Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-15
Marian's hypothesis.

Friday, as he was passing up broadway, he
stopped at Goupils to see IL his order for the
framing of the portrait had been fulfilled.
The picture had been transferred to the shop
and, when duly framed had been, at Bakers
request and with Lennox's consent, placed
for few days in the exhibition room. Len
nox went up to look at it.
The portrait stood on an easel at the end
of tho hail. with three spectators before it
gentleman and two ladies. The room was
otherwise empty AS Lennox went toward
the picture, the gentleman turned out to be
Baxter He proceeded to introduce his friend
TO his two companions, the younger of whom
Lennox recognized as the artists betrothed.
Tho other, Der sister, was a plain pale
woman with the look of i'll health, who had
been provided with n seat and made no at
tempt to talk Baxter explained that these
ladies had arrived from Europe but the day
before, and that his first care had been to
show them his masterpiece.
Sarah said he "has been praising the
model very much to the prejudice of the
copy"
Sarah was a tall, black haired girl of 90,
with irregular features, a pair of luminous
dark eyes, and smile radiant Of white
tccth-evidently an excellent person. She
turned to Lcnnox with IA lool; Of frank sym
y, II
"Shc must be very beautiful
"Ncs, she's very beautiful said Lcnnox,
with his eyes lingering ON her own pleasant
face. You must know her-she mist know
you"
"Im sure I should like very much to see
her. said Sarah.
"This is very nearly as good" said Len.
nox. "Alr. Baxter is great genius
81 know Mr. Baxter is a genius. But whlt
is picture, at the best' I've seen nothing
but pictures for the last two years, and
haven't seen a single pretty gilr."
rhe young girl stood looking at the portrait
in very evident admiration, and while Baxter
talked to the elder lady Lennox bestowed "A
long, covert glance upon his finncee She
had brought her head into almost immediate
juxtapostion with that of Marian's image,
and for a moment the freshness and the
strong animation which bloumed upon her
features seemed to obliterate the lines and
colors on the canvas. But the next moment,
as Lennox looked, the roseate circle of Mari
ans face blazed into remorseless distinct
ness, and her careless blue eye looked with
cynical familiarity into his own.
He babe an abrupt good morning to his
companions and went toward the door But
beside it he stopped. Suspended on the wall
was Baxter's picture, MY Last Duchess He
stood amazed Was this the face and figure
that, a month ago, had reminded him of his
mistress! Where was the likeness now 1t
was us utterly absent as if it had never
existed. The picture, moreover was very
inferior work to the new portrait He looked
back at Baxter, half tempted to demand an
explanation, or at least to express his per
plexity. But Baxter and his sweetheart had
stopped down to examine minute sketch
near the floor, with their heads in delicious
contguity
How the week elapsed, it were hard to say
There were moments when LennOx felt as if
death were preferable to the heartless union
which now stared him in the face, and as if
the only possible course was to transfer his
property TO Marian and to put an end to his
| existence. There were others, again, when
he was fairly reconciled to his fate. He had
lut to gather his old dreams and fancies into
iaggot and break them across his knee, and
the thing were done. Could he not collect
| in their stead a comely cluster of moderate
and rational expectations, and bind them
about with a wedding favor' His love was
dead, his youth was dead that was all.
| There was no need of making tragedy of
it, His loves vitality had been but small,
!
better that it should expire before marriage
than after. AS for marriage that should
stand for that was not of necessity a matter
Of love He lacked the brutal consistency
I necessary for taking away Marian's future.
! If he had mistaken her and overrated her,
/ the fault was his own, and it was a hard
thing that she should pay the penalty.
! Whatever were her failings, they were pro-
fouudy involuntary, and it was plain that
with regard to himself her intentions were
good. She would be no companion, but she
would be at least a faithful wife.
With the help of this grim logic Lennox
reached the eve Of his wedding day. His
manner toward Miss Everett during the pre-
ceding week had been inveterately tender and
kind He felt that in losing his love she had
lost heavy treasure, and he offered her
instead the most unfailing devotion. Marian
had questioned him about his lassitude and
his preoccupied air, and he had replied that
he was not very well. On the Wednesday
afternoon he mounted his horse and took a
long ride He came home toward sunset,
and was met in the hall by his old house
keeper.
miss Everett's portrait SIR she said,
"has just been sent home in the most beau
tiful frame. You gave no directions, and
tOok the liberty OF having III carried lnOo tne
library. / thought" and the old woman
smiled deferentially, you'd like best to have
it in your own room"
Lennox went into the library The picture
was standing on the floor, back to back with
high armchair, and catching, through the
window, the last horizontal rays of the sun
He stood before it moment, gazing at Il
,, with a haggard face.
"Come" said he, at last, "Marian may b.
what God has made her; but this detestabl,
creature | can neither love nor respect"
He looked about him with an angry de
, spair, and his eye fell on long, keen poniard
given him by friend who had bought it il
the east, and which lay as an ornament oil
the mantel shelf. He seized it and thrust it
l with barbarous glee, straight into the Lowell.
! face of the image. He dragged it downward
l and made "A long assure in the living canvas
t Then, with half dozen strokes, he wantonl
|, hacked it across. The act afforded him a.
: immense relief.
t | need hardly add that on the followin
= day LeunOX WAS married He had locked th