The record-union., 1892-08-06
MISS MEPHUEN'O MASTERPIECE,
[Concluded from Lest Week.l
PART IL

pe1ore ne deeply regretted Inc promise he
had made to his cousin.
81 wish I had not gone there.n he
thought; "but as 1 did go, wish I had
been a little wiser than to interfere with
her good opinion of herself Certainly, it
is a sore pity to see talent and energy such
as here running to waste, for Fusain is
quite right-she has the making of an
artlst-put she evidently doesn't want my
advice, and why should I burden myself
with dlstasteful task? I think I had
better let the matter rest where it isl
ana de Lastrin slashed viciously at the
Iallen leaves under the trees as he walked
along the boulevards. But somehow or
another he could not persuade himself to
let the matter rest. The task he had inn
posed on himself might be distasteful,
yet he had almost craving to perform 1t.
well, / suppose it was a sort OF a
PROMISE be said to himself. about ten
Gays later, by way of justification for
what he felt was weakness of mind; "and
suppose she was trying to remind me OF
II when she said so distinctly last night,
In my hearing, that she should be at the
studio this afternoon. l may as well 90
ana get the business over and off my
mind.p
Yes, said NJ. Fusain's servant, Miss
Methuen was in the studio; would NJ lie
Marquis give himself the trouble TO en-
ter! Which he did, to find Miss Methuen
standing, palette and brushes in hand, N
front OF an easel, busy laying inn the
hrst sketch of a roguish-1aced Italian
boy, who was her model on this occa-
sion. She looked round with an air Of
indifference.
had given up expecting your prom
1sed VISIT" she said.
+ ,.aFr do
coolly, ''tor / have certainly been a long
Tune collecting the courage necessary to
the OCCASION,
DO you intend, them" asked the girl
IN bantering tone, ito make the occa-
sion very IOrmIdable2"
1T is always formidable" he reioined
gravely, 80 show clever people their
weak points" Then he glanced at her
work.
on said / was too vague in my re-
marks the other day. he continued, $50,
perhaps, | had better begin by being very
explicit"
Certainly" reioined Miss AIethuen.
w ell, then" be began, the first OBJ
serEation l viii make is that you have
made totally false start there and that
nothing satisfactory will come Of it, Then
1 Will beg you to take a fresh canvas and
set to work all over again.
Il think, " said Miss Methuen. sweetly.
'that 1t would, perhaps, be better ii you
yourself would begin on the new canvas.
had far rather see what you mean
apouJ drawing or coloring from example
than nom precept. That will floor him y
was her reflection; she viii have to con
less himself beaten now"
But to her establishment her cousin
quietly accepted the challenge
II you wish It, he said. adjusting the
easel and taking the palette with an air OF
familiarity which she little expected. 81
could have explained while you worked,
but you may be right in pre1erring exam
pie to precept."
A few minutes work with the charcoal.
few deXterous touches with the brush.
and he was fairly launched on the work.
ana Dora, with eVer-lncreasing surprise
IN her face, was watching him intently,
and listening with deeper and deeper in
terest TO his comments as he proceeded.
was this her cynical, blase cousin, the
1nan Tor whose pretensions she had felt
herself filled with contempt?
"Oh, Gilbert" she cried, when half
an hour later he gave the model his
congo. 'Oh, Gilbert, you are a real art
list. ! had no idea you could paint and
tonch ike that Where and when did
you learn?''
"Oh, 1 had fancy for such things in
the days OF nay yonth," was the quiet re-
ply. studied for two or three years in |
Paris With Carolus Duran.'
on speak as if the days Of your youth |
were centuries behind you,' she said. |
He gave a few touches to a shadow on the !
cheek OF his sketch, and made no reply. !
DO you paint much?" she went on.
Il don't paint at all now," he an
swered.
And why not?''
It's no use. The world will get on
just as We'll without the works Of art 1
might produce.'
The world may" she reioined, with
an air of wisdom, ''but you will not"
81 believe" he said drily. s'that / had
the same 0elusion myself once"
1T was not delusion," said Dora,
earnestly.
There was a sense of satisfaction creep
ing over her that she was really going to
influence this misanthrope after all. But
instead OF answering her he laid down his
palette and brushes, and, resuming his
matter-ot-lact tone, he said:
his has been less vague, hope; and
now, If may advise you, I would sug-
gest that you work after this method in
black and white only for eight or ten
hours week at least; that is, If you wish
finally to be able to paint or model such
heads as Mime. Van der Heyden's."
Dora sighed.
Il quite agree with you" she said: sit
has been formidable interview, but
chiefly for me-"
He did not answer her; he only held
out his hand and shook hers with
shade more cordially than usual as they
parted.
Then Miss Methuen sighed again.
1T Will be like beginning all over
again." she said. Il don't believe / shall
ever have the patience. And as to ten
hours week for black and white work.
it's simply impossible.'
nevertheless, NJ. Fusain noticed that
Miss Methuen's afternoons in the studio
We're becoming more frequent and regu-
lar, and she herself found herself doing
her best to remember and be guided bV
the rules which her self-constituted critic
had given her so unexpectedly.
Now that he had fulfilled what he had
condemned as an il-advised promise, de
LaStrin would fain have dismissed his
cousins concerns from his mind To his
great surprise, however, he found that
his new interest still possessed a charm
Tor him; that was, in lact merely stimu- (
lated by the consciousness OF having
given her valuable help. More than once
lie found himself carefully recapitulating
all that he had said 10 her. and regretting
that on certain points he had not been
more explicit and diffuse, even wonder
ing whether he was not in duty bound TO
complete what he had begun. Then he
would shrug his shoulders at his un-
wonted enthusiasm, and try to convince
himself that further interference would be /
unwarTanted and unnecessary.
The upshot of il all being that one after
noon he rang again at N. Eusain'S door, /
asked tor Miss Methuen, and heard with
great inward satisfaction that she was TO [
be found in the studio.
My. youthful taste for the fine arts is (
returning he said, by way of apology, (
as ne entered, Il hope you will tell me if
you regret the fact.
No, MISS Methuen gave him to under
st al Win q gracious smile, that she did 4
4 ut III