The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-08
C0BWEB.


nOnnced a Mr.. GRAVITY on business, and, on
his being shown in, l found myself face to
face with n handsome. grave-l"oklng man
Of about so. He was rather ShabbIly
dressed, ana looked pale and i'll as he
bowed to CoGwpb and myself, ending by
staring at my child, as thought in rather
peculiar way.
elderly man. for no one had right TO look
at my CObVeb but /; and l spoke rather
testify as | sad:
Now sir, when you please l am at your
service"
Il beg your rardon," he said in a low mu
steal voice. Miss Burrows, | presume. One
moment, please-don't move"
CObweb was sitling IN the bay-window,
and to my utter establishment he quickly
drew one of the curtains, and then half
closed another, so that the light fell strongly
on her hair
l could not speak for the passion bub-
bling up 4 my throat, and as l stood gasp
ing, he came and took my arm, AMI led me
aside, and then, pointing TO where Cobweb
sat, as asIOni>hed as myself, he said
That would be admirable, sir. We could
not improve that natural pose"
What the dickens-ATe you mad, sir?
What do you meanP
Il beg your PARDON" he said flushing. and
speaking hastily. Il am SO wrapped up in
NY art. l thought you understood Mr..
Eden sa d you wished me TO paint this
young lady's portrait Am | Mistaken"
"Chut!" l CALCULATED cooling on the in
slant. Il beg your pardon. Sit down, sir
You're hungry, Of course. How stupid of
NE! C0bWee, my dear, order some lunch
into the dininE-TOOm."
He smiled, returned the pressure of my
hand in a frank, honest way that l liked,
and then looked after my darling in way
that I did not like; for this was not what l
meant, and my jealousy was aroused. | eX-
pec,ed some snutfy-lOOking old painter, not
grave, handsome young fellow. But | re-
meiubered Tom Elden's words" He is a
gentleman and man Uf h0nOr'-and cast
ing away MY suspicious thoughts l entered
int the subject at once.
I'D had forgotten it, said. Shed
make a good picture. eh?"
Admirable; sir. That position struck
ME at once us entered"
I'm show you better one than that. my
boy" | chuckled. But I'm a business
man; what's your fgure-the price, rh?"
H. hesitated, and his hand tremUled as he
said:
Would-ffteen guincas be too much?"
Fifteen l said.
al should take great pains with tit will
be long task, he said eagerly; and there
was trouble in the wrinkles OF his forehead.
" But if YOU think it too much"
~ think 1t an absurd price, sir" ! said
testify, for Eden had said lie was very
poor. why, Mr.. Eden gave four hundred
for q bit Of a scrap of canvas"
BY very clever artist sir" he said,
with q grave smile.
Look here" l said, "Mr-Mr.-Gran
You make good picture of il, and IN give
you fifty guineas."
lie flushed, and looked panied.
Less than half would pay ME well, sir"
he said.
Tut, tut! stuff, man! Eden told me you
were poor and hard up. You always will
be + you are not more of a man Of business"
"STI' he exclaimed, rising and looking
NJ me angrily, Il came here expecting the
M
He stopped short reeled, sank into his
chair, covered his face with his hands, and
sobbed like child.
My dear sjr-I realy-I-I didn't mean
-" l stammered, perspiring al every pore,
for the position was most painful
'No, no." he said hastily, Il beg your
pardon. But-but," he continued, striving
manfully to master his emotion, II have
been very Ill, sir, and | am weak l have
been Observation-Disclosures starving at times
have not broken bread since yesterday
morning. could not without selling my
colOrs. II am much obliged-fUrglve me
let me go back TO town. On, my God! has
II come to thiS?"
He sank back half faintng bu; started as
roared out, Go away Tor Cobweb was
coming into the room.
'rhsuk you" he said. taking my hand as
he saw what l had done. 1T was kind of
you"
My dear fellow" said, this is terrible;
and l mopped my face; there. sit still
back directly"
l ran out to find Cobweb in the hall.
ION, you dear, good falherP she cried,
with tears in her eyes. What kind sur
prise! But is anything wrongP"
Artist little faint" said. Here, some
wine, biscuits. Stop away few minutes"
ran back with them, and made him take
some wine; and, thus revived, h. rose and
thanked me.
what are you going to do?' I said, star.
ing.
Pm gong back to town, sir" he said
quietly, but with his lower lip trembling
L am not lit 10 undertake the task. [
thank you but it is too late. | am not we'll"
looked at him as a business man, and in
that brief glance, as in a revelation, saw
Inc struggles OF poOT, proud man Of
genius, who could not battle with the
world. / saw the man who had sold bit by
bit, everything he owned in his struggle
for daily bread; and as | looked at him
felt ashamed that L should be so rich, ana
fat, and well.
Mr.. GRAVITY" said, taking his hand, 81
am rough man, and spoiled by bullying
people, and having my own way. | beg
your pardon for what l have said and am
going 10 say. You came down here, sir to
paint my little girls portrait, and you are
going to paint II before you 60 back to town !;
and when you do go you are going to have
fifty guineas in your pocket. Hushl not
word, sir. NV old friend Eden told me
that you were gentleman aud man of
honor. Tom Eden is never deceived. Now
sir, please come into the dinng-room and
nave some lunch. Not a word, please If
good food wont bring you round, you shall
have the doctor: for, as the police saw" l
continued laughing, YOU'RE my prisoner
but on parole"
He tried TO speak, but could not and
turned away.
% All right" l said, "all right; and 1
patted him on the shoulder, and walked
away to the window for few minutes be-
fore turned back to find him more COM
posed.
That afternoon we all three went out into
tho wood, and | made Cobweb stand as
had seen her ON that day.
GRAVITY was delighted, and insisted upon
making sketch at once; and then the days
wore on, with the painting progressing
slowly, but in way that was wonder to
me, so exquisite was every touch, for the
artists whole soul was in his work.
Those were delightful days, but there was
storm coming. l quite took to the young
fellow, though, and by degrees Heard from
MIN MS whole story-hOw, young and eager,
he had, five years before, come to town to
Improve in his art, and how bitter had
Deen his struggle, till, Just before he had
encountered my friend Eden, he had been
really, literally dying of sickness and want.
1t was happy time, that, for when the
painting was over for the morning we
gardened, or strolled in the country-our
new friend being an accomplished botanist
and lover Of every object that we saw. /
used to wonder how he had learned so
much, and found time to paint as well.
say it was a happy time for the first
three weeks, and then there were clouds.
Cobwab was changed. | knew it bit too
we'll could see it day by day. GRAVITY
was growing distant, too, and strange. and
my suspicious grew hour by hour, till was
only kept from breaking out by the recol-
lection OF Tom Elden's words He is II
gentleman and man of honor"
IOm Eden never was wrong" | said one
morning, as / sat alone, land for a nan like
that, after my kindness, to take adyan tage
OF his position to win that girls love from
me would be the act of the greatest scoun-'
MAY l come in, Mr. BuIro wsY' said the
voice Of the man of whom / was thin King.
Eyes, come IN, said and there VIC stood
looking in one another'S eyes.
'He's come TO speak to me- said, and
my heart grew very hard. but l concealed
my feelings till he spoke. aud then / was