The state herald., 1891-09-11

una Sne cnm0 TO business Mt once.
"Mr. Stippler," she snid, you'll
excuse my asking you to come here
in this informal way but the iact is
that want to have my portrait
painted. can't afford to pay very
much for It, Mr., Melchizedtt re-
commented HE to you. Cnn you
oblige me in this matter, Mr..
Stippler, and" here she blushed
violently, twill it be very cxpensive?"
Madam" replied with enthusi,
nsm, you do me too much honor
In selecting me. If you permit me
10 paint your portrait, it'll cost you
Just nothing mt ALL"
"Ah!" she answered, with n silvery
laugh-don't grin, sir. it was silvery;
it wasn't n bit STACEY; an innocent,
silvery, girlish, delicious little laugh
THAT'S not business, Mr.. Stippler.
Besides" she added gently snubbing
me, "it wns Mr.. Melchisedcc's selec-
tion, and not mine. Let's leave com
pliments, and come to business. YOU
don't know how sick of compliments
am, Mr.. Stippler."
blushed. / felt like n fool, and
know looked like one.
"Mr. Melchizedec said something
about twenty gnineas,' said Miss
Vivian.
81 shall be only too delighted"
burst in.
"Then we may consider it as set
tied, Mr.. Stippler," said my fellow
lodger. "When shall sit to you?"
made an appointment and the
thing was done. of course ] expect
ed she would want to be painted in
character. Nothing OF the kind.
"iou see, Mr.. Stippler, she snid, 81
must take you into my confidence.
intend this portrait MS n present
ms n sort of surprise. wish TO give
it to II gentleman whom am about
to marry and then she blushed and
gave n little sigh; and would have
groancd aloud had dared.
So she sat to me in little simple
deignoir of French muslin-ten gowns
weren't invented then-and when |
hnd posed her she said to me:
Lord Wnllsend-that is the name
Of the gentleman to whom am EN-
gagged, md tell it to you in con-
fidencc, Mr.. StippIer-lns seen mo In
Cordelin. He thinks n great deal Of
my hnir. You won't think me vain,
Mr.. Stipplcr, il ask you II | may let
it down."
"Of course snid that IL was cap
itnl idea. She pulled out half.a-doz.
en- hairpins, and gr.nt glory OF
motion gold fell in luxurient waves
upon her shoulders.
She gave me twenty sittings iJs
thnt portrait. was mndly, passion
ntcly, desperately in love with her,
but never brenthed word of il.
We became great friends, we talked
unreservedly to cach other Just as II
we had known each other nll our
lives-nlmost ns II we ehnd been broth
or and sister. suppose il WAS cam.
nrnderie.
/ Once, and once only, made an ass
OF myself.
at must be finished by the TWEEN.
tieth," shc.said; "thc twcnty.iirst is
his birthday"
II wish II could never be finished, :"
replied pnssionntely;" 81 wish ! could
stand here printing you all my life
The pretty smile inded from her
face, and she pulled me up mt once.
"iou mustn't sny anything to me,
Mr.. S,ippler, II You plense. that you
wouldn't sny II Lord Wnllscnl him
self wore here by my side "
Iapologizcd; | felt that was II
brute.
We became inst friends. She told
me her history, her struggles, her
ambitions; and from hcr own lips
learned that the coming marriage
WIS no union Of love or even iaclina.
tion. She hnd been driven into IL by
her parents. There Is such u thing
ny being too duti'ul. ! learned, too,
that Lord Wnllscnd was next door
to mn IDIOT. and that his insanity de
clnrcd itself IN n monstrous jealousy
ot Lottie, ns unfoundcd ny IL wns
absurd.
/ Ind lunchcd with Miss Viyinn; Il
was my farewell visit TO her. The
portrait was iinishcd-it was my
/ masterpiece. .Inck--nnd IL stood up.
on mn cnsel In it's bright new irnme
In the middle of the room.
The table hnd been cleared; thank
heaven for that
"Plny TO me, Mr.. stippler," she
snid In voice that went straight to
my henrt; "Im terribly low.spiritcd.
plny something cheerful"
sat down to the little cottngc
Ernrd. md did Ms ! WINS hid. !
played nigXcr melodies; | played
dnpcc music; md then. somehow or
other. / driitcd to "IIomc, Sweet
Home" md then ! felt 80 utterly
miserable thnt ] broke down. /
turned on tho stool toward Lottic,
md snw her eyes were full Of tears.
"Don't. George, don't" abe said;
don't 20 on. lcnn't bear IT,"
She called mo by my Christian
name for the frat and last time.
And then there cnmc n tnp Mt tho
door, md n honrsc. crcnking voice
grated out: "Mny como in2"
GOOD bcavenl TIA his lordship,"
cried Lottic Vivinn, ''nnh nm
ruipcdW
But snycd her, though II hudn't
been prompt, shc would never have
married him, md she might--ycs.
by Jovcl-pcrhnps have become my
r'ife niter all Stranger things have
Unopened But ] rcnssurcd her by n
glnncc, md shc took her cuc Mt once.
She wna ~, nctrcsr. remember.
flung OF my cont, whipped out
the hont board oftbe piuno, buried
my f,cc among tho hnnncrs. mud |
hegi'n striking single notes upon tho
brys
"Comc in. pnid Mis- Vivian, md