Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-08-01

invented tiI"n-Ind when | had posed
her she said 10 me:
Lord Walisend-ihat is the name of
| the gentleman to whom l am engaged,
end l 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. Slippler. If ask you
if MAJ let it down."
Of course | said that it was a capita!
idea. She pulled out half dozen hair
pins, and great glory of molten gold
fell in luxuriant waves upon her Shout
ders.
She gave me twenty sittings for that
portrait. l was madly, passionately,
desperately in love with her, but never
breathed 4 word of it. We became great
friends, we talked unreservedly to each
other just as if we had known each other
all our lives-almost as if we had beer
brother and sister. ! suppose it wa.
| camaraderie.
Once, and once only. made an ass Of
myself.
Il must be finished by the twen-
ieth," she had said: "the twenty first is
his birthday"
Il wish it could never be finished" l
replied passionately; II wish l 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"
Iapologized; felt that was brute.
1 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 that!
"Play to me, Mr.. Stippler," she said
In a voice that went straight to nv
heart; I'm terribly low spirited. Play
something cheerful"
sat down to the little cottage Erard,
and did as l was bid. Iplayed niger
melodies; | played dance music; and
then, somehow or other, I drifted to
"Home, Sweet Home" and then l felt SO
utterly miserable that broke down. l
turned on the stool towards Lottie, and l
saw that her eyes were full Of tears.
"Don't, George, don't, -" she said: "don't
60 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 hoarse, croaking voice grated out:
"May I come in?"
GOOD heavensi it's his lordship, cried
L0ttie Vivian, land am ruined!"
But I saved her, thouuh II l hadn't
been prompt she would never have mar
ried him, and she might-yes, by Jovei
perhaps have become my wife after
all. Stranger things have happened. But
l treasured her by 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, I buried my
face among the hammers, and began
striking single notes upon the keys.
"Come in," said Miss Vivian, and his
lordship entered.
l AVPS NOh AutA uucS u0 66lu.
And then I, too, thought of Paul Pry.
"You are always q welcome guest,
Wallsend," said Miss Vivian.
And then they began to chat in whisp-
ers.
"Faughi how the fellow smells of to-
baccor' croaksd Paul Pry-I mean his
lordship.
"Man. he said. addressing me. "you
can CO."
Iput on my coat
where's your hat, man?' said his
lordship, suspiciously.
I'm the all, sir" I replied, carefully
dropping the "h."
Eve put it at concert pitch, miss"
said; "itll be ave shillings. please" and
held out my hand. There was q crate
full twinkle In her eyes a. abe gave me
two half crownA Ihave them still, those
two half crowna
went up to my rooms and shaved OF
my beard and mustache. have never
spoken to Lottie-I mean Lady WALL
send-from that day to this, but she III
ways notices me, and her husband Is one.
Of my stanchest patrona
Lady Wallsend's carriage passed. She
bowed politely to me and Of went my
hat.
'She's sumner, said my nephew.
II hope she i happy" said l. with
sirh-I0nd0n World