Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-08

He must have recognized in mo. as recoz- nized in him, man of a superior stamp; and he conAded to me that he was not hop picking from necessity.
 '"The fact is. Gaskell." he said to me q had to bear some name. and I chose thnt). "I am killing two birds with one stone. One bird is with me; the other I am waiting for"
 This, of course. wac enigmatical to me, but did not nsk for an explanation. He gave me one of his own prompting.
 "The bird that is here Is in my portfolio; 1; the bird am waiting for is a woman"
 knew what he meant by this reference to his portfolio which contained number of sketches he had been making of the hop pickers, selecting for choice the most squalid and disreputable subjects. He had thrown out hints that might look over these sketches but had not availed myself of the offer.
 The hop-picklng was now over, and we were paid of. Upon Stanmore's invitation accompanied him to respectable hotel, and agreed to remain with him for two or three days. It was the first time since my banish- mont that I had consented to lead a decent life, and did so now chiefly out of feeling of gratitude towards 6tanmore for having provided me with refuge from the indes- cribably coarse associations which otherwise would have been my lot. In the hotel at which We stopped he engaged two rooms-a sitting-room and another with two beds in 1t. Thus far he had persuaded me- but he could not induce me to join him at meals. I still adhered to my humble fare, of which I par took in secret
 On the first night of our stopping at the hotel we were 'n the sitting-room, which was lit with gas. Stahnore was busy with his sketches. which, when he first took them had been merely sketched in rough outline now, with paints and brushes before him, he was engaged in perfecting them. A bottle of claret and glasses were on the table.
 "Gaskell." he said, "you are strange fel- low. and that, dare say, Is the reason why I have taken to you. like everything that is strange. But you are, moreover, an enigma. Locked In your breast is story 1t would en- certain mo to hear."
 Startled, gazed at him, and half rose.
 "Pshaw p he said. 'Sit down again. do not ask you to tell mo your story unless in 0 moment of confidence you choose to unbend. Now am in the humor to be more frank and open. Let me give you 8 piece of advice, though. properly, you should be the better able to give 1t to me, being the elder of the two. Don't take life too seriously; it is not worth while. Those enjoy the most who &C., cept 1t as comedy. Tragedy or comedy, 1t Is before you to take your choice. The same thing that will make you cry will make you laugh. 1t all depends upon the view you take. Some people are annoyed at being tickled; l enjoy 1t. If @ man gives me slap in the face laugh and give him one in re- turn. The laugh is an enjoyable condiment in the dish tho frown imparts an objection able flavor to the meat"
 Icould have argued with him that 1t was a matter of temperament, but 1t was not my cue to say anything that might enlarge the field of conversation; and therefore held my tongue.
 "All right" continued Stanmore, and I understood him to allude to my silence; cit suits me. l was ever 0 valuable, and my tongue bids fair to grow rusty with the company have kept these last two or three weeks. The worst of your English clodhop- per is that he is dull. don't complain of him for being coarse; it Is his dullness that
 
 the listening to, and to hold forth to such scum is enough:to give one the megrims. On the Continent-I have travelled, Gaskell-it Is different. You get q flash of wit occasionally; you meet with a farceur who entertains you; but here God save us '! there is nothing but coarseness and drunkenness No, there is no talking to such dregs of the gutters. Now you, Gaskell, arc man of education-no disguis- Ing 1t, old man-and must let of the steam, gatifed that I have the opportunity of doing so in good company. l come back to what was saying-you lean towards tragedy in your views, towards comedy. An, that's right look through my portfolio; you'll find some fairish sketches there-half of them taken in foreign lands. Yes, as Beatrice says, when was born, my mother cried but then there was star danced, and under that was born. am grateful; 1t might have been otherwise; a blessed heritage. l was logged at school; l laughed. I was expelled; laughed. made some money; laughed. was robbed of it; I laughed. fell in love; I laughed. married; I laughed. My wife deceived me, and ran away from me; I laughed. shall in all probability, in this very town meet her and the man she pre-
 
 different philosophies, but will stake mine against the lot. There Is something in my portfolio that interests you; what Is itt'
 He came and leaned oyer my shoulder. I was looking at two sketches which seemed strangely familiar to me; one was a duel scene, the other a tipsy brawl. Where had seen those pictures, or their like, before2 I could not recall, and yet they haunted me.
 "Not bad" said Stanmore. "I have sold plenty of copies oftnose and of other pictures in the portfolio. Continental subjects most ofthem they are the most popular. Gaskell, for the last half-hour that glass of wine has stood at your elbow. and you have not put your lips to It."
 "I do not drink" said, constrained to answer him.
 Tragedy again. A mistake. I give you my word, if could serve you, would. However. don't suppose you will give me the opportunity. Now, if you had a wife as I had, and if she deceived you as mine has de- ceived me- you would sit down in sackcloth and ashes and tear your hair. You wouldn't he oov tho hetter ofY for ft nor uould }t tho