Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-08-20
CHAPTER II.
EEPPEL DARRE.

at abOut elght O'CLOCK. oiyIliih haven
awoke from the sleep of health and inno-
cence and remembered that she had an
appointment at half-past ten.
A half smile of meditative satisfaction
moved her lips and dimpled her cheeks
at the thought. Apparently the appoint
ment was not an unpleasant one. For
that matter, there had thus far been very
few disagreeable experiences in this
young lady's career. Her father had died
before she wasold enough to comprehend
the bereavement. For u time h and
her mother had been poor, but their
wealthy Cousin Harry had come gener-
ously to their assistance and had placed
them beyond the reach of poverty.
Olympia had been an attractive child
and she grew up to be u beautiful
girl. She had moro than usual intelli-
gence; and education (in the conven-
tional sensel was little more than a pas
time to her. Their Cousin Harry, who,
having no children of his own, had ideas
as to how children ought to be brought
up, put her in the way of getting sound
training. She was of a s~piritualistic,
mystical temperament, and possessed
perceptions and susceptibilities unknown
to the generality. But she was of n
wholesome constitution, and had seldom
been in poor health.
She was very fond of Cousin Harry,
and he was SO young in his ways and
spirit and entered into her thoughts and
point of view so easily that she regarded
him as a companion rather than as a
z,,,rl,nr1 owl N ,nan thron ~ fnJ,I. fi,pnc
her age They laughed and ehatted to-
getller and went to theaters and balls,
and danced together. Whether she had
ever thought of him as u possible sutton
for her hand is an abstruse question. 1t
is safe to say that, if she did, the idea
was not likely to have been Of her W
suggestion. The traditions of their in
timacy were against that. He, however,
may have prepared her mind for the en-
tertainment of it. Men of tho world
like Harry Trent know how to manage
women-some women at least-without
soaring or a~ntagonizing them.
Now, Cousin Harry's birthday fell on
Feb. 28, and Olympia. wishing to please
him, had resolved to make him apresent
Of her WI portrait. This plan was the
more easily realized, because she had
latteriy made the acquaintance of a GER
tain Mr.. Keppel Darke, ayoung portrait
painter, who had a delightful studio in
Twenty-third street. Mr.. Darke was
himself delightful, in Olyrnpia's opinion.
He was tall and rather slender, with
powerful blue eyes, and hair black, or
nearly so, which he Wore longer than
fyno Pnp1plnu Gu thni ~ p-f-Ia1 DhIr,f Id
neck. His was grave and, for n
young man, impressive; he was laconic
in speech, observant, and, beneath n
quiet exterior, impressionable. He kept
his face, including his upper lip, close
shaven. You might have taken him for
atragelian, or for n 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, n long capped
overcoat and a broad brirnmed hat.
People turned to look at him rs he
stalked along the street. Fashionable
men of his own age said he was a con-
ceited ass. Girls thought him delicious
ly romantic and did not know how to
talk to him." Married woinen CON-
monty dismissed him as unavailable for
social purposes, with the reservation
that he would be all right if be became
famous. His brother artists, without
expressing much personal affection for
him, admitted his talent. This mag
nanimity came the easier to them, be-
cause the world had o 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. He
had faculties, a perception. an indie
pendence of vision given to few. BE
was not incapable OF producing a work
Of genius. No doubt he was conceited:
young men of exceptional powers are apt
to be so, and unlike q 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 e~xtravagant 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 j 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 oon fell into q conversation
that interested both of them. He ad-
mired her because he had never before
been able to express himself to a woman
30 fully and fuently, and she liked him
because he had something in him and
was different from other men. Olympia's
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
80. Olympia at first laughed and passed
1t over, but the topic came up again
whenever they met. and at length. rs
aforesaid, she conceived the plan of hay
Ing her portrait done for Cousin Harry.
She made a eonfidante of her mSksr,
and the arrangement for sittings was
made and punctually carried out.9Darke
was delighted; no had never doke such
good work; he had '.found himself
He had also found what was more serious
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
10 arpear in the guise of a fortunehunter.
This situation, familiar in fiction md
not unknown in real life, continued I'M.
til the epoch Of our story. The portrait.
born Of the love of art and nourishea
by human love, was all but completed
. Darka had ney declared himself, hut
he believed that should he do SO he would
have q chance. Finally, with the last
sitting and a possible Cessation of their
intercourse il, prospect, he felt that nov
or he must take a step. In tfe
ordinary American course of things he
should hare addressed himself in the
inst instance 10 Olympia herself. But
his pride counseled him 10 make an at,
tack upon her guardians; that is. uts1n
Mrs. Raven and Harry Trent As re.
garded the former. however, he reflected
that she was q person Of feeble eharac,
ter, dominated both by her daughter and
By Trent, and that she would be sure. 4
approached, to refer the saitor to tina,
gentleman. To Trent. therefore he de