The morning call., 1893-01-01


thing was decidedly wrong Whether brain,
or eyes, or both. had been affected by the
excitement and the long-continued strain,
was not to be decided off-hand, but he
realized. as with lightning flash, the full
refinement and ingenuity of Farrelps
the very truth itself to his own unworthy
ends. For, stripped of its surface faults
and he. an artist, could see the true
grandeur and simplicity Of his friends con-
ceptlon-it was indeed, as Farrell had said,
striking daring and original" Oh, what
could he not have made OF it himself came
the involuntary thought; while with IT
came also the full perception of where The
picture failed-though failed was hardly
the word. for the whole working out was
SO utterly wrong in color and, above all, In
expression. that the thing stood forth more
as magnificent carieature than as a serious
work of art. And there as he felt. would
lie the sting. Ii could not well be over
looked or fail of making sensation II only
from its frightfully ingenious peryersicn.
For a moment he was in doubt Could
Merivale have meantl 1t as an Ill timed Jest.
an attempt to turn the whole competition
into ridicue? But no; he had only TO re-
member the very real trouble of his friends
looks and words to dismiss that idea at
once, aud wonder what on earth he was to
say. To tell him the truth. or at any rate
the whole of il, in his present critical state.
u.
serious responsibility, while to appear to
side with Farrell and deceive the unfor-
tunate painter still further might in the end
prove still more disastrous. There was no
help for it. He must temDorlZe at all
hazards.
We'll" inquired the artist, anxiously,
''what is it like?"
.'My dear fellow. see clearly how it is.
You have run the mill too long. You have
strained both eyes and brain until now you
cannot look at your own work without
Observation-Disclosures. Take my advice and
rest Rest and change. fresh air and exer-
else, are what you need and must have, I'M
less you wish to end your days at Colney
Hatch. Try my prescription. Go away.
say for a week. and then if you like to come
to it again. why. for one will not prevent
you. Come, what do you say?"
But the time, Eversleigh, the time. How
can | afford the time? You see the sacri-
fees have made, and how everything-rep-
utatieD, nay, come TO that. after twelve
months. even bread ana butter-depends
upon my making reasonable show While
how am to be reconeiled to Mabel, when
have no idea OF my crlme-oh, everything
is going wrong at once!
Whereupon the miserable artist groaned
and turned so white that Eversegh
promptly rang the bell and sent for the
nearest doctor.
Mabel meanwhile had left the house in
ignorance of her lovers state. but in fully
as much trouble as himself.
Shown into the studio when she called,
and left to herself. being duly authorized
on that day 10 satisfy her curiosity. she had
taken the opportunity to have quiet
peep at the expected masterpiece, and
could scarcely credit the evidences OF her
own eyes. Still, there 1t waS--a loud, star
ing, overlooked, fataously smiling horror
her lovers version OF herself, and as such
soon to be given to the world. Oh, IL was
too dreadful to contemplate calmly! While
as to seeing him. the perpetratOr OF this out
rage, this deliberately planned and carefully
executed insult, which was SO motveless,
unless il was intended TO bold her up to the
riducule of all her friends-why. she felt
she could never care TO see him again.
And, full of righteous wrath. she had writ
ten her farewell note and left the studio
fully intending never 10 return.
1t so happened, however. that Farrell.
bent on mischief, was on the watch for her
appearance. Not so easily avoided as
Everslef-h. he ignored her too evident an
noyance, and persisted in walking her way :;
at fast:
as anything the matter, Miss Earnshaw?
You seem annoyed" he asked
IF 1 said am annoyed. and with you,
Mr.. Farrell. would it make any difference
10 you, | mean ," she rejoined with marked
displeasure, for her previous hints had been
unmisiakably disregarded.
Annoyed, and with me? he repeated
somewhat startled in his turn; for that she
should so promptly have found out bis share
in the transaction was hardly what he had
"Yes. can you not see that wish to be
alone?" she returned, coldly.
"Ohi yes. that is all right" he assented
easily, for now he knew on what ground he
stood while she, thoroughly provoked,
looked at him in undisguised establishment.
Then do you no longer pretend TO be a
gentleman ?' she flashed back with cutting
contempt that made him vince in spite of
his secret onseiousness Of the full success
of bis revenge.
"Ah! YOU are indeed annoyed; but not, |
think, with me-" And. mistakenly. ne
went on to take advantage Of what lie
thought the opening. You have seen Meri-
Wales masterpiece at last; what do you
think of it?'
what think cannot possibly concern
you," she replied colby. And If you will
allow me. Will get into cab
81 should have Thought" then growing
desperate as she deliberately turned her
back: cant you see, 3" he added, that he
is going mad ?" thereby throwing a new
light upon the subject. and startling her very
much indeed.
"Mad?" she echoed, for the SUGGESTION,
dreadful though 1t was, accounted for so
many things.
"Why, would any sane man have so per-
yerted-thatY
They were standing opposite q shop win
dow, and he pointed to where mirror gave
back MabePs fuIl-length reflection in strlk-
ing contrast TO the counterfeit presentment
she had just left.
Evidently she was moved by the sugges-
ton. thought he. though he had not meant
20 say ANYTHING so near the truth; however,
he must follow it up.
Either that or he drinks. or takes some
drug. What ii Is | can't quite make out,
but nothing short of that would EXPLAIN"
But lie had lost his head and gone too far.
Mabel heard the lurking malice latent in his
tone. She remembered what had passed
and all that MeTiyale had told her of the
supposed advice and encouragement given
him by his friend. and with woman's
ready intuition she felt that there was
something wrong, and that the man before
her was 10 some unexplained way the
cause. So, without word or sign, she
stepped into the waiting cab-to bid tie
man drive her back to the studio as soon as
they were fairly out Of sight.
And fortunate il was for her and her
lover both that she did so.
When she arrived the doctor put Meri-
vale TO bed, where, with head shaved and
plenty of ice he hoped TO stave off the
threatened brain fever. He must be kept
quiet and see no one, nor be disturbed for
any consideration whatsoever.
Such was EverSleigh's news when they
met ID the QeSeFJfu Studfo, Wnere all un-
covered and unregarded stood the fatal
masterpiece, the cause of all their present
woes. Eversleigh, having finished his ex-
PLANTATION, caught sight of il presently, and
wishing to spare Mabel the sight. went once
more to draw the curtain.
mo, let me look at it again." she urged.
81 can bear it now that | know he is not in
any way TO blame" Then. as she began to
piece the threads together. she exclaimed ::
"0h, what an infamous plot 1t is all his
doing"
you mean Farrel's? Yes, have come
to the same conclusion. Seeing the pitiable
state to which overwork and anxiety had
reduced him. he has worked upon Merivale
and spurred him on by his artful sugges-
tons until-this is the result. A noble idea
spoiled"
"a noble idea! Why. do you mean that it
is good ?" cried Mabel In amazement, for she
had not seen below the surface vet