The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-02-10
HIS HERO" IN CLAY.

It was tho luckiOut hit old BanIster
had ever made. low no did It nobody
know. Ito didn't oyCn.know himself.
Tho thing seemed to grow under
my hands,"hc would say, quietly, "and |
had no idea 1t was anything bcItor than
my usual work until hadilnishcditan
cnmo to look at 1t as whole then
There was no doubt about II, no had
never done anything to equal it. Twas
rather large statuottc OF an ancient
warrior, dclicatcly modelled In clay
n slender, sinewy.lookiug figure. tho
head thrown gracefully back. ono foot
slightly advanced, short sword claspod
In tho upliitGd right hand and round
shield poised firmly before his brcast.
Bob's chief ambition was TO DO II great
sculptor--to do aomo great work that
should bring him wealth for the pros.
| Ont and fans for all time. But, by dc.
Ereos, no narrowed his ambition down,
until at last no carne TO look for moth
ing from art but tho meaus OF living iu
reasonable comfort from day to day.
Bob's peculiar crony and brother In
art, Alfred Maiden, was man some
five years older thun himself. Tho two
men had met rather moro than 20 year.
before, and had been tho closest OF
friends ever since. They rented small
studio between them on tho highest
floor OF n tall building in tho vicinity OF
Oxford street. They had even shared
the sAme apartments together in re-.
spectacle boarding-houso in Mecklen-
berg square, until Maiden was married
and became the owner OF a small resi-
dence at Paddiugton.
Twas past . o'clock at night, and tho
two men sat by the tircside OF their lit
| tle studio, smoklngn last pipe apiece be-
fore going home Grouped about them
in groiesque confusion were numerous
halt.6nished and finished clay models,
buI:s OF all manner OF real and ideal
men and women, and all tho miscella-
neous litter OF II sculptor'a ,workroom;
on tho walls hung medallions and bus
reliefs OF NIL shapes and sizes. crayon
sketches, and a number OF pictures in
oils aud water.colors. But tho most
conspicuous object Of all standing on
IN imposing pedestal in the centre OF
tho room-was Bob's latcs. work, his
masterpiece, his Hero" in clay.
Certainly" said Bob, regarding his
work complacently, and speaking with
slow, neditative drawl between
dreamy whitls ut his pipe. "It's tho
only thing pvo over done that l feel
tempted to be proud OF. and, as you say,
goodness only knows how managed to
do it SO well. But there it is. I've done
it, and l really do think Pm entitled to
be n little proud OF it, eh?"
"Of course" responded Maiden, mood.
lily; especially when you consider that
4 rumor OF it has caused real 1.-Two mar
quis 10 come up and look ut it, and to
be so taken with it Us to say he will
even buy it"
Now, All, ALL" said Bannister, play
July. sH
"Factl" said Maiden, shortly. mo
man gives money for thing unless no
thinks it's worth his money"
well, Of course, Pm pleased to have
purchaser in prospect. Any ono
would be-" "
"Undoubtedly," grumblod Maiden;
but it isn't any one who is lucky
enough to get purchaser-especlaIiy
apurcnascr who may be the means OF
Introducing him to IN aristocrat:c con-
nec,ion."
Bannister looked ,houshtful!y into
the fire and said nothing.
II never saw such n thingw Maiden
went on, little bitterly. ".fou have
NIL the luck. 1 can't understand it.
People seem to think that my work is
better than yours rs general thing,
yet you always sell higher than do.
and get higher prices. It's luck-sheer
luck !"
TITS luck!" replied Bannister,
thoughtfully. ~ know it, my boy, and
l can't understand it. either. You are
better workman thanI ain, more in
dustrious, more Well. it does seem
hard! Why, your Dying Gladiator
beat my Hero into fits, and yet YOU
only sold it for mere triilo to n dealer
and heard no more OF it. Aud here
Here" continued Maiden, seeing
that his friend hesitated, "your Hero
vii. be exhibited. Oh, It'll DO accepted
right enough Directly it's, finished,
even, Il blessed marquis turns up who
is ready and willing, to pay you hand.
somely for it, and will give it n place in
his hall, where it will be seen by hun
drcds OF snobs and nobs OF high degree,
and ii it isn't the means OF bringing
YOU in shoals OF orders, never trust my
word again."
l"Wel!, it does seem a little hard on
YOU, All, old mani Is
"Oh, well, you needn't keep on crow
ing over a fellow" interrupted Maiden,
testify. No
"Why,"' said Bob, looking griovously
shocked, az was never dreaming OF do
ing such thing. was only going TO
say may be able. TO find opportunities
OF introducing you to people who will
recognize your worth and" .2.s +
"Ha, hal" laughed Maiden. dismally.
"lt's very good OF you to say so now,
but. Bob Bannister, Esq, sculptor in
ordinary 10 his high mightiness tho
most noble Marquis OF Finchington,
baskins in the patronage OF other
monoyed and titled gentry, will be
much too great person to remember
poor, luckless, thread bare All Malden.n
"Ali," cried Bannister, earnestly,
"you can't think I'm such mean hum
bug as that. II am only to DO fortu-
nate at the expense OF losing the Oldest
tina oply friond T hnya-hnpr iti -