The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-04-07
A HERO" in CLAY.
CHAPTER I.

1hAf Il EN L.
1t was the luck est hit old Bannis-
ter had ever made. How he did il
nobody knew. He didn't even know
himself.
"The thing seemed to grow under
my hands" he would say, quietly,
land / had no idea it was anything
better than my usual work, until L
had finished it and came back to look
at IL as whole: then"
There was no doubt about it, he
had never before done anything TO
equal It 1t was rather large
statuette OF an ancient warrior, deli
cately modelled in clay-a slender
slnewv-looking figure, the head
thrown gracefully back, one foot
slightly advanced, short sword
clasped in the uplifted right hand,
and round shield poised firmly be-
fore his breast
There was a subtle ease, quiet
grace in the carriage and attitude; a
keen, calm eagernesS express Led in the
fine features or the figure, that one
would have thought none bu: man
OF real genius could have accom-
plished. And yet old Fob Bannister
had no geniuS-not a bit. All his
friends knew that, and he freely ac-
knowledged it himself.
BOb's chief ambition was TO be a
great sculptor--to do some great
work that should bring him wealth
for the present, and fame. for all
time. But by degrees. he narrowed
hi. - n la.. h.
came to look for nothing from art
but the means OF living in reasonable
comfort from day to day.
He had done much that was good,
but nothing that was great; until
now, when he was nearly fifty, and
his dark hair was sprinkled with
grey much to his own astonishment
he created his "HerO," and woke up
to the fact that he had done some
thing at last that might make a it,
tie noise In the world. and yield him
some drOps OF that fame he had
hoped to dill his cup with when he set
out upon his career.
Bob's particular crony and brother
in art, Alfred Maiden, was man
some five years older than himself.
The two men had met rather more
than twenty years before, and had
been the closest of friends ever since.
They rented small studio be-
tween them on the highest floor OF
tall building in the vicinity OF Ok
ford Street They had even shared
the same apartments together in
respectable boarding house Oh Neck
lenburg Square, until Maiden was
married and became the owner of
small residence at paddington.
1t was o'clock at night, and the
two men sat by the fireside OF their
little studio, smoking a last pipe
apiece before going home. Grouped
about them in grotes lue confusion
we're numerous half-fnished and
finished clay models, busts of all
manner of real and ideal men and
women, and all the miscellaneous lit.
ter OF a 'ulptOr's work-room; on the
walls hung medallions and base-re-
liefs OF all shapes and sizes, crayon
sketches, and a number of pictures in
oils and water colorS But the most
conspicuous object OF all-standing
on an imposing pedestal in the center
OF the roOm-was BOb's latest work,
his masterpiece, his Hero" in clay.
Certainly" said Bob. regarding
his work compla emily, and speaking
with a slow, meditative drawl be-
tween the dreamy whifrs at his pipe,
tits The only thing I've ever 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 ic is. l done il, and / really
do think Pm ent tied TO be a little
proud OF it, eh."
'Of course" responded Maiden,
moodily; especially when you con-
slider that rumOr OF 1t has caused a
real live Marquis TO come up and
look at it, and to tie so taken with il
as To say he will even buy it."
Now, ALI, Alf." cited Bannlster,
playfully.
Fact" said Maiden. shortly. mo
man gives money for a thing unless
he thinks it's worth his money!
"Wcll, OF course, I'm pleased TO
have a purchaser in prospect Any
one would he"
Undoubtedly grumbled Maiden;
"but IL ISN'T anyone who is lucky
enough to get purcbaser-esrecially
a purchaser who NAV oe the means
OF introducing him To an aristocratic
connection"
Bannister looked thoughtfully into
the ire and sa nothing.
j never saw su h thing" Maiden
went on, al tile b tter.y. You have
all the luck. / can't understand IT.
People seem TO think that my work
is better than yours as a general
thing, yet you always sell easier than
/ DO. and get hi 'her prices It's
luck. sheer luck"
lee IucE raraasad pannfssar