The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-06
Xxx.

SxSA good d-ai. Many things were
puzzlin2 him. Finally q light
burst upon him all of a sudden-aeemed to,
at any rate-and he said to himselt, "I'vo
got the clue at last; this mans mind ia of
its balance; | don't know how much, but
its Of 4 point Of two, sure; OF enough to
explain the mess of perple1ities anyway.
These dreadful ohromos, which he takes for
old masters; these villAinous portraits.
which to his frantic mind represent Ross
mores; the Indictments, ths pompous namo
OF this ramshackle old crib; Rpssmors
Towers. and that odd assertion of his that
l was expected. How could / be expected?
that il, Lord Berkeley. Fe knows by tho
papers that that person was burned up in
tho New Gadsby. ,&M0
why, hang it, he really doesn't know
who he was expecting; for his tnlk showed
that he waa not expecting an EnRlishnan,
nor yet an artist, yet l answer his require
ments Notwithstanding. lie seems auffi-
GENTLY satisfied with me. Yes, he is a littls
off; in fact, I am afraid no is a good deal
Of, poor old gentleman. But he's interest
inR-all people in about his condition are, l
suppose. I hope he'll like my work; I
would like to come every day and study
him. And when | write my father-ah,
that hurts! mustn't get on that subject;
it isn't good for nv spirits.
'Somebody coming must get to work.
It's the old gentleman again. He looks
bothered. Maybe my clothes are Suspicious;
and they are-for an artist. II my con-
science would allow ms to make a change
but that is out Of the question. I wonder
what he's making those passes in the air
for, with his hands. l seem to be the OBJ
jeot of them. Can he DO trying to mes
msrize me? don't quite like it. There's
something uncanny about it,"
The colonel muttered to himself, ut has
an effect on him, ! can SOC it myself: That's
enough for ono time, ! reckon. Hos not
very solid, yet, I suppose, and l might dis
intesrats him now, and see If l can find
out what his condition is and where he's
from"
He approached and said affably: Il.
Don't let me disturb you. Mr.. Tracy. I
only want to take a little glimpse OF your
work. All, that's fine-that's worry fine, in
dead. You are doing it elegantly. Ny
daughter will be charmed with this. May l
sit down by your"
"Oh. do; ! shall be glad" 4.
1T won't disturb you? I mean, Won't dis
sipats your inspirationsY'''
Tracy laughed, and said they were not
ethereal enough to be very easily disoom-
NODDED.
The colonel asked a number of cautious
and well-eousideled neutrality-suspicious.
which seemed pretty odd and Tightly to
Trncy-but tbs nnswer conveyed tho infor-
nation desired, apparently. for the colonel
sa,d to himself, with mixed pride and graft
6cation-
'It's a 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.
l believe l could petrify him."
After 4 little he nsked. warily:
q you prefer being here, = orthere?"
"Ihero? Whereof"
"Why-or-where you've been?"
Tracy's thought flew to his boarding.
house, and he answered with decision:
ooh, hore, much"
Tho colonel was startled and said to him.
self, There's no uncertain ring about that.
II indicates where he's besn to. poor fellow,
Well, l am satisfied now. Pm glad | got
him out"
He sat thinking, and thinking, and
watching the brush go. At length he said
to himself, Eyes, it Certainly seems to NC
count for the failure of my endeavors in
,oor Berkeley's case. He went in the other
direction. Well, it's all right. He's better
off,
Sally Sellers entered from the street now,
looking her divinest, and the artist was in
w Sts ~ vas q OlC OdScO Vi
mutual love at first sight, though neither
party was aware Of the faot, perhaps. The
Englishman made this Irrelevant remark
to himself, perhaps he ia not insane, after
ALL" Sally sat down and showed an in
terest in Tracy's work which greatly pleased
him, and a benevolent forgiveness of it
which convinced him that the girls nature |
was cast in q large mould. Sellers was INK
ious to report his discoveries to Hawkins, so
he took his leave saying that if the two
young devotoes OF the coloecd muse
thought they could manage without him no
would go md look after hia %nifairs. The
artist said to himself, II think he is a little
eccentric, perhaps, but that is ALL" He re-
preached himself for having iijrriously
Judged q man without giving him amy fair
chance to show what he really was.
OF course tho stranger was very soon at
his ease and chatting along comfortably.
The average American girl poss, sses the
valuable qualities of naturalress, honesty
and lnoiTcnsiye straightfos warlnesS; sac 10
nearly barren OF troublesome conventions
and artlticieltles, consequently her presence
and her ways are embarrassing, and one
ia acquainted with her and on pleasant
terms with her before he knows how it
came about.
This new Observation-Disclosures,
lndeed-propressed swiftly; and the unusual
of it, and the th~oroughness of IL
are sufficiently evidenced and established
~ OAo uSt0"oItAy AaCt-LuAt WtUGln tu1
first half hour both parties t.nd ceased to be-
Of Tracy'a clothes.
Later this consciousness was reawakenca:
1t was then apparent to Gwendolen that she
almost reconciled to them. and it was
apparent to Tracy that he wasn't.
The reawakening WAS brought about by
Gwendolen'a inviting the artist to STAY to
He had TO decline. because he
to live, noW-that ID, now that there
something to live for-and he could
not survive in those clothes ut a gentle
mans table. He thought no knew that.
But he went awav happy. for he saw that
WAS disappointed.
And whittier did he go? He went straight
to n slop shop and bought rs neat and rea- :,
sonably well-htting Il suit of clothes AZ an
could BIO persuaded to wear.
He said--to himself, but Mt his conscience
know it's wrong; but it would ba wrong
not to do 1t; and two wrongs do not make Il
This satisfied him. md made his heart
light. Perhaps it will also satisfy the
render, IL he can make out what il means.
The old people were troubled about
Iwsndolen ut dinner, because she was 10
iistraaght and silent. II they had noticed
they would have found that she was sui.
alert md interested whenever the ]
,nlk stumbled III on the artist and his work: I
but they didn't notice. and so the Chat
swap around to some other subject,
'ndt then presently somebody would DO pri-
worrying about Gwcndolan again,
md wondering ii aha wore not we'll, or il
had gone wrong in the millinery
LA 4 4V..~l