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

are entirely dependent upon her. She is
an ambitious girl, too" he added, "and
they say she's going TO marry Lord Wall
send"
"What. the mad millionairel" said l.
"That's tho man." said Groper.
And then Groper began TO abuse the
dinner, and heard no moro about Lot
tic Vivian from him.
went ON paying my half crowns at
the Portico, and got deeper and deeper
In love with my fellow lodger, and my
lovc interfered good deal with my
work. Then Il was that got my first
commission to paint portrait. That
portrait made my fortune, and the paint
ing of 1t nearly broke my heart
II came about In this way, got note
one day from Miss Vivian-l have It
still-requosting me to call upon her ON
little matter of business. ! took a
good deal of pains with my toilet, and
then went down stairs and knocked at
the door of my fellow lodger.
There was nothing fast about Miss
Vivian. She was very quietly dressed.
and she cane to business ut once.
"Mr. Stippler," she said, "you'll excuse
my asking you TO come here in this in.
formal way, but the fact is that want
TO have my portrait painted. can't az
ford to pay much for 1t. Mr.. Melchizedec
recommended mo to you. Can you oblige
me in this matter, Mr.. Stippler, and"
here she blushed violently, twill 1t be
very expensive?'
MADAM" replied with enthusiasm,
"you do me too much honor in selecting
me. If you permit me to paint your
portrait, it'll cost you just nothing at
ALL"
"Ah!" she answered, with q silvery
laugh-dont grin, sir, 1t was silvery; 1t
wasn't bit STACEY; an innocent, silvery,
girlish, delicious little laugh-"that's not
business, Mr.. Stippler. Besides" she
added, gently snubbing me, "it was Mr.
Melchizedec's selection, and not mine.
Let's leave compliments, and come to
business. You don't know how sick OF
compliments l am, Mr.. Stippler."
/ blushed. Ifelt like u fool and know
looked like one.
"Mr. Melchizedec said something
about twenty guineas," said Miss Vivian.
81 shall only be too delighted !
burst In.
"Then we may consider 1t as settled,
Mr.. Stippler," said my fellow lodger.
"When shall sit to you?"
made an appointment and the thing
was done. OF course l expected that
she would want to be painted in charac-
ter. Nothing of the kind.
"You see. Mr.. Stippler," she said, 81
must take you into my confidence. in
tend this portrait as present-as sort
of surprise. wish to give it to a gentle
man whom am about to marry" And
then she l,luslled and gave a little sigh,
and would have groaned aloud had ]
dared.
So she sat to me in a little simple peig-
noir 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 l am engaged,
and tell you in confidence, Mr.. Stippler
has seen me in 'Cordelia.' He thinks
great deal of my hair. You won't
think me vain, Mr.. Stippler, If | ask you
if may let it DOWN.
Of course | said that 1t was capital
idea. She pulled out half dozen hair
pins, and great glory of molten gold
fell in luxuriant waves upon her shoul-
ders.
She gave me twenty sittings for that
portrait. l was madly, passionately,
desperately in love with her, but never
breathed word of it. We became great
friends, we talked unreservcdly to each
other just as if we had known each other
all our lives-almost as if we had been
brother and sister. suppose it was
camaraderie.
Once, and once only. made an ass Of
myself.
81 must be finished by the twen-
tieth," she had said; "the twenty is
his birthday"
81 wish it could never be finished"
replied passionately; 81 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"
apo!ogized; ] felt that was brute.
had lunched with Miss Vivian; it was
my farewell visit to her. The portrait
was finished-it was my masterpiece,
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 thati
"Play to me, Mr.. Stippler," she said
in a voice that went straight to my
heart; "rm 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 broke down. /
turned on the stool towards Lottie, and !
saw that her eyes were full Of tears.
Don't, George, don't, she said; "don't
20 on. can't bear it."
She called me by my Christian name
for the first and the last time.
And then there came a tap at the door.
and a hoarse. croaking voice grated out;
''May / come iny-
Good hoavensi it's his lordship, cried
Lottie Vivian. "and ! am ruinedT
But ] saved her. though IL hadn't
been prompt she would never have mar
-perlaps have become my wife after
all Stranger things have happened But
reassured her by a glance. and she took /