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

| hOAlau portrayed Dy Oiau1e Mackoau's
pencil. ut must be some other woman
he thought, like Winfield, indeed, but
more beautiful he stood tongue-tiei be-
fore the picture, but his silence passed vita
cut notice, except from Claude, who
watched him narrowly. Lady Pole
hampton chatted away, rather at loss for
supsrlatives, seeing that she had expended
all she had at Der command In praises OF
| Ben Cruachan. But she found words that
were apt enough to express her pleasure in
the picture and her praise Of the beauty of
the original. ut is a portrait, is it mott"
she asked; and when Claude bowed ia as
sent she exclaimed with sincere warmth,
''She must be a woman Of exquisite
beauty
Claude Maclean accompanied his visitors
to the door. As they were descending the
stops to the street Sir Reginald stepped
| back
I'VE have not met before Mr.. Maclean,"
he said. "and perhaps you may regard my
question as liberty. Would you have
any objection to give me the address of
your modelf'
"Most certainly" returned Claude
haughtily, II can do nothing of the kind"
II assure you that you are installing my
motives" continued Sir Reginald. My
Intentions are strictly honorable. II the
lady who sat for that picture will do me the
pleasure to accept an alliance with me |
shall be proud to lay everything l have at
her feet"
"You look as if you meant it," retorted
Claude grmly.
VI do most seriously, pom my honor"
said the baronet.
Your honorp retorted Claude scott
| lngly. You may spare the use of the
term to me- How do you know that my
model is not hump-backed and cripplel
There was once snch case A great man
| Ia fpt4l. a.
| occasion, and bound himself down to a
promise Of marriage by the most solemn
VOWS. He saw the model. She had very
nice face, as faces go, but she did not look
so beautiful as she did on canvas. She was
unshapely and a cripple. The great man
turned sick with horror when he saw her.
But no was held to his promise. and after
| ward did not like it. You may road my
parable, and you will excuse ME reminding
you that you are OBTAINING the ladies. Then
| IN low tone be added, sernly, "Helce-
forth we are strangers, sir"
Sir Reginald bit his lip with vexation,
and tripping down tho steps Joined Lady
Polehampton and Lady Isa el in the ba-
rouche with an apology for keeping tLem
waiting.
I'VE shall not be long at the next studio"
said the countess. "The artist is young,
but of extraordinary promise | am told.
! Polehampton wishes me 10 call. He has
bought the picture
The house at which she stopped was Of
humble pretensions, and Sir Reginald cast
a look OF almost cynical displeasurs as he
| noticed the surroundings. But within
everything spoke of comfort and Of re-
fined taste, if not of luxury. But Sir
Reginald, who brought up the rear almost
| staggered beneath the blinding shock of the
discovery when he entered the studio and
found himself in the presence Of mis- wifel
The effect on Winfield, for it was she
who was the young artist OF promise, and
| whose picture entitled Highland Castle"
Lord Polehampton had bought. was even
| more startling, though she was not wholly
| unprepared for the risks that she knew she
ran of encountering Sir Reginald Denison.
She clutched the bosom of her dress con-
vulsively with her fingers, In the effort to
control the beatings of her heart. which
throbbed wildly with excitement, and
| turned pale to the lips.
You are i'll, said Lady Polehampton,
In gentle, sympathizing voice, who was
in turn startled by the resemblance that
| Winifred bore to Claude Macleal's Helen
| of Troy" but who suppressed her curiosity
IN her concern at Winifred's evident dis
| composure.
mo, not i'll" cried Winifred, making an
heroic effort to recover from the agitation
occasioned by the sudden appearance OF her
/ husband. git is only an old pain. 1t rarely
| Troubles met will soon pass.n And as
| she spoke. with a significant emphasis meant
for her husbands ears alone she darted a
swift look full OF meaning ct Sir Regi-
| maid.
The incident ended quickly, and after the
picture was examined aud praised, 1t was
with sigh Of relief that Winifred saw her
visitors depart.
~ think that will do for to-day said
| Lady Polehampton, as they left the studio.
ut is nearly lunch time. Are you not COM
ing with us. Regineldp sac asked, as The
baronet stood hesitating on the pavement.
IF you will excuse me, / think | will
walk, Selma. "You may expect me to
lunch, Of course" This with polite bow
and meaning smile directed to Lady
| Isabel, which in q man Of meaner birth
would have been called g leer.
Sir Reginald had made a discovery that
Surprised MIN, and he wanted time to think.
| be had not only met his wife unexpectedly
| after lapse of nearly three years. but he
had made rhe discovery that his wife and
| Claudes model, who had inspired him
with such strange longing that he was
ready to throw himself at her feet, were
| one and the same person. 1t was a revela-
| ton, too. to find that his wife had blossomed
into a woman Of such extraordinary
beauty, for he was constrained to acknowl-
edge to himself that the picture had not
I fattered Winifred. 1t seemed to him that
! it fell snort Of doing justice to her personal
charms.
Sir Reginald was too profound an idol
alter of self TO have any capacity for the
divine passion, but he remembered that the
nearest feeling to love be had ever known
had been called up by Winifred's bright
glrlish beauty, though he had soon grown
cloyed by possession. But now that he be-
held her in. the ripe perfectnoss Of her
womanhood, and remembered how lightly
he had lot her go, he was ready TO curve bis
folly. II he had been a man Of large and
unselfsh nature it might have been thought
that Sir Reginald had taken fire IN a mo-
ment and fallen 10 love again with his own
wife
WHAT a skin" he murmured 10 himself,
softly, as ne tro1 the street with his jaunty
step. And what features And what a
SHAPED Helen OF Troy, is shes and that
fellow Maclean IL the lucky Paris, ! sup.
posei Not If / know it. / must get her
back by hook or crook"
Lady Polehampton found her brother an
untnterssting companion at lunch that DAY.
In reality Sir Keginald's thoughts were
back at the shabby little house in Kensing-
ton, and he was scheming how he could
escape Lady Polehampton's attention in
order 20 return there, and how. IL once ad-
mitted within those walls, he could prevail
on his wife to return 70 him. But it Is
easier dropping stones into wells than get
ting them out again.
CHAPTER XIII