Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27

WIFI HOTBeOusntSS- dI
immense window the light poured upon
yards of costly tissues and hundreds Of
curios. On the easel was the portrait tC
which AlonZo had Just referred. He stood
staring at it for several moments with
folded arms.
''Dear old Eric Thaxter!'' he said. ''You
always told me the truth, you swore could
only paint about one good picture every
FIVE years, and 1 believe you, you were
right Was there ever such slow coach?'
''Eric Thaxter?" muttered Lexington. 81
remember him at school in Vevey."
'We afterward studied together at the
same atelier in Paris Eric wasn't cut out
for painter, perhaps, but had done Won
ders over there as an architect See this
- and he handed Lexington letter,
'eHe's drifted into the good graces of the
young King of Saltravia; he's built new
royal palace, which they say is grand sue
cess"
And he's very anxious for you to come
on and make him q visit" said Lexington,
while scanning the letter.
'sOh, YES. He thinks me a wonderful art
critic, though the ccmpletest failure as q
painter. -
''How obliging of him." said Lexington,
coldlv He had for some time felt vague
jealousy of this Eric Thaxter, whom Alonzo
would so often mention, even amid the
furry and whirl of the life he led
Read on, Phil, and you'n see Eric
thinks there's no one with such fair as l
for what's genuine in art The young
King, who is absurdly rich, considering the
BmallRess of his realm, is anxious for some
body to prowl through the old italian
lnonasteries and exhume forgotten master
pieces, besides buying at modern sales
everything that shows transcerdenJ merit.
"And actually he thinks you would ac-
cent such position as thatr' sneered Lex
inrton. Upon my word, Lonz, it strikes
me rs almost IN insult. Does your friend
suggest any sa,arv?"
Alonzo suppressed vawn mo; dare
sav the grandeur Of knowing His Majesty
would he thought sufficient
'Indeci,"
.sOh. come now,'' cried Alonzo, slapping
his friend on the shoulder 'it's all only
little scheme on Eric's part to have me go
over and hob-nob with him in Saltravia. 3"
And so he bats his invitation with tile
prospect OF meeting a king?"
''Oh, poor, dear Eric, Not a. all. 1
don't doubt he's aware that I've met sew
Cral." Here Alonzo began TO count with
one hand on the outspread fingers of the
oJher. They've all been so nice to me- too
Let ne think First, there was the Prince,
in London, year before last But no, he
isn't a king. is he?''
''Oh, he'll pass Tor one. remember, you
saw him lot of times"
Through Daisy Bostwick, You know.
She ard l were sHch tremendous chums be-
fore she married"
"Daisy BoStwick." smiled Lexington.
That's American, suppose, for the March
ioness Of Middlesex."
Yes, I've PLAYED more than one game of
poker at the Middlese1 in Grosvenor
Square with II. il. II. Then there was
Umberto, at Rome, Of course he was nice to
me because he and the Queen both adore
Bessie Southgate who used to 90 10 school
with nv sister. Kitty, and is now the
Princess Carriole: and Bessie was simply
Eweet TO US the minute she heard we were
in Rome. And-iet me think, haven't / any
more royalties to brag about? Yes, there
was the King of Servia, whom I took sup
per with IL Paris year before last, and-oh,
I'd forgOtten-I was presented in Berlin, the
came year, at a great ball somewhere to the
Emperor of Ger But, nc; he wasn't En-
peror then, he was only Crown Prince. So
nv list is pretty small once, after all, isn't
ftp"
ITS large enough for YOU to snap your
fingers at a minor potentate like the King
Of Saltravia. BY the way, Lonz, your peo-
pie will soon be arriving. Why don't you
dress 90
''Dress?" cried Alonzo, lifting both hands
veyed his attire isn't this good enough
in the name of common sense %
"In the name of decency," replied Lex |
ington, SIT isn't. A velveteen sack coat |
and a big tempestuous-looking necktie of |
brick dust red silk! 1t won't do at all. |
You've lots of swagger afternoon things. |
Ring for our man, and make him put you |
into one of your new London suits It's |
positively shameful that YOU should 60 |
= =.
sister, Mrs. Van Santvoord, will be ftIri-
Gus"
''oh. Kitty's always grumbling at me- 1
don't mind her
''But this is the first home entertainment |
you've given to Miss Kenpeird."
'"True, said Alonzo, while his rattling |
manner seemed to soften. "But nv dear !
Philr' he suddenly resumed, throwing back |
his head and making Eighty gestures with |
both hands, 'if there's one thing that dear |
Kathleen of mine likes aboutme it's to have |
ne be myself True. she's conventional |
enough: but, ah, when / think of that /
adorable girl she reconciles me to all the |
sham and trash Of the life we live and the
wav we live itr'
Lexington furtively gnawed his lip. He /
had his own secret cynical ideas about the
sincerity Of this new sweetheart whom his |
young millionaire friend had chosen.
''Oh, well" ne returned rather grimly, |
''if you want TO DEFY convention it doesn't |
matter. You're so popular that you can.
Nobody minds. They all accept you, and
like YOU the better for being yourself, since
it's yourself they're so fond CT"
"Fondr' echoed Alonzo, and with so
hershly unwonted ring in his voice that it
made his hearer start and stare. He let his
flexible frame sink down on the broad arm
OF an easy-chair near which he had been
standing and bis tawny eyes had never
Fhone with stronger seriousness than while
he Eow continued to speak.
''You good, kind-hearted Phil! Don't Won
zee that my popularity is the merest myth?
When I do bold or queer things it isn't
whom they laugh at and make believe that
they think funny; it's fellow with few
Thousand year that he squanders on their
amusement. Let fate strip me of those,
Phil, and they'd think me as ordinary as
their morning bath. / don't want to be
cvnic, and ii did there are some few things
that would save HE from it. You're one of
them"
''I?''
eyes, you ring right, somehow-at least
to my ears you do.
''Thanks."
"And then there's Kathleen. All, she
rings right! Shes like a perpetual chime
Of silver bells"
(Which you viii soon turn into wedding
BELLS
'In April. my boy-you remember, Phil,
how hated he thought of marriage till
met her Then everything changed. felt
like Transformation scene in pantomime.
That biz solid lump OF prejudice in me gave