The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-22


"Well. don't see him at present. h
: answered smiling at her impetuosity, q
t he rose. I"But think, Miss Sparrow,
r you will glance at the corner of littl
+ sourenir you received lately you vii
h know him better" t'
( And he was gone, leaving Maud sur
@ prised at his hasty departure, and evel
I more fnystified by his last Words Then
/ as, following him with her eyes, she saw
v people move out of his Way with Ger
/ tain Difference, light broke in npoI
r her 81. CT could stand for nothing bu
| Louis Conrann He was Louis Con
ran. She had indeed been entertaining
an angel unawares, and filling Mrs
Sherrltt with the deepest chagrin by
: doing so. SO he was the great X. A
|, And Maud sighed, but not on account Of
= Mrs. Sherratt. 'IH'q '' p
#HrrEa au,s.H., .#H-.-s 80
II had better telegraph Maud said,
reluctantly. n9l lp ilI
Shillings were scarce with her--very
scarce; but sometimes it is economy to
spend And being unable to keep an
appointment, she turned into the Charles
street post Office, While impatiently
taking of her glove at the desk, she
noticed that the form she was about to
use already bore message-nOt in
black lead indeed; but it was just as
Ilegible as if it had been. The last writer,
in using the form above. had pressed
heavily upon the pencil, and pro
duced a clear impression on the sheet
beneath. @ '7y a .rut.H
Mechanically Maud read the message.
81. c. is out of the way at Richmond.
The room is 81, second floor, opposite
the stairs, The girls head only. Be
thorough and cautious" .Il... .....,.
To Maud's mind, from which her
friend was seldom absent, ~. O."
could stand for him alone, willie her sud
denly conceived idea that he was referred
to was confirmed by the number of his
hOuse-0l.
She knew that his chief picture for
the coming Academy Exhibition was
finished, and that it was at Russell
Square studio-indeed the vanishing day
was but three days distant The girl
instantly concluded that some harm was
intended to his picture, which had been
loudly heTalded In art circles as certain
to increase his fame, Forgetting all but
this Maud called a cab, and while her
every nerve tingled with impatience,
drove to Russell Square, dismissed
the vehicle, and walked to her own
door. .. Hl. 4..' .. -af..Ia
4 Was it some absurdly built-up sus-
piciOn of her own brain, and that alone?
No, there was q shabby-gonteel man
looking mp at the house. Maud let her
self quietly in, shutting the door, slipped
into her own room. The man was com
ing up the steps, Then only when she
caught a full view of his ill looking
| fan It,l lln hnr tlat fhn
house was at that hour empty. What
was she to do? The street outside looked
equally deserted. u tr uI
She heard key inserted in the lock,
and made up her mind. Before the
heavy door opened, she was halfway np
to the second floor Yes, there was the
b, door opposite to her. She turned the
handle as heavy tread began to ascend
the stairs one by one. The door opened,
and she went in, Alas, the key was not
theTe--not even bolt--nothing but a
latch. Maud cast glance round her.
Lay figures and properties--some worth
less, some almost priceless-were strewn
about the spacious room. Against the
y wall number of crayon-sketches leaned
in various conditions. One or two easels
stood about; and in the centre, one
rather larger bore picture covered with
green baize. The footsteps had reached
the first floor. She sprang, painting with
excitement, to this picture, and threw
up the veil. Then, though, the steps,
which for moment had halted, were
coming on again, she stood and gazed.
1t was Eer own face, as in the sketch,
but life-siZe, in all the brilliant sOftness
of oils, wrought cunningly by the mas
ter's hand. The shadows of the old hall
!, in the background threw into brilliant
relief the pale face with its etheralized
expression of solitary grief Maud drew
a deep sigh, and recovered herself. The
footsteps were at the door. She could
die to save this. .......
Just at the foot OF the easel lay half
| finished study Of a womans face=-a rare
! crayon-drawing. To plan and execute
were in this extremity, the work of
seconds, Size snatched this up, and in
the twinkling of an eye it was on the
easel, and the masterpiece lying undis-
tinguished with its face to the wall. The
mans hand was on the door; and with
one bound Maud reached an open win
dOw--the curtain ObscuIing which was
pulled aside-and was on the leads out
n side, crouching down breathless and
giddy against the wall. .. 80.
She feared to look into the room until,
as she heard footsteps within, curiosity
mastered her fright, and she glanced up
cautiously. To see what? Why, Louis
Conran himself, standing outside the
window opposite to her, smiling, but
with one finger raised to silence her. A
half-sm0ked cigar in his hand chair
and a review beside him, showed how
he had been enjoying the spring morning.
With difficulty Maud restrained a cry of
surprise, Satisfied as to her, lie was
/, carefully peering into the room. The
Z man inside left no dOubtas 10 his errand.
4 Opening knife, he deliberately slashed
the picture on the easel across and
across. He looked round, CLEAN OF
triumph in his evil eyes; then, with an
audible sigh. and muttered curse, the
man, his work done, made for the door
and disappeared. rHe .....
There was silence outside until the
Sound Ofgthe descending footsteps had
! died away. Then the painter burst into
a long peal of laughter, in which Maud
Z family Joined. Ii..r'L
81 thought you were in Richomond. -
she said at last, ...
II started and came back. Will there
not be some faces green with disap-
, pOintment on the vanishing day?''
and he burst into fresh fit of laugh
ing. but do tell me all about it, Miss
Sparrow WruF gieif
When Maud had done so, from the in
cident in the postofice to the discovery
of her face upon the easel, at which point
she broke off in confusion, he had be-
come grave enough. ..t.
Let my enemy 60. As for you, you
have saved my darling picture, even as
you inspired II. | will tell you what
will do. When it has been exhibited, il
shall be yours, Miss Sparrow" .lIae
"That cannot be, Mr.. ConTan. you
know" she answered severely, going to
the door. ...
"You did not permit me to finish; upon
one condition. -. m
i lie did not state Ids condition upon
!. that OCCASION for Maud already had her
hand upon the door, and fled in confusion
!, downstairs, whittier lie dare not follow
her.
That he did state at some future time
seems probable from the fact that she
/ accepted the picture. which nevertheless,
admired by all, still occupies the place of
honor in Sir Louis COnran's drawing
ROOM And yet !, who am OF the family,
have heard Lady Conran say that she
valtes far above IL, a little water-color
sketch Of the same subject, which, out
of that pity which is akin 10 love, the
busy artis did for an unknown and sol
itary govemess.-Fdmily Herald.
4 uTfInfi
Ia4--The Orange Judd Former says: "a
Jersey thoroughbred bull coupled with a
- - y