The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-27

| bOrdeTed on fanaticism. Like his father
i before him, Plancon possessed one Of
| those natures, so common, too. which are
ruled by impulse. These natures essen
! TALLY require supreme regulators. And
| PlancOn'S mother had exercised her in-
! tiuence in such d ca acitv. Many, many
mothers do the same. How often, how
| ever, do sons realize what they lose when
| they lose a mother? To the credit of
Frederic PlancOn it may be said he COM
pretended his loss.
| The miniature which De Merlincourt's
| servant bad picked up Plancon had worn
since child The day that he came TO
! tontainebleau he broke the chain, and
carelessly. during the exhibition, had put
! it in his pocket
DE Merllncourts first thought was to re-
turn the miniature to its owner. On second
| consideration he resolved 10 hold it for
awhile and use 1t as copy from which to
| paint portrait of Nine. Pancon. Had he
! known then what be learned later he prob
| ably would not have withheld the minia-
ture. Some people do not believe in charms.
| Well. what of it! This is certain. that
Plancon's miniature was a charm. AS
long as be wore it his mothers influence
eXerted itself. So De MerincOurt worked
hard on the portrait of Nina. Plancon. He
worked conscientiously. His soul was in
| his work. for he intended TO reseal his
friendship with PlancOn by making him q
gift of the portrait
On the third day after the beginning Of
the portrait De MerlincOurt. while resting
from his labors. fell asleep on the divan
with the miniature in his hand. When
he awoke he recollected looking at the
| ivory before falling asleep, and not being
able to find it about his person grew wOr-
ried. He Strengthened up and surveyed
the apartment. In the middle OF the floor
he saw the miniature in an upright posi-
ton. This puzzled him, for he could nor
! n n ~ ina he Y,0VN nf 70 ln
! picked it up and noticed that the gold
| back had been opened. Evidently. he
judged, when il feel on the floor it rolled
and accidentally struck on the spring,
which opened the back. Around the in
side of the frame was lock of hair and
exQulsitely carved on the ivory were the
following lines:
Be me when the sensuous frame
Is racked with panSs that conquer trust,
Aud life, d fury singing fame.
These few lines went deep into the
heart of De Merlinc0urt. He was re-
minded of his own mother Good mothers
are alike the world over. He shut the
back, but he could open it no more.
Though he tried again and again. he could
not fiud the spring. Luckily. however. he
recnlected. word for word, the little
stanza.
And now he had finished the portrait OF
Nine. PlancoD. 1t was, indeed, an excel
! lent likeness. Ills technique again SnOW6u
Its powers. On the frame he pain ted in
phosphorescent cOlOrS The words in the
miniature. In n little acOve in the studio
be hung the picture, but it was kept from
view by velvet curtain.
He had the miniature securely packed
away and ready t. send to Plancon, when
something happened which caused him to
change his mind. 1t was letter from Luz
ellie. She told him how PlancOn discovered
her in the Cafe d HarcOurt: how he'd 0ade
l. l.. \
ing 10 do with him. be logged her every
where. At last lie told her how he came
to fall in love with her. Then she became
interested in him. He told her OF the great
friendship which existed between him aud
the painter; how they quarreled on her
account. This amused her, she wrote. but
it would do more. 1t would give her the
chance to repay Jules de MerlincOurt for
rejecting the love of Lucille Tourgols.
How? Easy senough. Plancon was COM
pIetely in her power. Already he had
asked her to marry him. Now. she
thought she would. Then her turn would
come And the friendship IF two friends
would be destroyed. How did this little
game strike De Merlincourt, she wanted
to know. Still-yes, it was legibly written
still, she would deslst, she would stop
where she was if Jules would but listen
to her,
Not at all out of the ordinary" De
Merlncourt cnmplacently remarked to
himself as he finished reading the letter
Yes, he would listen TO her, and he sat
down TO his desk He wrote reply tn
Lucille. THAT will bring her down here"
he said. land more than likely the mad
cap will follow her." And It turned out
just as he surmised 1t would.
Lucille came.
She arrived at the house excited and all
out of breath. Quick" she cried to De
Merlincourt, che, Planeon, is coming. He
was on the same train. L couldn't escape
him. He'll be here directly. Where can
l gr?
up into my room. One flight-to the
left"
No sooner had she reached the top of
the stairs than the bell rang viOlens ly.
PlaDcon rushed in, hatless; speechless
and quite generally dlsheyeled, Alto
gether he was much changed. His face
showed that he had suffered. He caught
De Meriincourt by the arm.
"She is here" he exclaimed. wildly.
"Who?" calmly qusried De Merlin
court.
Don't exasperate me-Lucile your
Possibly. possibly; so is my easel and
nv palette"
Plancon grew hoarse.
Before he could say more De Merlin
court had dragged him into the studio.
Now calm yourself and FL talk with
you"
81 can't calm myself. I'm all afre. My
heart is splitting. You know l love Lu-
ellie. You wrote her to come down here.
Why did you do it?'
For his answer De Merlincourt went to
the alc0ve that contained the portrait of
Nine. PlaacOn.
Come here" he said firmly.
And Plancon Obeyed. and what he saw
made him like a child. He sank down
into chair and covered his face. The
influence of his mothers love was again
upon him. He could not speak. and when
be lifted up mis- face he was tearstained.
De MerlincOurt, much affected, took the
miniature from its receptacle. Silently he
put one arm about the neck of his friend,
and with the other hand he placed the
miniature in the palm of Plancon. Then
De MerlincOurt spoke:
we are friends again." and his voice
was full of happiness. PIancon could only
reply by an assuring squeeze. He was
PlaDcon Of old once more. And his love
for Lucille was like dream. The rough
waves within were still.
"And now. my boy" De Merlncourt re-
marked after little. "we'll have a return
of the prodigal. Lucille will Join US. A
woman's presence will add to the festivity.
Wen dine here IN the studio. Excuse me,
I'll go for her. She must be tired wait
ing"
And Lucille came down.
The miniature was in Plancon's possess
sion and he was unconcerned. He was not
in the least moved when lncilIa porsictad