Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-09-13

thing called dark lantern" he said
to Porson.
But it's about new moon, now, "
objected Porson. 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.
"rhey do say" said old Durgan,
the landlord, who had maintained Il
respectful silence during the technical
conversation. "as there's no less than
three p'licemen from 'Azelworth on
dewty every night i'll the house
count of this Lady Aveling II her
jewelry."
Toward sunset each day Mr.. Wat
kin', virgin canvas, easel and II very
considerable case of other appliances
i'll 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 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 after 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
kius turned round. He looked an
moved.
"What on earth are you going to do
with that beastly green?" 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 AMI hesitated.
Pardon my rudeness," said SAINT
"but, really, that green is altogether
too amazing. it came as shock.
What do you mean to do with it?"
Mr.. Watkins was collecting his re-
sources. Nothing could save the
situation but decision. ''lf you come
here interruptiug my work, p" he said,
''fm a-goin to paint your face with
1t.
SAINT retired, for he was humorist /
and ii peaceful man. Going down the
hill he met Porson and Wainwright.
Either that man is genius or he is
a dangerous lunatic," said he. "Just
go up and look at his green" And
he continued his way, his countenance
frightened by pleasant anticipation
OF cheerful affray round an easel i'll
the gloaminS, 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.
1t was, he admitted in response to Il
remark, AT absolutely new method,
invented by himself. But subse-
quently he became more reticent he
explained lie was not going to tell
every passer-by the secret OF his own
particular style, and added some
scathing remarks upon the meauuess
of people changing about t. pick up
such tricks of the masters as they
could, which Immediately relieved him
of their company.
Twilight deepened; first one, then
another star appeared. The rocks
amid the tall trees to the left of the
house had long since lapsed into
slumoerous silence, the house itself
lost all the details of its architecture
and became a dark gray outline, and
then the windows of the salon shone
out brilliantly, the conservatory was
lighted up, and here and there IL bed
Ippu " Jul ib y fOiic"' ii"o any
one approached the easel in the park
it would have been found deserted.
One brief, uncivil word in brilliant
green sullied the purity Of its canvas.
Mr.. Watkins was busy in the shrub
berry with his assistant, who had dis
creetly joined him from the carriage
drive.
MIR. Watkins was inclined to be self
congratulatory upon the ingenious de-
vice by which he had carried all his
apparatus boldly, and i'll the sight of
all men, right up to the scene OF OPP
Grafton That's the dressing room, "
he said to his assistant, land, as soon
as the maid takes the candle away and
goes down to supper. we'll call III.
My how nice the house do look, to
be sure, against the starlight, and
with all its windows and lights
Swopme, jim, l almost wish | was
painter chap. Have you fixed that
there wire across the path from the
laundry"
He cautiously approached the house