Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-10

Young Dante SpeU6ound by Her.
had known nothing about him) was not
brought home to me. He proved a svm-
pathetic though desultory ministrant, and
had in a wonderful degree the sentiment de
Ia pose. 1t was uncultivated, instructive;
q part of the happy instinct which had
guided him to my door and helped him to
spell out my name on the card nailed to It.
He had had no other introduction to me
than guess, from the shape of my high
north window, seen outside, that nv place
was a studio, and that as studio it would
contain an artist. He had wandered to
England in search of fortune, like other
itinerants, and had embarked, with a part
ner and small green hand cart, on the
sale of penny ices The ices had melted
away and the partner had dissolved in the
train. Ny Young man wore tight yellow
trousers with reddish stripes, and his name
was Oronte. He was sallow but fair and
when put him into some old clothes of my
own he looked like an Englishman. He
was as good as Miss Churm, who could
look when required like an Italian.
thought Mrs. Monarch's face slightly
convulsed when, on her coming back with
her husband. she found Oronte installed. 1t
was strange to have to recognize in a little
Neapolitan cad competitor to her magni6-
cent Major. 1t was she who scented danger
first. for the Major was anec5otically un-
conscious. But Oronte gave us tea, with
hundred eager confusions Che had never seen
such a queer process), and 1 think she
thought better of me for having at last an
establishment" They saw a couple of
drawings that had made of the establish
ment, and Mrs. Monarch limited that 1t
never would nave struck her that he had sat
for them. ''Now, the drawings you made
from us, they look exactly like u.s. she re-
minded me, smiling in triumph; and 1 rec
ognized that this was indeed Just their de-
feet When 1 drew the Monarchs couldn't,
somehow, got away from them-get into the
character l wanted TO represent; and had
not the least desire NV model should be dis
coverable in my picture. Miss Churm never
was, and Mrs. Monarch thought / hid her,
verv properly. because she was vulgar
whereas if she was lost it was only as the
dead who 20 to Heaven are lost-in the gain
Of an angel the more.
BY this time ] had got certain start with
Rutland Ramsey" the first novel in the
great projected series: that is, had pro-
duced a dozen drawings several with the
help Of the Major and his wife, and L had
sent them in Tor approval. Nv understand
ing with the publishers, as l have already
limited, had been that l was to be left to do my
work in this particular case as liked, with
the whole book committed 10 me; but nv
connection with the rest of the series was
only contingent. There were moments
when. frankly, it was a comfort to have the
real thing under ones hand; for there were
characters in Rutland Ramsey" that were
very much like it. There were people pre-
sumably as straight as the Major and women
OF as good a fashion as Mrs. Monarch.
There was a great deal of country house life
iS frua in 6pa tu1
iroEical, generalized way-and there was
considerable implication of knickerbockers
and kits. There were certain things | had
TO settle al the outset; such things, for in
stance, as the exact appearance OF the hero,
the particular bloom of the heroine The
author, Of course, gave me a lead, but there
was margin for Interpretation. 1 took
the Nonarchs into my confidence, 1 told
them frankly what l was about, l men,
TONED my embarrassments and alternatives
''Oh, take himl'' Mrs. Monarch murmured
sweetlv, looking at her husband, and "What
could you want better than my wife?" the
Major inquired. with the comfortable candor
that now prevailed between US
l was not obliged to answer these remarks
was only obliged to place my sitters.
was not easy in mind, and / postponed, q
little timidlv perhaps, the solution of the
question. The book was a large canvas, the
other figures were numerous, and worked
of at first some of the episodes in which
the hero and heroine were not concerned.
When once l had set them up should have
tostick TO them-I couldn't make my young
man feet high in one place and feet 9 in
another / inclined on the whole TO the
latter measurement, though the Major
more than once reminded me that he looked
about as young as anv one. 1t was indeed
quite possible to arrange him for the figure
30 that it would have been difficult to de-
tect his age. After my young friend Or
onte had been with me a month, and after
/ had given him to understand several diff
erent times that his iazzarone habits would
presently constitute an insurmountable bar
Tier to our further intercourse, L walked to
10 a sense OF his heroic capacity. He was
only feet Z, but the other inches could be
managed. | tried him almost secretly a.
first, for was really rather afraid of the |
Judgment nv other models would pass on |
such a choice If they regarded Miss Churm |
as little better than snare, what would |
they think of the representation by per- |
son SO little the real thing as an Italian |
street vender, Of protagonist formed by a |
public school?
If / went a little in fear of them it was |
not because they bullied me, because they |
had got an oppressive fuotheld, but because, |
IN .heir really pathetic decerum and mys- |
tcriously maintained newness, they counted |
on NE so intensely. L was therefore very |
glad when Jack Hawley came home; he was |
always OF such good counsel He painted !
badly himself, but there was no one like ,
him for putting his finger on the place. He |
lad been absent from England :or year;
lie had been omewhere-I don't remember |
where-to get fresh eye. L was In good |
deal of dread of any such organ, but we |
were old friends; he had been away for |
months and sense Of emptiness was creep.