The morning call., 1890-07-21
THELINK THAT SEWERS.

THELINK THAT SEV ERS.
NXEnO one disputed the fact that Cosmo Lor'
ENsH ing was rising painter OF great PROM
ETNS Ise. He had already given irreiutable
49, evidence of his real talent by producing
several small pictures, which had sold remark
ably we'll, taking into consideration mat he was
vet unknown. aud even some OF Inc exclusive
picture dealers of Bohd street had notified their
intention Of giving him orders. But L0rlng, win
highly strung artistic Temperament, was
possessed OF an equally potent ambition, and
would not consent 10 imperil the future and
dwaif his brush TO the production of mere pot
boilers. He fully intended TO make his mark In
the higher spheres OF his art, to become iamo u.s.
| 10 write the magic letters RIA. after his name,
and TO achieve success not by atronage, but his
| own merit.
He was certain that be had in him the making
| Of a great artist and was equally conscious-a
| much rarer kDOwledge-that he had as YET u
great deal 10 before lie could scale tue aitl-
tudes thar were his goal At thirty, Win larry
| good social p osiloD, goodly number OF friends,
| many would be patrons among the fair seX-1of
| he was clever and handsome-be renouheed MS
| sedu Give attractions offered by London drawing
| rooms and the easier acquisition oil wealth
| through the disposal OF inferior pictures, aud de-
termncd To spend three years in Italy In hard
| study and cousc lentious groundwork. lie went
| TO It0ne, where lie IuOk TUOHlS vi tut Hitu huoi
| OF house in the Via BabuinO, visited all lie
studios, freQuented the galleries, and spent Tue
| rest of lis time before his easel al home III
| ucessaut Toll. AS The mouths passed he leit
| the development of his natural CUTS, and realized
| that lie had neither mIsJudged his power MOI liz
| dulged Ia delustye hopes for the future.
| Among tie numerous art students OF all ages
| and both sexes haunting the pubic ana private
| galleries OF Rome and copying the best pictures
| was d daIk.laired, pretty young Blri, whom
| chance had frequently made his helS DOT, ana
1 Rl, ,affy * attention ;
personal charms as by her absorption IN her
| work. The accidents of propluquly hau re-
| suited, first, in slight bow OF recognition as
| they arrived i'll the morning; then IN a quick
| pleased look and smile When they met again
| after few weeks interruption, l9lo"ea aiinos'
| nsensibiy by an exchange OF SnaH couI te9 si,
| the adjusting OF an easel, The lending OF chalhs
or tubes, and the mountaineering then began
| drifting, as II could not help doing, into qulTt,
| easy good fellowship. Lorlng learned thal FL
| een Don oyaD an Irish girl living III Rome
| with her aunt, the widow Of an Italian sculptor
| who had elected TO remain IN her adopted cuuh
| try, and had sent for one OF her mpeeuhi1us
| bGtheT's numerous children 10 1--we win her.
| Eileen was as simple, merry and Unaffected as
| size was pretty aud loud OF painting tbe lohs
! hours OF assiduUus application never seemed TO
| brlug WEAKNESS to her limbs or TO dim the
| sparkle OF his eyes ana the brightness OF her
| smile She was frankly confidential with L0ring:
| Il mean to make myself quite ndepehdeht,
she said To him with naiye tdl!h. anu 10 earn
| my own livelihood. | shall sell my best copies
TO wealthy tourists, and when am flcD, quite
| rich | shall persuade Aunt Lorenzo 10 go back
| pictures fol- my own pleasure"
| And glory" added Loring, with smile.
The words gave thrill OF pleasure 10 the
So you think have talent?' she said eager
| ly, with all upluTned look Oi her SOIL eyes.
| - / am sue OF H." answered Cosmo declslVey.
| And il was no iiattery. he r. cognZed III the
young student more than ordinary capabilities
| She mad correct eye, a delicate touch, re-
markable git of cUloling aud Il bold, correct eA-
| ecuilOu.
In course OF time be was presented TO Slenora
I ~ uTsipn
| simple surroundings Tie aunt aud niece were IN
| misiakably ladies, and Lormg found grateful
relief to his solitary labors III The enjoyment Oh
| their quiet, sympathetic society. was II the
subtle charm elnanatInS from tie lilsh glIl' OF
the delight Of finding mind absolutely respou-
| siye to hIs-haying the same enthusiasm, the
same aspil atoms and ambitions, an equal love OF
| the same ait and the same complete sarl enuer 10
It-Ur was il Ihe unconscious gra, iiicatlUn Of re-
ceiving Tile constant fiattery oil undivided admlra-
| lion that made LnIirs fall IN love WIN Ei!eenT
| Perhaps all cOnSpied 10 maze her lovely IN his
eyes, and almost as soon as the gltl had become
| aware that LIS was all I'D all 10 her lie asked hef
| His stay In Italy had come TO a close and to-
| gether they started for England, enjoying, how
| ever, lingering honey moon amoug lie Italian
| lakes on their way home.
