The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-09-28

eyes," said Mr.. Watkins, 'T
thought it rather good notion when
it occurred to me. l expect to begin
tomorrow night"
"What you don't mean to paint in
the open, by night?"
81 do, though"
"But how will you see your canvas?"
"Have q bloomin' cops" began
Mr. Watkins, rising too quickly to
the question, and then realizing this,
bawled to Miss Durgan for another
glass of beer. "I'm goin' to have a
thing called dark lantern" he said
to Person.
"But it's about new moon, now,"
objected Person. 'There won't be
any moon"
"There'll be the house." said Wat
kins, sat any rate. I'm goin', you
ee, to paint the house first and the
moon afterward."
'Oh!" said Person, too staggered
to continue the conversation.
'They do say" said old Durgan,
the landlord, who had maintained a
respectful silence during the technical
conversation. ''as there's no less than
three p'licemen from 'Azelworth on
dewty every night in the house
count of this Lady Aveling n her
jewelry."
Toward sunset each day Mr.. Wat
kins, virgin canvas, easel and very
considerable case of other appliances
in hand, strolled up the pleasant
pathway through the woods to Ham.
merpond Park, and pitched his appar-
atus in strategic position command
ing the house. Here he was observed
by Mr.. Raphael SAINT, who was re-
turning across the park from a study
of the chalk pits. His curiosity hav-
ing been fired by Persons account of
the new arrival, he turned aside with
the idea of discussing nocturnal art.
Mr.. Watkins was apparently aware
of his approach. A friendly CONVERSE
ton with Lady Hammerpond's butler
had Just terminated, and that individ-
ual, surrounded by the three pet dogs
which it was his duty take for an air
ing alter dinner had been served, was
receding in the distance. Mr.. Wat
kins was mixing colors with an air of
great industry. SAINT, approaching
more nearly, was surprised to see the
color in question was as harsh and
brilliant an emerald green as it is pos
sible to imagine. Having cultivated
an extreme sensibility to color from
his earliest years, he drew the air in
sharply between his teeth at the very
first glimpse of this brew. Mr.. Wat
kins turned round. He looked an
noyed.
"What on earth are you going to do
with that beastly greene" said SAINT.
Mr.. Watkins realized that his zeal
to appear busy in the eyes of the but
Ter had evidently betrayed him into
some technical error. He looked at
SAINT and hesitated.
Pardon my rudeness," said SAINT /;
"but, really, that green is altogether
too amazing. 1t came as a shock.
What do you mean to do with it?"
Mr.. Watkins was collecting his re-
sources. Nothing could save the
situation but decision. eff you come
here interrupting my work." he said,
'Tm a-goin' to paint your face with
it."
SAINT retired, for he was humorist
and peaceful man. Going down the
hin he met Person and Wainwright.
''Either that man is genius or he is
a dangerous lunatic," said he. Gust
go up and look at his green" And
he continued his way, his countenance
frightened by pleasant anticipation
of a cheerful ARRAY round an easel in
the cleaning, and the shedding OF
much green paint.
But to Person and Wainwright Mr..
Watkins was less aggressive, and ex-
planned that the green was intended
to be the first coating of his picture.
It was, he admitted in response to a
remark, an absolutely new method,
invented by himself. But subse'
quently he became more reticent; he
explained he was not going to tell
every passer-by the secret of his own
particular style, and added some
scathing remarks upon the meannesf
Of people changing about" to pick uI
such tricks of the masters as they
could, which immediately relieved hin
of their company.
Twilight deepened; first one, ther
another star appeared. The rocks
amid the tall trees to the left of the
house had long since lapsed into
slumberous silence, the house itsel
lost all the details of its architecture
and became dark gray outline, an(
= then the windows of the salon shon'
-