Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-05-10
women-some women at least-without

women-some women at least-without
soaring or antagonizing them.
Now, Cousin Harry's birthday fell on
February %, and Olympia, wishing to
please him, had resolved to make him
present of her own portrait. This
plan was the more easily realized; be-
cause she had latterly made the ac-
quaintance of a certain Mr.. Keppel
Darke, young portrait painter, who
had delightful studio in Twenty-third
street. Mr.. Darke was himself de-
lightful, in Olympia's opinion. He
was tall and rather slender. with pow
erful blue eyes, and hair black, or
nearly so, which he wore longer ohan
was common, so that it curled about his
neck. His manner was grave and, for a
young man, impressive; he was laconic
in speech, observant, and, beneath a
quiet exterior, impressionable. He kept
his face, including his upper lip, close
shaven. You might have taken him for
a tragedian, or for a clergyman-except
that his costume was incompatible with
the latter character. He affected some
what of the brigand style OF dress; in
doors, velvet; outdoors, long capped
overcoat and broad brimmed hat.
People turned TO look at him as he
stalked along the street. Fashionable
men of his own age said he was con-
ceited ass. Girls thought him deliciously
romantic and did not know how to
''talk to him." Married women CON-
monty dismissed him as unavailable for
social purposes, with the reservation
that he would be all right If he became
famous. His brother artists, without
expressing much personal affection for
him, admitted his talent. This magma
nimity came the easier to them, be-
cause the world had not yet discovered
how really remarkable his talent was.
One had to know something to appre-
ciate it. He could do things in painting
that others tried, but failed to do. lie
had faculties, perception, an indie
pendence of vision given to few. He
was not incapable of producing a work
If genius. No doubt he was conceited;
young men of exceptional powers are
apt to be so, and unlike lower class OF
vain men are at no pains to conceal IT.
In addition he had the artistic tempera-
ment, which, lovely in itself, is rem
dered aggressive and extravaganza by the
stolid hostility of convention. To make
an end of this catalogue of his qualities
he was sensitive and high tempered. He
came Of good New England stock, and
he had an income which enabled him TO
pay for his board and lodging and the
rent of his studio, even when his por-
traits did not pay. But for the last year
or two they had begun TO pay tolerably
well.
Olympia herself had artistic tenden-
cies, and on Darke's first introduction TO
her they soon fell into conversation
that interested both of them. He ad-
mired her because he had never before
been able to express himself to a woman
so fully and fuently. and she liked him
because he had something in him and
was different from other men. Olympia 5
beauty took his artistic eye and he i'm
agined himself painting her. In half an
hour he had told her Of his desire to do
so. Olympia at first laughed and passed
it over, but the topic came up again
whenever they met, and at length, as
aforesaid. she conceived the plan OF hav-
ing her portrait done for Cousin Harry.
She made a contidante OF her mother,
and the arrangement for sittings was
made and punctually carried out. Darke
was delighted; he had never done such
good work: he had 'found himself. .
He had also found what was more seri-
ous-that he was in love. But Olympia
was supposed to be the destined heir OF
her cousins fortune, the latter having
no nearer relatives. and Darke did not
like to appear in the guise of fortune
hunter.
This situation. familiar in fiction and
not unknown in real life, continued un-
til the epoch of our story. The por-
trait, born of the love Of art and nour-
ished by human love, was all but COM
pleted. Darke had never declared him
self. but he believed that should he do
so he would have a chance. Finally,
with the last sitting and a possible
cessation of their intercourse in pros
pect, he felt that now or never he must
take step. In the ordinary Amer
lean course of things ne should
have addressed himself in the
first instance to Olympia herself. But
his pride counseled him to make an at
tack upon her guardians: that is, upon
Mrs. Raven and Harry Trent. AS re-
garded the former, however, he reflect
ed that she was person of feeble char
acter, dominated both by her daughter
and by Trent, and that she would be
sure, if approached, to refer the sutton
to that gentleman. To Trent, there
fore, he decided to betake himself. If
Trent acquesced the posture OF
the affair would be hopeful, and
Darke would not be personally obnox-
ious to the fortune hunting charge.
TO BE CONTINUED.