Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-08-31

cISyAlBzNE8S 49, A.. .a.1
yHITMIZ%TNNWNNso nique is scarcely
CIV 0O'G w ~ rigid enough and
it's claims to be considered an art are
vitiated by the mercenary element that
qualities its triumphs On the whole
1t seems to be most Justly ranked as
sport, a sport for which no rules are
at present formulated, and of which
the prizes are distributed in all ex-
tremely informal manner 1t was this
informality 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
Aveling, as the reader will remember,
was the only daughter of Mrs Mon
tague Fangs, the well-known hostess
Her marriage to Lord Aveling was ex-
tensiy ely 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
Mr.. Teddy Watkins WAS the undisputed
leader. and it was decided that, &C
companied by q duly qualified assist
ant, he should 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 a landscape artist
and the unassuming 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 Ill Sussex; many matched
houses still survive, the fintbuilt
church with its tall spire nesting I'M
der the down is one of the finest and
least restored in the country, and the
beech-wOOds and brackcu jungles
through which the road runs to the
great house are singularly rich in what
the vulgar artist and photographer
call "bits "
So that Mr.. Watkins, on his arrival
with two virgin canvases, o brand new
easel, u paint box, portmanteau, an
ingenious little ladder made in sec
lions latter the pattern of that Ia
mented master, Charles Peace), crow
bar and wire coils, found himself well
coined with eftusiOn 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 a consider
able amount of aesthetic conversation
for which he was very imperfectly pre-
pared.
"Have you exhibited very much ?''
said young Person in the bar parlor
of the coach and Horses" where
Mr.. Watkins was skilfully accumulat-
ing local information on the night OF
his arrival
Every little" said Mr.. Watkins
''just a snack here and there"
Academy"
"In course. And at the Crystal
Palace, .
Did they hang you well?" said
Person.
Don't rot, said Mr.. Watkins; 81
don't like it..
81 mean did they put you in a good
place."
"Whadyer mean?" said Mr.. Wat,
kins suspiciously. Zone 'ud think
you were trying to make out I'd been
put away"
Person was 4 gentiemanly young
man, even for an artist, and he did
not know what being put away
meant, but he thought it best to ex-
plain that he intended nothing of the
sort. As the question of hanging
seemed n sore point with Mr.. Wat
kins, he tried to divert the converse
ton a little
do you do figure work at all?"
enc, never had head for figures, -
said Mr.. Watkins. 'My miss-Mrs.
Smith, l mean, does all that. "
"She paints too!' said Person.
''That's rather jolly"
Very" said Mr.. Watkins, though
he really did not think so, and, feel
ing the conversation was drifting &
little beyond his grasp, added, 81
came down here to paint Hammer.
pond House by moonlight"
''Really!" said Person. "That's
rather q novel idea"
Yes said Mr.. Watkins, 81
thought it rather good notion wheI
it occurred to Inc. expect to begin
tomorrow night
what you don't mean to paint il
the open, by night?"
Il do, though
But how will you see your canvas p
Have a bloomin' cops" began
Mr.. Watkins, rising too quickly t.
the question, and then realizing this
bawled to Miss Durgan for another
glass of beer. I'm goin' to have
thing called a dark lantern" he sale
10 Person.
''But it's about new moon, now.
objected Person. There won't h,
any moon"
''There'll be the house." said Wat
kins, ''at any rate. I'm goin', vo,
see, to paint the house first anu til.
moon afterward
oh" said Person, too staggered
10 continue the conversation.
They do say said old Durgan
the landlord, who had maintained
respectful silence during the technical
conversation. ''as there's ~ less thai
three p'licemen from 'Azalworth OF
aewty every night in the house
'connt OF this Lady Aveling n hel
iewelry.'
Toward sunset each day Mr.. Wat.
kin7. virgin canvas, easel and very
considerable case of other appliance.
III hand, strolled up the pleasant
pathway through the woods to Ham,
merpond Park, AMI pitched his appar-
atus III strategic position command.
ing the house. Here be wac observed
by Mr.. Raphael SAINT, who was re-
turning across the park from q study
0f Ela aEa1k Ynits HE aupioeitv l. .,