San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-04-10
MY FIRST COMMISSION.

"a wonderfully handsome woman
still she must have been very beautiful
once. suppose the queer cid fellow at
her side is her husband. Looks for all
the world like Paul Pry."
That was what my nephew said to me
as her carriage turned into the park at
the Apsley house corner.
beautifully ! replied; beautiful
doesn't express it; she was an angel.
She is an angel, "a saint, and martyr, too.
Cad, how loved that woman"
"Oh, of course, uncle" replied my
graceless nephew. professionally, l
SUPPOSE -,
You see there isn't SO very much DIFF
ference in our ages, though l am his
uncle, and we are more like brothers
than uncle and nephew.
"You know you are n very bad lot,
UNCLE" the boy went on. You go on
loving 'em, till you put the last finishing
touch, and then you start another can
vas aid begin to love somebody else.
believe that's the secret Of your success
as portrait painter"
My nephew is always saying rude
things to Inc.
Jack" l said severely, "my success
is due entirely to perseverance and the
fact that never flatter." And then that
impudent nephew Of mine blew out his
checks, got very red in the face and
nearly choked himself with laughter.
And then we sat down upon two of
the green chairs.
"Tell us about her, boss" said Jack.
have three pupils, including my
nephew; they all smoke short pipes in
my presence, and they all three call me
"boss."
That's the Countess of Wallsend, be-
gan. Fifteen years ago her husband, the
earl, Paul Pry, as you call him-and you
are not the first, Mr.. Jack, to call him
Paul Pry-bccame widower, and every
right minded young woman in society
duly set her cap at him. At that time |
lived off the Tottenham Court road, and
I was madly in love with Lottie Vivian.
was the third floor lodger. l just
earned living then, and no more. 1t
was before l had learned to fatter, Mr.
Jack. Her photograph sstruck me at
first. l bought tie photo-the photo of
Lottie Vivian, of the Portico theatre
and / paid my half crown at the pit
door.
One night as | came out of the pit Of
the Portico found that it was raining
cats and dogs, but money was scarce
with me, and ! walked home through
the rain, because l couldn't afford a cab.
Just as | neared my own door n four
wheeler drew up at it, lady paid the
driver, and then she opened the street
door with her latch key and disappeared
into the house. Great heavensl it was
Lottie Vivian herself, and | stood in the
rain in open mouthed astonishment. In
a few moments the gas was turned up in
the first floor. and then it dawned upon
me at once.
lam not u curious man. knew that
an actress lived on the first floor, and
that teacher of languages lived on the
second, but /, the third 1oor lodger, had
never troubled my head about them in
the least. had never even asked their
names ! went up to my rooms and
flung myself into my easy chair, and ]
Of the strange fatality that the
woman / admired above all living WON
en- should be actually dwelling with me
under the same roof. and that we were
only by a single floor. But
though ! was in love ] had a certain
Of common sense left, and | re-
mcmtercd that there was a great gulf
between Loitie Vivi4n, the popular act
rcss, and the painter Of pot-bOilcrs on the
third floor.
We are still cannibals, Groper and /,
and fast friends Il was from Groper,
b. diut q pretending that ] had never
beard all his old stories before, that ]
asoertained the true history % LOttie
Vivian. o. tie Portio0 Theatre.
.'SlIe was a pupil q CID Jack Sliier's-
mot q the successful o1es have been
prtls g SIi5trs.- sid GroPer, at
so1lc time o. other. lisa strange thing"
b. uerIt on: '-sisc came out az the Port
i-o. an.l she has BAD q oousfaut enzage
r1ent tbare ever siuce for the lzst eight
tezrs. ErTy farthing she earns goes %
her raniIF-to beg 80 fziiser. who uas
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