
ceding evening; he likedit.
"But wonder, Marian" he said, that
you were willing to 60 to Mr. Baxterp
"Why so2n asked Marian, on her guard
She saw that her lover knew something, and
she intended not to commit herself until she
knew how much he knew.
IAN old lover is always dangerous"
San old loverF and Marian blushed a
good honest blush. But she rapidly recov-
cred herself. "Pray where did you get that
charming newsf'
"Oh, it slipped out" said Lennox.
Marian hesitated moment. Then with
smiles "Weu, was brave" she said. ~
went"
"How came it." pursued Lennon, "that
you didn't tell mef'
"Tell you what, my dear JohnT'
"Why, about Baxter's little passion.
Come, don't be modest"
Modestl Marian breathed freely. "What
do you mean, my dear, by telling your wife
not to be modestl Pray don't ask me about
Mr.. Baxters passions. What do ! know
about themf'
"Did you know nothing Of this oneY"
"Ah, my dear, I know great deal toe
much for my comfort. But he's got bravely
over IL. He's engaged"
llC- L..A. rnI AZ
an honest fellow, but he remembers his pen
chant 1t was as much as he could do Il
keep his picture from turning to the senti
mental He saw you as he fancied you-a
he wished you; and he has given you littl'
look Of what he imagines moral loveliness
which comes within an ace of spelling thu
picture. Baxters imagination isn't yer,
strong, and this same look expresses, in poin
of fact, nothing but inanity. Fortunatel,
he's a man of extraordinary talent, and |
real painter and he's made a good portrai
in spite Of himself"
To such arguments as these was John Len
pox reduced, to stifle the evidence OF hi
senses. But when once lover begins L
doubt he cannot cease at will. In spite o
his earnest efforts to believe in Marian as be
fore, to accept her without scruple and with
out second thought, he was quite unable t
repress an impulse Of constant mistrust an
aversion. The charm was broken, and ther
is no mending charm. Lennox stood hal
aloof. watching the poor girls countenanct
weighing her words, analyziug her thoughts
guessing at her motives.
Marian's conduct under this trying orde;
was truly heroic. Sho felt that some subtl
change had taken place in her future hu
bands feelings, a change which, althoug
laSo IN its
obviously imperiled her prospects Som
thing had snapped between them; she ha
lost half Of her power. She was horribl
distressed, and the more SO because that s,
perior depth of character which she had a
along gladly conceded to LennoI, migl
now, as she conjectured, cover some bold ar
,or,antons deSirn Could he mediate