The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-06
CHAPTER Xxx.

were puzzling him. Finally a light burst upon
him all OF a sudden-seemed to at any rate
and he said to himself. i've got the clue Mt
last this mans mind Is Off its balance: don't
know how much. but It's of q point or two.
sure: OF enough to explain this mess Of per-
plexities. any way. These dreadful chromos.
which he takes for old masters: those villain
GUS portraits. which to his frantic mind repre-
sent Rossmores: the hstchments the pompous
name Of this ramshackle old crib. Rossmore
Towers. and that odd assertion OF his that l
was expected. How could I be expected?
that is. Lord Berkeley. He knows by tho
papers that that person was burned UP in tho
New Gadsby.
"why hang It. he really doesn't know whom
he was expecting: for his talk showed that he
was not expecting an Englishman. nor yet an
artist. yet answer his requirements notwith-
standing. He seems sufficiently satisfied with
mo- Yet. no Is q little of: in fact, am afraid
he is a good deal of. poor old gentleman.
But he's interesting-all people In about his
condition are. suppose. Ihope he'll like my
work; should like to come every day and
study him. And when write my father-ah.
that hurtsi mustn't get on that subject: 1t
isn't good for my spirits.
Somebody comine-I must go to work.
It's the old gentleman again. He looks both
cred. Maybe my clothes are suspicious: and
they are-for an artist. II my conscience
would allow mo to make change-but that Is
out OF the question. l wonder what he's
making those passes in tho air for with his
hands. seem to BIO tho object Of them. Can
he be trying to mcsmcrize me? l don't quite
like It. There's something uncanny about it."
The Colonel muttered to himself 1t has an
effect on him: l can see 1t myself. That's
enough for one time. reckon. He's not very
solid yet, suppose. and l might disntcgrate
,ok - al, ktAp fy,So NJ aim,
now. and see IL can find out what his condi-
ton is and where he's from
He approached and said. affably:
Don't let me disturb you. Mr. Tracy. only
want to take little glimpse Of your work. All.
that's fine-that's very fine. indeed. You are
doing 1t elegantly. My daughter will be
charmed with this. May sit down by your
"Oh. do: shall be glad"
1T won't disturb you? moan. won't dissi-
pate your inspirations?"
Tracy laughed and said they wore not
ethereal enough to be very easily discom-
NODDED.
The Colonel asked number OF cautious and
Well-considered questions-Questions which
seemed pretty odd and highty to Tracy-but
the answers conveyed the information desired.
apparently. for the Colonel said to himself.
with mixed pride and qualification:
Its good Job as far as I've got with IT.
He's solid solid and going to last: solid as the
real thing. It's wonderful-wonderful. be-
Geve could petrify him."
After little while he asked. warily:
do you prefer being here or-or therer"
"There3 Where?"
"Why-er-where you've been?'
Tracy's thought flew to his boardin house
and he answered with decision:
"Oh. here. much!'
The Co.onel was startled. and said to him
self. There's no uncertain ring about that.
It Indicates where he's been to. poor fellow.
Well. am satisfied. I'm glad got him out"
He sat thinking and thinking. and watching
the brush 60. At length he said to himself.
Eyes. it certainly seems to account for the
failure Of my endeavors in poor Berkelcy's
case. He went In the other direction. Well.
it's all right He's better of"
Sally Sellers entered from the street now.
looking her divinest and the artist was intro
duced to her. 1t wac violent case Of mutual
love at first sight. though neither party was
aware OF the fact, perhaps. The Englshman
made this irrelevant remark to himself. Per-
hsps he is not insane. after all" Sally sat
down and showed an interest in Tracy's work
which greatly pleased him. and Il benevolent
forgiveness Of it which convinced him that the
girls nature was cast in large mould. Sell
lers was anxious to report his discoveries to
Hawkins. so he took his leave. saying that II
the two young devotees Of the colored
muse" thought they could manage without
him he would go and look after his affairs
The artist said to himself. II think he is a
little eccentric. perhaps. but that is all" He
reproached himself for having injuriously
judged a man without giving him any fair
chance to show what he really was.
or course the stranger was very soon at his
ease and chatting along comfortably. Tho
sua Au,a tyir ho val n ahl
qualities Of naturalness honesty. and inofren-
sive straichtforwardness she Is nearly barren
of troublesome conventions and artihcialites
her presence and her ways arc
and one Is acquainted with
her and on pleasant terms with her before he
knows how 1t came about
This now eshp-friendship in
deed-progressed swiftly; and the unusual
swiftness OF it and the thorouGhness OF it are
sufficiently evidenced and established by ono
fact-that within the first half hour
both parties had ceased to DO conscious OF
Tracy's clothes.
Later this consciousness was reawakened:
It was then apparent to Gwehdolen that she
was almost reconcled to them. and it was ap-
parent to Tracy that he wasn't.
The reawakening was brought about by
Gwendoens inviting the artist to stay to din
ner He had to decline. because no wanted to
live. now-that Is. now that there was some
thing to live for-and he could not survive in
those clothes at a gentleman's table. He
thought he knew that. But no went away
happy. for he saw that Gwendolen was disap-
pointed.
And whittier did he GO? He went straight to
Q slop shop and bought as neat and reasonably
well-ftting u suit OF clothes as an Englishman
could BIO persuaded to wear. He sad-to him
self. but at his conscience-"I know It's |
wrong: but 1t would be wrong not to do 1t:
and two wrongs do not make q ri ght."
This satisfied him. and made his heart light |
Perhaps it will also satisfy the reader. II ho |
can make 1t out what 1t means. |
The old people were troubled about Gwendo-
len at dinner. because she was SO distraught |
and silent II they had noticed they would |
have found that she was sufficiently abort and !
Interested whenever the talk stumbled upon |
the artist and his work: but they didn't |
notice, and SO the chat would swap around to |
some other subject and then somebody would |