The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-16
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

able touch of depression or irritation in his
cousins tones; II can tell that What's
wrong, if it is not Dianag
Nothing"
Absolutely nothingp
Nv hat should be wrongp said George.
almost bitterly. Haven't l everything
that the heart of man can desired NY uncle
gives me good allowance, and tells me to
look on myself as his heir. have a pro-
fesson in which Pm supposed to be success
tul. am besieged with invitations to dim
ners and evening parties, and regularly
stormed by designing mothers with pretty
daughters. What else can | want? And
yet am not happy'-more fool l."
Your picture has been well hung, I
hear" said Helmont, adroitly changing the
subject.
20, yes, suppose so-confound the pict-
urep
"You are tired of hearing of it," said
the clergyman, with a little laugh.
That's one of the penalties of success, my
boy. l have had all the notices read out to
me, and wish l could see the picture my
self. What is its The Lily Maid Of Asto-
latP Had you model!'
"One always has a model for figure sub
ject"
THE papers spoke so rapturously of the
painting of the hair. 1t reminded me of
your ecstacy over the hair of that girl.
Jess Armstrong. Did you get her to sit for
youp
~ made a study of her hair.n said
George, a little shortly. Then, with
slight hesitation, "She-She's out of town,
| SUPPOSE
'Out of town, my dear fellowl what
makes you fancy that? She's not likely
to be out of town for soma weeks TO
come"
George sprang to his feet and faced his
cousin. 1t was perhaps as well that Mr..
| Hemont did not see the raised brows, the
burning eyes, that were suddenly turned
upon him. But he could still command mis-
voice to say in rather muffl ID tones:
"Why not9"
"Of course you could not know. She's
at Saint Bartholomew's, poor little soul
her grandmother saws that she hurt herself
| by falling downstairs, but all the neighbours
declare that the old woman nearly killed
| her one night last week-almost a week
ago. A girl does not get her ribs broken
q id her collor-bone disocated and her
wrists snapped-to say nothing of various
other brulsers and injuries-without some
reason. 1t is a very sad case"
During this speech, he had time to regain
his self-commaad. His expression had
changed from one of gloom to surprise and
anxiety, behind which there was sort of
| glow as of some subtle pleasure which
was pale, and his hands shook as he picked
up his brushes from the floor.
"Why did you think that she was out of
| townm inquired Helmont
ut was that lying old woman" said
! George, with a sudden outburSt of wrath,
which served to relieve his overstrained
| feelings for the moment 81 went in to ask
whether the girl could come to have her
| hair painted again-it is quite unique, you
know, that hair of hers-and the grand
mother said that she had gone away-gone
| to friends in the country, and had left
word for me if l called that she had
thought better of it, confound her! Of
course | believed what she said, the old
| wretch.n
Francis Helmont looked little grave.
jess is a respectable GIRL" ne said, land
don't think the life of an artists model is
good one for her, George"
"You don't know anything about it.
That's why you say So" said George, irri-
| tably. but make your mind easy; I'm not
thinking Of making an artists model out of
jess"
The sudden softness with which he pro-
nounced and fingered over the name made
belmont knit his brows.
II trust, George" he was beginning,
when knock at the outer door made him
pause.
"Wait a minute" said Eastwood, not
sorry for the interruption; "wait a minute
and I'll see who that is. I've nobody here TO
answer the door to-day. Old Fogg's not
here. Rather like a postman's knock"
He went away to open the outer door,
and Helmonts quick ears soon told him
| that the visitor was one whom he kn9y
well, that-to the clergyman's infinite ,ur
prise--t was no other th n Stephen Eyre.
| The studio was so small, and the space af
! forded by the passage 80 scanty, that it
was almost impossible for Helmont not to
hear what passed between the two men.
"Ihave Gomez said Stephens rather hard
| and rasping voice, ITO bring message TO
| you, Mr.. Eastwood"
Gan right" sid George, half nervously,
half impatiently. "What is it2 Be quick;
| I've got visitors"
IN come inside, il you please" said
| Stephen, resoIutely. at amt message to
| be given on the stairs. It'll take some little
| time, Pm thinking"
"George," Helm mt called out to him fro n
the inner room, I'm just 6 ing, SO don't
| let me be hindrance in your way"
George had turned away from the half
open door with a somewhat helpless gesture,
and Stephen Eyre had taken advantage of
| the movement to advance into the nall and
shut the door behind him. "If Mr.. Hell
mont's there" be said, "Pd as soon give my
message before him as not. I'd like TO have
| a witness to what Pm going to say"
"Are you madw said. George, in low
suppressed voice. as if he hoped that Hell
mont would not hear.
mo, ain'G mad, y said Stephen, sturdily
sand | amt bad neither; at least not in
some senses of the word. I'm sinner, L
know; but the Lord has saved me from the
wrath to come"
@"Evre,n said Mr.. Helmont's grave clear
tones, ''this is not the place in which you
need recount your religious experiences.
You know what | said to you the other day
about them; feel all you like, but don'C talk
about your feelings until you have brought
them to the test OF experiences"
"That's exactly wnat Pm adding now,
sir,n Stephen declared, "and if you'll hear
me out you'll see what l mean. It's not a
trifing matter that I've come about; it's q
matter Of life and death to me-"
eve might as well shut the door then,
said George, harsbly, "for we don't want all
the world to hear your business, and there's
a man in the next room"
He shut the door and stood leaning
AGAINST il: his hands me face was pale and
lined with anger. There was anxiety as
well as anger; but it was anxiety of the
desnerate Kind, that scorned to say word
or lift finger 10 avert the calamity that
he feared.
Helnont, erect in his stately old chair,
mipnt nave passed for the judge before
whom a criminal had been raig Jed.
stephen Eyre, standing between MIN ana