Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-02
AMERICAN PUSH.
Copyright 1891, by the Authors Alliance
BY EDGAR FAwcETT.


Just DeIore leaving Tor Munich he
had given the portrait what he felt
were his absolutely final touches. He
had not known then how good it was
how definitely and vitality the witch
ing head bloomed forth from shadow.
Yes, Eric had been right. His powers
were of the slow and breeding sort;
they were like those of the poet who
must "beat his music out" in travail of
self distrust. But here was plainly q
masterpiece, nevertheless. And yet, as
he watched this perfect portfaiture of a
woman whom he still hungrily loved,
though she was lost to him forever, a
sense of the terrible irony of such
picture pierced him to the soul The
very excellence of its art would be an
incessant jeer. Why had he not fore
seen this? An abrupt desire to ruin the
picture now swept down upon him,
oddly blended with the egotism of the
creator, an element always potent in
every true artists mind. He actually
seized his palette knife and stood I'M
decided as to whether he should rip the
work into tatterH or spare it for future
hours of mingled happiness and grief.
While he thus hesitated, a knock
sounded at the studio door. Come in"
he said, startled, casting the palette
knife on the floor, and turning to meet,
as he supposed, Eric Thaxter.
But it was not Eric. To his very
great CONSERVATION, it was the king.
Clarimond seemed repose itself. "You
must pardon me-" he said, "for intrud-
ing upon you like this. No doubt l
hfN1. do hox Sc
pleasant to hear. Pray let me take this
chair, and you-wil you have the kind
ness to sit near mc2 That is right.
wanted to stretch out my hand to you
and clasp it for a moment-lilze that.
You see, | am certain you are very I'M
happy, and when my friends are unhap-
py | am always full of sympathy for
them"
The kings hand was pressing his
own while Alonzo, with dropped eyes,
miserably murmured:
"Oh, monsieur, have behaved with
an immense vulgarityI''
"Vulgarityp" said Clarimond, in a
musing voice, which had the effect OF
giving his listener a chance to escape
from the tolls of embarrassment, just
as the young sovereign's marvellous tact
had no doubt suggested to him that it
would do. "Vulgarity," he went on,
''is the intimate ally of passion And
passion Is naturalness. We can't always
keep the landscapes of our lives full OF
clipped shrubs, like an Elizabethan gar
| den. Tell me, now, mon ana, were you
not once engaged to marry this Nile.
Kennaird?"
Eyes, monsieur"
$50 gathered, from the tumultuoua
things that her mother said after you
left. Mademoisele scarcely spoke at
all. Her mother had an extraordinary
amount to say"
"And against myself, of course, mon
| sieurl''
The king stared for a moment down
at the carven agate of his cane handle.
WELL" he at length said, smiling, ''she
was not merciful to you. But did not
believe her, and it struck me that
mademoiselle did not believe her, either.
You will think me a sad busybody-"
You, monsieur"
But should be glad to hear your
version Of the affair. Shall tell you
why2" He spoke with marked eager
ness, and yet the instant that his eyes
fairly met those of Alonzo he averted
his look and went on in a queerly
| altered voice: sit is because the young
lady, Nile. Kathleen-is not that hel
name?-has greatly interested me-
After a few seconds he repeated the
words: Greatly interested me. Yes,
he soon continued, 'if you would tel
me just what occurred l should fee
most grateful for your confidence"
Permit me, then, to tell you, mon
sieur." said Alonzo, and he at once be
gan a recital, in which he adhered tt
the strictest truth with what might b.
called very carnival of conscientious
ness. Remembering Eric's harsh judg
ment of his conduct, he allowed this tt
cast upon his disclosures a self-ac
cusative gloom. Ending, he said: ''
fear that l exacted too much. I an
conscious Of this now, monsieur, though
once thought myself sternly wronged.
The king rose. ut all seems to m,
, the fault of that very dominating per
. son, the young lady's mother" he said
"You are generous to rid Mile. Kath
leen of all blame as you debut it i
like you" He stretched out his hand
which Alonzo sprang forward to grasl
with both his own. 81 have known 70
some time that you had q large, hu
name heart did not need Eric to tel
me that"
Eric will rarely see my faults, mon
sieur," faltered Alonzo.
The king now turned his eyes towar
. the picture on the easel "Ahl yo
have been painting something" he said
|h N1M eaG @M