, 1891-07-19
CHAPTER II.
KEPPEL DARKE.

~
The stranger fired his cycs upon him.
On the morning of the Trent TRACED,
at about eight o'clock, Olympia Rave
awoke from the sleep of health and innt
cence and remembered that she had a
appointment at h~alf-past ten.
A half smile of meditative satisfaction
moved her lips and dimpled her cheek
at the thought. Apparently the appoint
ment was not an unpleasant one. Fo
hat matter, there had thus far been verl
few disagreeable experiences in thit
young lady's career. Her father had diel
before she was old enough 70 comprehend
the bereavement. For n time she and
her mother had been POOR, but their
wealthy Cousin Harry had come geuer'
ously to their assistance aud had placed
them beyond the reach Of poverty.
Olympia had been IN attractive child
and she grew up to be a beautiful
girl. She had more than usual ntclli-
gence; and education On the ouven
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 the way of getting sound
training. She was Of u spiritualistic,
mystical temperament, and possessed
perceptions and susceptibilities unknown
to the generality. But she was of a
wholesome constitution, and had seldom
been in poor health.
She was very fond Of Cousin Harry,
and he wa 30 young in his ways and
spirit and entered into her thoughts and
point Of view SO easily that she regarded
him as n 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. II
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 were against that. He, however,
may have prepared her mind for the Gu
tertainment of it. Men of the world
Liz Harry Trent know how to manage
women-some women at least-without
soaring or a~ntagouizing them.
Now, Cousin Harry's birthday fell on
Feb. 2S, and Olympia, wishing to please
him, had resolved to make him n present
of her own portrait. This plan vas the
more easily realized, because she had
latterly made the acquaintance Of a GER
tain Mr.. Keppel Darke, a young portrait
painter, who had "A delightful studio in
T~wenty-third street. Mr.. Darke was
himself delightful, in Olympia's opinion.
He was tall and rather slender, with
powerful blue eyes, and hair black, or
nearly 50, which he wore longer than
was common, so that it carried about his
neck. His manner was grave and, for a
young man, impressive; he was ]laconic
in speech, ~observant, and, beneath Il
quiet exterior, impressionable. He kept
his face, including his upper lip, close
shaver. You might have taken him for
at%ragedian, or for n clergymun
that his costume was incompatible with
the latter character. He affected some
what Of the brigand style Of dress; in
doors, velvet; outdoors, "A long capped
Oyercoat and "a broad brimmed hat.
People turned to look at him rs he
ttalked along the street. Fashionable
men of his own age said he was Il con
ceited ass. Girls thought him delicious.
ly romantic and did not know how Il
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 ful
him, admitted his talent. This mag
nanimity came the easier to them, he
cause the world had not yet ]disgoveret
how really remarkable his talent was
One had to know something to uppre
ciate it. He could do things in paintiu.
that others tried, but failed to do. IL
had faculties, a perception, al indie
pendence of vision given to few. II
was not incapable of producing "A wor
vi genius. No doubt lie was concerted
young men of exceptional powers are ap
to be so, and unlike a lower class of val
men are at no pains to conceal IL. !
addition he had the artistic temper:
ment, which, lovely in itself, Is rel
dered aggressive and e"xtravagant by tn
stolid hostility of convention. To maxi
an end of this catalogue of his qualiti,
he was sensitive and high tempered. i
came Of good New England stock, al
he had an income which enabled him
pay for his board and lodging and Il
Itul VI lid GAuhANf NfNA 'ANA 49, -
traits did not pay. But for the last ye
or two they had begun to pay tolerab
well.
Olympia herself had artistic tende
cies, and on Darke's first introduction
her they soon fell into a %conversati,
that interested both of them. He a
mired her because he had never befC
been able to express himself to a WON
SO fully and ~fiuently, and she liked h
because he had something in him a
WAS different from other men. Olympi
beauty took his artistic eye and he il
agined himself painting her. In half
hour he had told her of his desire to
SO. Olympia at first laughed and pas
1t over, but the topic came mp ag'
whenever they met, and at length,
aforesaid. she conceived the nlan Of y
TWENTY DOLLAR GOLD PIEcl
Mrs. John Curtis Of Peoria, Ill. writ
USED one box Of Usage Pills previon;