The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-08-26

You had a sense of heavy falling tapes
tries, Of occasional pictures, each IN
itself a gem-lil1e masterpieces Of
cushions piled in aIcoves; of just few
white glimmering bits Of sculpture; OF
an exquisite little antique head here
and bit Of choice japanese enamel
ing there. But no huddled masses
offended the eye, which roved easily
from one point Of elegance to the next,
finding nothing inferior, nothing with
the faintest tarnish of chcapHess-
Alonzo had just stopped 70 bury his
nose in a huge basket of fresh violets,
when voice from near alcPEe called
to him:
For Heavens sake, go and dress"
Alonzo gave a sharp start Good
gracious, Phil, is that you?"
Yes replied Philip Lexington, re-
arranging a cushion to suit his Shout
der-blades Il found you out, drifted
upstairs, got hold of this revolving
French book and have wallowed in its
corruption ever since I really should
think, LOnz," he continued, with an
autocratic little pull at one end Of the
dark mustache which 50 well became
his olive and oval face, that in your
French reading you might draw the
line somewhere"
Il draw it at just such abOminn-
TONS" returned AiOnzo. True, the
leaves of that horror were cut, but
they've only been skinned, and not all
of them, either"
Rising on the great deep couch of
tufted silk, Lexington drew ont his
watch. ''Wel, more shame for me.
I've actually spent half an hour with it.
And, my dear boy, you'll forgive me for
making myself so terribly at home IN
your absence, won't you, novv?"
That's what you're always saying"
laughed his host, and you're always
forgiven, and there's never anything to
forgive Here AIonzo threw himself
into a chair. by the way, you're to be
my best man, next April, if you will
LeSington's dark face flushed a lit
tie. 'sVYiu I? Thanks immensely,
Lonz. IL thought you'd ask Winthrop
Delevan.''
Ibid you? Wen, you see I haven't, 50
you accept?"
Accept Is there a man you know
that wouldn't be delighted?"
''Oh, don't put it that way"
But I do put it that way" persisted
Lexington. He left the alcove and
dropped into the great satin easy-chair
near AlOnzo, wheeling it still nearer.
He was of good family, good position,
but he had the reputation of being Il
snob who only courted the rich and so
cially powerful He possessed 4 very
AIonzo- had made him several large
loans during the past few years, and
not dime had yet been returned. So
ciety however, had no shred of proof
that this was true. But it criticized the
intimacy and drew its own rather cyni-
cal deductions.
u often tell myself, old fellow Lex
ington went on, that you're the most
modest man in creation. Who you are
quite escapes you, and as for what,you
are, an artist of splendid talents-you
never seem to give it n thought"
''WhO I amp" came the airy reply.
''Oh, in the name Of common sense,
Phil, don't try to CANNON me by any
suggestion that I'm anybody from the
patrician point of view. Kitty and I
came OF respectable stock, that's all,
and you know it as wen as l do. When
your ancestors, the LeSingtons, were
swells in New York hundred years
ago, mine, the Lispenards, were proba-
bly, carpenters, grocers, perhaps even
briclE-layers- I had lucky father, who
founded u big banking-hOuse, and cdu-
/ Gated his two children. If there were
any real aristOcracy in this funny pre-
tcntiOus town, 1 wouldn't have the
ghost of claim to call myself part of
/ it. I'm no more a I[niclSerbOclzer than
1 I'm CarOlus Duran or BOnnat.'
You're very powerful artist,
/ though" insisted Lexington.
| ''Bosh, my boy! I've got q little tai
/ ent and tremendous amount of ambi-
| ton. If I'd been born poor and obscure
my present employment would no doubt
have been one of picturesque starva-
/ ton"
| Lexington heaved a reproachfuI little
| sigh Then you think pruise you, -
he began, sadly, for no other reason
! than because"
Alonzo jumped up from his chair and
caught his friends hand between both
his own. Il don't think anything so
nasty of you!" he cried, in the shrili, &c
/ centric voice he sometimes used. Come
up into the studio and let's look at her
picture. I gave it few fresh touches
this morning. 1 suppose they're the
last But I've been saying that idiot
that anil ever since her final sitting,
I which was two weeks ago yesterday"
He shot ont of the room at his usual
brisk amble, and Lexington followed
him. The studio, a great north
ern chamber, biazcd with rOrgeousness.
Through an immense window the light
poured upon yards of costly tissues and
/ hundreds of curios. On an easel was
the portrait to which Alonzo had just
referred. He stood staring at it for sew
I eral moments with folded arms
Dear old Erie Thaxter,' he said,
| you always told me the truth; YOU
/ swOre ! could paint only one good pic
ture every Eve years-and I believe you;
you were right Was there ever such q
slow coach?''
Eric Thaxter27 muttered Lexington.
- remember him at school in Vevey. So
I'VE after1vard studied together at
the same atalier in Paris Eric wasn't
cut cut for g painter, perhaps, but he
did wonders over there as an architect.
See this" And he handed Lex
ingtOn a letter. Hes drifted into the
good graces Of the young king Of Sal
travia; he's built new royal palace,
which they say is n grand success"
And he's very anxious for you to
come on and make him a visit" said
Lexington, while scanning the letter.
'-Oh, yes He thinks me 4 wonderful
art-crities though the eomPletest failure
as painter
''HOv obHging of him. said Lezing-
ton, cOldly- He had for some time felt
a vague jealousy OF this Eric Thaxter,
whom AionzO would 50 often mention.
even amid the furry and vehiri of the
lie he led.
Read on. phil. and yyor7ll see F7rir