Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-08

daring and original" Oh, what could
be not have made of it himself? came
the voluntary thought; while with 1t
came also the full perception OF where
the picture had 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 a m2gni-
cent caricature than serious work OF
art, and there, as he felt, would lie the
sting. 1t could not well be overlooked,
or fail of making a sensasion, II only
from its frightfully ingenious perver-
sion.
For a moment he was In doubt.
Could Merivale have meant it as an Ill
timed jest, an attempt to turn the
whole competition into ridicule? But
no; he has only to remember the very
real trouble of his friends looks and
words 20 dismiss that idea at once, and
wonder what on earth he was to say.
To tell the truth, or, at any rate, the
whole Of it, in his present critical state,
would, to say the least, be assuming
very serious responsibility, while TO
appear to side with Farrell and deceive
the unfortunate painter still further
might in the end prove still more dis
astrous. There was no help for 1t. de
must temporize, at all hazards.
'Well," inquired the artist anxiously,
"what is it like?"
"My dear fellow, I see clearly how II
Is. You have run the mill too long,
You have strained both eyes and brain
until now you cannot lock at your own
work without fancylng distortion.
Take my advice and rest. Rest and
change, fresh air and exercise are what
you need and must have. unless you
wish to end your days at Colney Hatch.
Try my prescription. Go away. say for
a week, and then if you like 10 come to
il again, why, for one will not pre-
vent you. Come, what do you say?'
"But the time, Eversleigh, the time.
How can afford the time? You see
the sacrifices l have made, and how
everything-reputat nay, come 10
that, after twelve months, even bread
and butter-depends upon my making
reasonable show; while how am to be
recOncled to Mabel, when have no
idea OF my crime-oh, everything Is 60
ing wrong at once"
Whereuuon the miserable artst
groaned and turned so white that EV-
ersleigh promptly rang the bell ana 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 to satisfy her
curiosity, she had taken the opportunl-
ty to have 'Quet peep" at the ex-
pected masterpiece, and could scarcely
credit the evidence OF her own eyes
Still, there it was-a loud, staring, over
colored, fatuouSly. smiling horror-her
lovers version Of herself, and
az such soon to be given TO
the world. Oh, it was too dreadful
to contemplate calmly! While as TO
seeing him, the perpetrator OF this out
rage, this deliberately planned and care
fully executed insult, which was so mo-
tiyeless. unless it were intended to hold
her up to the ridicule o! all her friends
why, she felt she could never care to
see him again. And, full of righteous
wrath, she had written her farewell
note. and left the studio fully intending
never to return.
1t so happened, however, that Far
rel. bent on mischief, was on the watch
for her appearance. Not so easily
avoided as oversight, he ignored her
too evident annoyance and persisted IN
walking her way: at last:
"Is anything the matter, Miss Earn
shaw? You seem annoyed" he asked.
IF I said am annoyed and with you,
Mr.. Farrell, would it make any differ
ence-to you, / mean?" she reJolned
with marked Gispleasure, for her pre-
vious hints had been Enthusiastically dis
regarded.
"Annoyed and with me?" he repeat
ed. somewhat startled in his turn; for
that she should so promptly have found
out his share in the transaction was
hardly what he had expected.
eyes, can you not see that wish to
be alone?" she returned cnIdly.
"Oh. yes, that is all right, he assent
ed easily, for now he knew on what
around he stood, while she, thoroughly
provoked, looked at him in undisguised
astonishment.
"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 consciousness OF
the full success Of his revenge.
"Ahl YOU are indeed annoyed; but
not. | think, with me-" And, mistaken
". he went on TO take advantage OF
what he thought the opening. lyon
have seen Merivale's masterpiece at
last: what DO you think OF lt?'
"What think cannot possibly con-
cern-you," she replied coldly. "And
IL you will allow me l will get into the
cab"
Al should have thought" then grow
ing desperate as she deliberately turned
her back: Cant you see" he added,
THAT he IS going mad?" thereby throw
ing a new light upon the subject, and
startling her very much indeed.
Mad" she echoed, for the sugges-
ton, dreadful though it was, accounted
for so many things.
"Why. would any sane man have to
perverted-that?"
They were standing opposite shop
window, and he pointed to where mir
ror gave back Mabel's full-length re-
Election in striking contrast TO the coun-
terfeit presentment she had just left.
Evidently she was moved by the sug-
gestion, thought he, though he had not
meant to say anything so near the
truth; however, he must follow 1t up.
"Either that or he drinks or takes
some drug. What it is l can't quite
make out, but nothing short of that
would explain
But he had lost his head and gone
too far. Mabel heard the lurking ma