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


have expected, st one time, 10 SNOW INC
such kindness, or give me such gener-
Gus encouragement"
"Have / encouraged y0uP All. well,
that only proves how little one really
knows ones friends"
And Farrell, the man addressed by
George Merivale, the owner OF the stu
do In which they were chatting, smiled
. In answer to the others almost alice
AtiOnate address.
- THAT is so, for, oddly enough, before
you came out so well and in your true
colors, l had the idea, or impression, or
whatever you please TO call IL, that you
disliked me rather than not"
"Ah, you always were faneiful' you
know"
''Oh, that is all over long ago, or
never should have told you, Or-but
you know all that, don't yOu?"
: ''Then why trouble 10 explain? II
you know anything about me at all,
you must own that 1 am not such al
mean not nearly so impressiOnable or
imaginative as yOu," and the smile grew
more pronounced than ever as the
speaker went on: "But then each TO
his line. So long as you can turn your
fsncies to such account, and he pointed
to the easel, ~ for one shall be the very
last TO condemn either you or them"
ION the contrary, you have done
nothing but admire"
"Admire is hardly the word, It does
not express it. am only sorry l have
never bean able TO half do your picture
justice"
"You think II is-tolerable, then?"
.queried the painter eagerly.
"Most tolerable, and not to be-You
see into what pitfalls habit OF quot
ing may lead one. What 1 meant 10
say was that il is a truly remarkable
work"
|, And the critic screwed up his fist
Through which to examine IL the better.
"And you know why am so terribly
anxious, don't you? But Of course you
(do, Tor am l not always telling you?
When everything-the desire OF ones
whole life, ones success in ones career,
and above all, 10 love-all hang upon
q thing, one may be forgiven for wishing
TO have ones own doubtful Judgment
confirmed. As to my own opinion, l
ashould never place too much reliance
on that. / am always in extremes.
Sometimes l feel quite hopeful, and
that it is really as you say-striking
aud original But then at other times
have my doubts. When l wake up
and como TO it fresh in the morning l
am troubled with miSgivings-but
there, as you say again, am full OF
fancies."
sgWo,, 80 frdoaI
eyes, / have been working rather
too hard, 1 believe. But il will soon be
finished and sent in, and then-Why,
then / can rest"
Sand what do the other fellows think
--or rather, what do they say? For IL
is difficult TO know the real opinions OF
some people, as dare say you know. ="
\ ooh, none OF them have been 70 see
BE lately. This is one thing that has
made me uneasy, and led me rather to
to doubt, you know"
And MeriVale glanced wistfully az
his questioner.
''DOn't you think you rely too much
lnn the opinions OF others, and not
eh6HSt bn your own2 You see that it
is good-Quite the most daring thing
you have ever pa,Eted, l think you
said. Then why not hold by that, and
! let the rest go?"
$50 do try; but whom so much
everything-depends on u, ones own
Judgment is so often biased and com
pletely wrong"
"Candidly, Merivale, you are IA
aueer fish. You are allowing this to
have far too great an influence over
you. Why, / do believe If anything
were to happen-say that the picture
were to turn out IA mistake, a hope
less aud ridiculous failure--I really be-
lieve-"
"Oh. hush, Farrelll Don't suggest
anything so horrible."
swell, my dear fellow, 1t was only a
suggestion, caused by your Own-but
k0u are going long way toward prov
ing the truth OF my words. You look
quite white and i'll. You really must
take care"
At cannot take anything until this
weight is of my mind. And X il were to
Ito turn out as you suggest, II be-
lieve 1t would be the death Of me out
right" And, throwing down his palette
and brushes. the painter paced hurried
" about the room, while the other
watched him narrowly through his
half-closed eyes as he finished in still
greater agitation:
Thanks TO you and your suggestion,
/ have risked everything on this"
NAY, nay, Meriyale, l protest.
Don't throw all the weight on me. It
is true when first you mentioned your
idea OF the competition 90 me, did say:
why not 20 IMP but never meant it
seriously, that Is; while as 20 recon-
mending yon % throw Up your other
work, and neglect all your commissions,
] never should have ventured 10 advise
anything So"
"Mad-no. perhaps not. But I AN
in Il now; have staked All on this Que
throw, and-yOu know you did admire
the hrst sketch I showed you" This
was said with = return Of anxiety.
81 told you YOU have got hold Of =
-wonder!ul idea--startllng and original,
I believe said-and i have never seen
f6y reason TO change my opinion since;
khich was your own. II you remember,
Z the time. So why not rest satisfied
he that? Stick by your first impression
aud send 10 10. You will learn all about
il, from the critics, then"
'.Well, / will. I must believe; merely
20 doubt Is too horrible! Besides. have
felt all through as though ! were in
,spired. Except. that is, az these dread
ful seasons OF depression, which seize
bpon aud shake me until but, as you
saw. / will trust 70 my FIRST impressions
and to-tO you. You should know
while for the rest. no one has seen it for
months, during which I have shaved at
Il early and late, and let everything else
60"