The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-28


suoh convincing reasons in favor of the
alliance that Sir Reginald Denison has
promised 70 look in at her reception to be
introduced to Lady Isabel, who has only
recently returned TO England from a con-
vent In France. where she spent the last
three years OF her school life, and whom
Sir Reginald vaguely remembers as a fair
haired child, Iul of dash and animal
spirits, but who has now sobered down into
| discreet maiden.
AT lastln cried the countess. with n
frown. as she caught sight of her brother
endeavoring to elbow his way through the
crowd. 81 had almost given you up"
Couldn't get here sooner" said Sir Regi-
maid, apologetically.
He didn't explain that he had been en-
ployed more agreeably to his tastes at a new
gambling club, where baccarat and high
stakes we're supreme, and OF which the
police were supposed TO know nothing, and
that after winning heavily he had been
tempted TO stay until fortune turned, and
ne lost all his winnings aud few thousands
besides.
ut is very vex.ng," said Lady Poleham-
ton. Lady Isabel has been monopolized
all the evening by the most eligible men in
the room. You really ought to have come
sooner. There she Is with Algy Fitzher-
bert. Mind he does not cut you out, Regi-
nald."
81 can afford to give Algy a good start
and cut him out ut last" said Sir Regis
maid.
Don't be too sure,n was the reply.
Lord Algy will be duke some day. His
brother Ellington is positively dying, they
say. Algy will be the best match in Eng
land before he is much older; and the Bru-
tons are so mercenary,h she added, below
her breath
"He is welcome to what he can get ~ re-
turned Sir Reginald, beauty ana heiress
aud dukedom to boot"
THAT won't do, Reginald, y his sister re-
torted. sit is quite time that you were
married and settled down. and if you will
only be amenable to me this time will Gu
gage to bring this match of before leave
Bruton Towers
"You always were fond of managing for
other people, Selma" said Sir Reginald,
with cynical smile. "Would you be sur
prised to hear that l am quite Indifferent
whether marry or notF
And would you be surprised to hear that
speeches like that sometimes makes me
think that you have q wife already, hidden
away somewhere, whom you dare not pro-
duce,n burst forth the countess wrathflIllv
1t was random shot, but it told, for Sir
Reginald WINGED and changed color, and
when next he spoke he was what his sister
| would have called "more amenable"
II suppose the money is all right Selinag
he asked.
Trust me for that Her grandmother,
the Marchioness of St. Gerryan, who was
the biggest screw ever knew, has left her
all her hoardings"
Then introduce me as soon as you like.
Ny exchequer will stand little replenish-
ing"
ut ought not to want anything of the
kind, said the countess looking up with a
quick glance Of suspicion.
''Ah, but you see it does,n answered Sir
| Reginald, banteringly.
Are you really going, Mr. Macleang'
asked the countess, addressing Claude, who
was making for the door.
Thanks, must. You are coming to-
morrowgn
Eyes, you may expect us before
luncheon" said the countess. smiling
lightly at the handsome artist, who was a
favorite of hers.
"Here is a good idea for you, Reginald
said the countess, turning to her brother, as
Claude Maclea1 left the salon. Lady Isa-
| bel and intend to commence a round of
| the studies tomorrow. l will introduce
you to her in moment, and Thea you can
be our cavalier and return with us to
| lunch. l will see that you have an oppor-
tunity for tete-a-tete, and do-oh, do, cut
| out Algy FitZherbert."
Sir Reginald smiled at his sisters en-
thusiasm, and agreed to fall in with her
plans.
Claude Maclean frowned heavily when he
saw Sir Reginald Denison enter his studio
next day, as the escort of the Countess of
| Polehamyton and Lady Isabel Childe. He
knew something of the dark secrets of Sir
Reginald's life, aud had hitherto declined
the honor of the baronet's acquaintance. 1t
| was true that his information was mainly
| derived from hearsay, but in this case the
| hearsay was too well accredited in Claude
| Eaciean's opinion to make q personal
| acquaintance desirable. However, he could
not be rude to Sir Reginald in the presence
of his sister, and the introduction was ac-
complished with a stiff bow on Mr..
Maclean's side and gracious extension of
the hand on Sir Reginald's which Claude
| ignored.
| The artist directed the attention Of his
visitors to the only landscape that he con-
| tamplated sending in that year. 1t was a
| fine picture of B4f-Cruachan after Storm
| The mighty mountain mass was half yelled
behind thick, moving mist. The clouds
had parted and fallen away from the sub
NIT, wreathing themselves in heavy masses
lower down, whilst on the top there was the
| CLINT Of a trembling Shaft of light, family
| tinged with the rosy glow caught from the
| light OF the setting sun. 1t was a master
piece Of coloring and feeling. 1t seemed as
| If the whole mountain were alive and burst
log through Cne IetCors OF mist Jnab lnprIS-
| oned him, whilst wonderful art had en-
dowed the misty vapors with an appearance
| of life as they stretched forth their long,
| flmy arms as though they would still detain
| the titantic mass in their embrace.
When Maclean's visitors had exhausted
the vocabulary Of adulation in praise of this
| work he turned to his second picture. This
was concealed by a curtain, and for a
moment Claude hung in doubt whether be
| JrOtIld "a How fha piat1lrQ tO ha I'm he
| had spoken of it to Lady Polehampton, and
/ he could not evade the dilemma. He must
withdraw the curtain which concealed it or
decline to allow the picture to be seen on
account of the presence of Sir Reginald.
For such an extreme course he had no
motive, except his extreme distrust of the
baronet and his dislike to have the idol of
his soul polluted by the gaze of q man for
whom he entertained feelings Of intense
dislike. His hesitation was brief. He drew
back the curtain and disclosed TO view the
picture to which he had devoted himself
with the whole power Of his genius, fired by
love. It was his "Helen of Troy" for
which Winifred had sat at Gle1-Orloc
The ladies held their breath in astonish-
ment at the loneliness of the vision that
burst on their view. The picture contained
all that art could do to extol womanly
beauty. For such Helen the fault Of PARIS
might have been judged venial. For such
prize men might be forgiven fighting.
The passions which provoked the Trojan
war we're explained.
1rha ofFact nroducad ON Sir Raoinald ma