West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-03-15
For fully ten min

and turned to his
easel, on which rest
ed the half finished
portrait OF a young h
girl It was the pic e
ture OF q maiden of
eighteen or twenty,
dressed In white and
with just a single rosebud
at her throat On her head
was q simple straw hat,
and in her uplifted right
hand a bunch OF wild
grapes which she had evil
IDENTITY just plucked from q
vine that dropped above
her. Her dark eyes spark
led with fun and her lips
were parted I'm a merry
smile that seemed conta-
glous as one looked upon
1t. The background was
unfinished, as were also
some details OF the drap-
cry, but even a novice In
art matters would have
pronounced the picture
the work OF a master hand.
While Claude toyed with
his brush, looking lovingly
on the canvas face to
which his art was giving
life and reality, there came
agentle knock at thestudio
door, and in response to
the word "come, y a little
colored 'sboy-in-livery" en-
tered noislessly, and hand
ed the artist a card. Mr.
Remington took the piece
OF pasteboard quietly,
glanced at the name and
said, "Show the gentle
man in. -
AS the boy left the room
the artist took a brown
silk curtain from a side
shelf and carefully drew
1t over the easel so as to
effectually conceal the por-
trait. There was a slight
tremor in his hand as he
did so, and his face seemed
to have flushed considera-
bly,. His brows, too, were
deeper wrinkled, as IL in
anger.
One minute elapsed be-
fore the boy returned,
ushering in a gentleman OF
middle age, whose dress
and manner showed at
once the unmistakable ease
and grace OF a travelled
man Of the world. He
walked directly up to
Claude and grasped his
hand, though Ii seemed as
IL the artist were far from
cordialin reciprocating the
salutation. But the visitor
did not notice, or did not
seem TO notice, any lack of
hospitality on the part Of
the artist, and Immediate
ly commenced the CONVEX
sation.
Delighted to see you,
my dear boy. Just came
direct from the Riviera
and have good news for
you
"Good news for me, -
repeated Claude in meas
ured tones, 81 wonder
what good news anyone
can bring me from the
Riviera Nevertheless,
Col Bland, j am pleased
to see one who takes my
thoughts back to the days
when all news was good to
me. When were you In
| Mentone?"
mot for months, but ]
was I'm Nice just two weeks
ago and saw somebody
there who begged me tc
see you without delay, sc
i few to London as fast az
the express would carry
me, caught the Paris al
Southampton and here ]
ami"
Claude was evidently
struggling with a powerful
emotion, striving to con.
ceal the effect OF his visi.
tors words. One word OF
Interrogation alone left his
lips.
"COnstance?"
"No, not Constance her
self, but her mother"
"Ifer motheri why she
sent me awayp"
Eyes my boy, / know
believe she meant TO kee
She is a proud, naughty v
the FOster-Parkers were, q
exception. Everybody, e
Paris colony, which Is c.
most exclusive set OF
abroad, considered you
match for Constance Blyt
mother had set her hea
wealthy English bar0net
posed your suit strenuousl.
well, why did she wish
mepD
ct bear her personal ass
her opposition to your ma
Constance Is withdrawn. f"
The greatest transform
seen In q human cOuntena
sibly right there In that n
studio as the afternoon
light streamed IN upon tn
urca Claude's Joy was Il
In words, ne merely wr1
BANDS hand In silence.
Constance has not bee
know" continued the Q,
voice that tried 70 be
J. seemed 70 lack the power.
plainly the separation from
! on her nervous system to