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

H~TZ4ZHMHNNSS hauo Jue JeCn-
1EW%THTZTN&gS nique is scarcely
Wv 'UE0 w y rigid enough and
Its claims to be considered an art are
Vitiated bythe mercenary element that
qualities its triumphs. On the whole
1t seems to be most Justly ranked as
sport, sport for which no rules are
OF present formulated, and of which
the prizes are distributed in an ex-
tremely informal manner. It was this
lnformality of burglary that led to the
regrettable extinction of two promis-
ing beginners at Hammerpond Park.
The stakes offered in this affair con-
sisted chiefly Of diamonds and other
personal bric-a-brac belonging to the
newly-married Lady Aveling. Lady
Avellng, as the reader will remember,
was the only daughter of Mrs. Mon
tague Pangs, the weli-known hostess.
Her marriage to Lord Aveling was ex-
tensively advertised in the papers, the
quantity and quality of her wedding
presents and the fact that the honey
moon was to be spent at Hammer
pond. The announcement of these
valuable prizes created considerable
sensation in the small circle in which
MIR. Teddy Watkins was theundisputed
leader, and it was decided that, ac-
companied by a duly qualified assist
ant, heshould visit the village of Ham
merpond in his professional capacity.
Being a man of naturally retiring
and modest disposition, Mr.. Watkins
determined to make this visit incog.
and, after due consideration of the
conditions of his enterprise, he Sc
lected the role of landscape artist
and the unassumi1g surname of Smith.
He preceded his assistant, who, it was
decided, should join him only on the
last afternoon of his stay at Hammer
pond. Now, the village of Hammer
pond Is perhaps one Of the prettiest
little corners In Sussex many matched
houses still survive, the flintbuilt
church with lis tall spire nesting I'M
der the down is one of the finest and
least restored in the country, and the
beech-woods and bracken iungles
through which the road runs to the
great house are singularly rich in what
the vulgar artist and photographer
call "bits."
30 that Mr.. Watkins, on his arrival
with two virgin canvases, a brand. new
easel, a paint box, portmanteau, an
ingenious little ladder made in Sec
tions latter the pattern of that la
mented master, Charles Peace), crow
bar and wire coils, found himself well
coined with effusion and some curiosity
by half a dozen other brethren of the
brush. 1t rendered the disguise he
had chosen unexpectedly plausible,
but it inflicted upon him consider
able amount of aesthetic conversation
for which he was very imperfectly pre-.
pared.
"Have you exhibited very much p
said young Person in the bar. parlol
of the "Coach and Horses" where
Mr.. Watkins was skilfully accumulat
ing local information on the night O.
his arrival.
every little" said Mr.. Watkins
"just snack here and there"
Academy"
Sin course. And at the Crysta
Palace"
"Did they hang you wellP" saiC
Person.
"Don't rot," said Mr.. Watkins; &C
don't like it."
81 mean did they put you in goo,
placeP"
"Whadyer meanP" said Mr.. Wat
kins suspiciously. zone nd thin,
you were trying to make out I'd bee
. put away"
Person was a gentiemanly youn
man, even for an artist, and he di
4 not know what being "put away
meant, but he thought it best to e1
h plain that he intended nothing of tn
sort, 'As the question of hangin
seemed O sore point with Mr.. Wa
: kins, he tried to divert the converse
= ton little.
n 'Do you do figure work at alp"
'No, never had head for figures,
said Mr.. Watkins, ''My miss-Mr
Smith, mean, does all that.
t. ''She paints. tool' said Porsor
/ '"That's rather jolly"
L Every" said Mr.. Watkins, thong
II he really did not think SO, and, fee
ing the conversation was drifting
ie little beyond his grasp, added,