| MI. and Mrs. LoIing were not long In nndlns
| small house with large studio III lie northern
| suburbs OF London, aud not much longer IN
| making it tie pleasant rendezvous OF BROTHER
| artists aud intelligent patrons ol art. The cam
| vases LOiing haG brought with him from lay
elected much genuine praise aud when his little
| were unanimously pronounced excellent.
ado you know what your friend the Royal
| AcadenIeian said 10 only the other day?"
| she asked eXultingly OF her husband. He de.
clares that We mlght together emulate some OF
the old masters
Come, cOule," said CoSfnO, smlilnsi tnIS Is
drawing the long bow"
| No, no." she protested. let me flush; emu
late them, because could paint iep!icas OF all
| your pictures and the public would never know
The difference. Is that not glorious, dear? am
| SO proud p
was SIM losel-like IN his attentions 10 his wife,
suddenly discoye!e ed that she was pale and not
| looking we'll; lie attributed IL TO oVerwork, ana
| strongly advised her TO leave on palutlnB Tor
| awhile. She laughingly protested That she had
never felt better In her lie; but lie insisted on
| her giving UP her paints ana brushes win huch
| imperative leItinacy that she yielded AT last
| finding some compensation for the sacrlhee III
| the thought oil Ler husbands exaggerated love
aud care Tor her. Meanwhile he was preparing
| TO win his spurs, aud IN the second year OF his
| happy marriage began large bic u e destined
| 10 lie academy, on which lie founded all MS
| hOpeS OF success ana celeOity Id The iutule. 1he
subject had been long and earnestly discussedi
Eileen had thrown herself lDto Loriue's views
| with passionate eagerness aud wien Ter suggeS
| lions were disregarded she eSpOuSed AL his iueas
| as warmly as if they had originated with her. IL
| was finally decided that the great picture should
| represent The NeapolItan legions leaving thelr
| homes TO join the army OF Napoleon /. Inc
| sketcu was mastery, lie UumeI Gus figures ad
mirably grouped, and the stioug simple pa hos oil
the scene apparent even IN The crude chalk out
lines. Cosmos pulses beat quickly under the
|
as he worked, without regret or even thought
now for her deserted palette, living entirely In
| his exclusive artists lie.
| larry damp, cherries afternoon, when IL g,ew
| too DARK to work, Cosmos flushed aud heated by
long labor, left his studio TO breathe Inc air. de
| met friend who stopped him IN the log, caught
| Il chill and returned home feeling glddy and ILL.,
| The next morning bis head ached and his eyes
| were iniamed; dislegarding these symptoms, he
| repaired to his studio as usual, and when his
wife, alarmed at the appearance OF me eyelids,
sent Tor a doctor he got very angry, and faty re-
fused to follow his prescription OF resting III Tue
ophlhalmc affection had subsided. through
the short winter days he painted lnces-
| sanity, bending closer and closer over Inc
| canvas, mixing his cOl0rs with strainlng eyes,
| designating his wiie's entreates, and SEEM
| ingIy unconscious of several blunders he
| mtted He bitterly resented an observation she
| hsZarded one day when lie nearly rubbed out
head he had labOriously finished week beforei
| and Eileen. seeing how all opposition annoyed
| him. sat silently By his side, watching with dumb
| despair how the once promising picture became
| blotched and blurred, discordant aud confused,
| a mass of meaningless color, under which the
| fair original outlines and intention were stu
here and there dmly visible Every now and
| then Cosmo, shading his eyes with his hand
| would RISE and, calling TO his vile, say, pointing
with his mahlstick 10 some vague group:
| ''See, Eileen, Is this not grand? Watch the
| forward impetus Of tue men, the clinSing sorrow
OF the women the martial atmosphere have
| never done better"
she did not contradict him, but she suffered
acuteiy.
One day the brush dropped from his hand;
| Win a DiI-StlleQ exclamation Oh "flnlSneu III
| last !" he sank back in lis chair aud tainted.
They carried him to his bed; from unconscious
| ness he tell into sort OF lethargy, which en-.
dured many weeks. When he recovered the full
| use Of his limbs and senses lie WAS completely
| blind EIleen's devotion was put to a severe
test. Far more trying TO her than his Illness
were now the constant directions he gave her
| respecting his picture, mingled with thanksgiv-
ings that MS vision had been spared long enough
| TO complete this masterpiece. In glowing words
| he eXpLttaled on its merits, and probably In his
| minds eye saw it as 1t might nave been-in
sort OF halo, localized and glOriied. Eileen
| listened, and was silent, save for few words OF
| assent. Once lie said to her:
| "You are very cold and unsympathetlc. One
might almost think you were Jealous Of my COM
| ing triumph"
She caressed him gently. but uttered no dis.
| calmer.
He set aside all her timid objections when the
| time drew near for sending In The Departure
| OF the Legons," gave his own directions for the
| frame, and listened with glowing face to The
| departing footsteps OF tue men who bore IL away.
| Not only was the picture accepted, but II was
hung on the line in the large room. The public
| hocked to see it, the art critics were unanimous