St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-06
MY FIRST COM MISSION.

sigh. and would have groaned aloud
had | dared.
SO she sat 20 me in a little simple
peignOlr of French muslin-tea gowns
weren't invented then--and when / had
posed her she said to me:
Lord WallSend-that is the name of
the gentleman to whom | am engaged,
and tell you in confidence, Mr.. Slip
pler--haS seen me in 'COrdelia.' He
thinks great deal of my hair. You
won't think me vain, Mr.. Stippier, if |
ask you if may let it down?',s
Of course l said that it was a capital
idea. She pulled out half-a-do2en hair
pins and great glory of moltep gold
fell in luXuriant waves upon her Sllouf-
ders. ..st
She gave me 20 shillings for that
portrait. l was madly. paSsiOnately,
desperately in love with her, but j
never breathed word of it. We be-
came great friends, we talked unre-
known each other all our liveS-alm0St
as if we had been brother snd sister. l
suppose it was camaraderie.
1T must be finished by the 20th," she
had said; ''the 21st is his birthday"
Il wish it could never be finished"
replied passionatolY; Il wish | could
stand here painting you all my life"
The pretty smile faded from her face,
and she pulled me up at once.
You mustn't say anything to me,
Mr.. Stippler, if you please, that you
wouldn't say if Lord Wallsend himself
were here by my side"
apolOgiZed. | felt that was brute.
We became fast friends. She told me
her history. her struggles. her am
billions; and from her ownlips | learned
that the coming marriage was no union
of love. or even inclination. She had
been driven into it by her parents.
There is such thing as being too duti-
full. | learned, too, that Lord Wallsend
was next door to an idiot, and that his
insanity declared itself in mOnstrOns
jealousy of Lottie, as unfounded as it
was absurd.
had lunehed with Miss Vivian: it
was my farewell visit to her. The por-
trait was finished-it was my master
piece, Jack-and it stood upon an easel
in its bright new frame in the middle of
the room.
The table had been cleared; thank
heaven for that!
"Play to me, Mr.. Stippler," she said
heart; ppm terribly low-spirited. Play
something cheerful"
sat down to the little cottage Erard
and did as was bid. ] played niger
melodies; played dance music: and
then, somehow or other, | drifted to
Home, Sweet Home" and then felt
so utterly miserable that l broke down.
turned Oh the stool toward Lottie, and
saw that her eyes were full of tears:
Don't, George, DON'T" she said,
''dOn't go on. can't bear it,"
She called me by my christian name
for the first and the last time.
And then there came tap at the
door, and a hoarse, croaking voice
grated out: MAY | come imp
Good heavens it's his lordship.n
cried Lottle Vivian, land am ruined!"
But saved her, though il l hadn't
been prompt, she would never have
married him, and she might-yes, by
Jove perhaps have become my wife
after ali. Stranger things have, hap
pened. But treasured her at glance,
and she took her cue at once.
She was an actress, remember.
| flung off my coat, L whipped out the
front board of the piano, L buried my
face among the hammers, and began
striking single notes upon the keys:
Come in,' said Miss Vivian, and his
lordShip entered.
Il hope don't iDtrude," he said.
And then too thought of Paul Pry.
you are always welcome guest,
Wallsend." said Miss Vivian.
And then they began to chat in whis-
pers.
"Faugh! how the fellow smells of
tobacco" croaked Paul Pry-I mean
, his ltrdship.
MAN." he said, addressing me, ''you
can go.''
put on my coat.
where's your hat, MANI" said his
| lordship suspiciously.>
I'm the 'all sir,".I replied, carefully
dropping the "h."
1--WE put it at concert-pitch. MISS" ]
! said; it'll be five shillings, please
and ] held out my hand. There was a
| graceful twinkle in her eyes as she
gave me two half-croWnS. l have them
still, those two half-crowns. :
| went up to my rooms and shaved off
my beard and mustache. / have never
| spoken 10 Lottie--l mean Lady Wall
| Send-from that day to this, but she al
ways notices me, and her husband is
one of my staunchest patrons.
| Lady Walesend's carriage passed.
She bowed politely to me, and off went
my hat
"She's a stunner." said my nephew.
81 hope she's happy" said !, with a
sigh.