San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-08

ment was not an unpleasant one. Toi
that matter, there had thus far been very
few disagreeable experiences in this
young lady's career. Her father had died
before she was old enough to comprehend
the bereavement. For time she 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 more than usual intelli-
gence; and education lin the conven-
tional sense) 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 spiritualistic,
mystical temperament, and possessed
perceptions and susceptibilities unknown
to the generality. But she was of
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
guardian, and a man three or four times
her age. They laughed and chatted to-
gether and went to theaters and balls,
and danced together. Whether she had
ever thought of him as a possible suitoI
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 own
suggestion. The traditions of their in.
timacy We're against that. He, however,
may have prepared her mind for the en-.
tertainment of it. Men of the world
like Harry Trent know how to manage
women-some women at least-without
soaring or antagonizing them.
Now, Cousin Harry's birthday fell on
Feb. %, and Olympia, wishing to please
him, had resolved to make him present
of her own portrait. This plan was the
more easily realized, because she had
latterly made the acquaintance of GER
tain Mr.. Keppel Darke, young portrait
painter, who had delightful studio in
Twenty-third street. Mr.. Darke was
himself delightful, in Olympia's opinion.
He was tall and rather slender, with
powerful blue eyes, and hair black, OF
nearly so, which he wore longer than
was common, so that it carried about hiG
neck. His manner was grave and, for
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
atragedian, 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 delicious
ly romantic and did not know how to
talk to him." Married women COM
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 mag
nanimity 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. He
had faculties, perception, an indie
pendenCe of vision given to few. He
was not incapable Of producing work
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 extravagant 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 fluently, and she liked him
because he had something in him and