The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-31

if man is once a gentleman he is al
ways one"
do you think sop he asked eagerly.
Certainly. Do not yOu?"
II think there are" began the man,
! and this was cut short by his cough.
Cordelia caught his arm any put him into
the leather chair by the fire: he was
painting for breath.
II shall send the doctor here. know
him quite well, and / shall tell him 20
send a nurse"
top-Miss-AIiss-''
MY name is Brevoort"
Il have heard of you, Miss Brevoort.
L cannot pay the doctor for more than
one visit; | cannot pay the nurse at al. I"
That will be a.. right, Mr. FentOn.
You must not worry yourself"
You mean you are going to pay. You
are-it-is-how can / accept your good
ness?"
1T is no goodness. If you know any,
thing about me you also know my views
about money. l do not consider that the
large sums which I inherit, through the
accident of birth are mine. l should
like to have the bulk of my money taken
away and given to it's proper owners. 1
cannot have that done, 50 1 think of my
self as trustee, not as an owner. Please
don't talk; it makes you cough. and tires
YOU. Good-by''
She was gone, and after she had seen
the doctor. who cherished a great though
platonic admiration for that beautiful
lunatfc, Sister CordeHa Brevoort, she
went home with her active brain and
tender. sympathetic heart broOding on
the affairs of Mark Fenton, artist in
crayons.
He was exceedingly i'll, but at length he
rallied. and. through COrdelia's influence,
went TO convalescent home in Bourne
mouth. Thence he wrote u her long.
well-eXpreSsed, grateful letter, saying
that he was quite well. and should return
20 London the next week. He did return,
and Cordelia went TO see him.
The more she studied his drawings the
more struck she became with the artists
talent. II was talent, great talent, per
feet technical SKILL not genius The mans
gifts were thrown away; true, they sup
ported him, but they ought TO do more
Cordelias brain gave birth TO an idea,
and an Incident. careleSSly thrown in by
fate. shaped il. She supported an art
school for girls; they had to show unde-
niable talent to be eligible, and they re-
ceived their artistic training absolutely
free. The lady who had been their in
structress entered into the holy estate Of
matrimony, and went to live in the north
of England. Miss Brevoort pondered; it
was vacation at the school She took a
cab and drove to Mark Fenton's. He
was at home. sitting in the window to
get a good light, and drawing a clump
of daffOdils, with a tiny blue tint flutter
ing over them.
How pretty 1t isr' said Cordelia eco
on drawing, please, while I talk" She
drew a portfolio toward her and began
turning over the sketches; suddenly she
stopped. "Oh, it Is very good she eX-
claimed frankly; but it's fiattering."
Mark Fenton's pale face grew scarlet
You do not think it liberty?" ne
faltered- 1T Is for myself: not for sale,
or course
Certainly 1 do not"
Il began to draw your face mechanical
~" said Fenton, in low voice u was
just sitting, thinking"
1t was a remarkably good likeness.
representing Cordelia in an attitude into
which she often fell; leaning forward, the
hands crossed the lips apart, the eyes
luminous with feeling, the air of telder
listening, of absorption in another, light
ing the whole face. There was something
written beneath the portrait Coriela
read IT, flushed n little, as an humble, I'M
selfish nature does flush AZ praise, and
made no comment. The liEes were:
Half angel and half bird.
And all wonder and wild desire,
Yet human at the red ripe of the heart"
She laid the sketch softly away and
spoke. Mr.. Fent0n. 1 come 10 see you
on business. There is an appointment in
connection with the art school which
can obtain" Seeing that the salary came
out of Miss BrevOOrt's private purse. she
could naturally obtain it,. Nov. l think
you are the very person for it. The pupils
are girls; they are all clever, otherwise
they are not admitted. so the work ought
to be interesting. The salary is not very
large, but it is fairly good, and there are
rooms at the school; you will live rent
free. 1t would be better, and 1 think
pleasanter, than what you are doing; and
you would have leisure to pursue your
own work
Fenton started and laid down his cray
on. You offer me this appointement?
How more than good you arer'
mo; l study the j. crest of the girls;
1 wish to secure the "a good master"
Miss Brevoort lat can 1 say?"
Il hOpe-yes."
'If said no. you would think me I'M
grateful. What shall 1 dO?" He was
greatly agitated.
why should you say no?"
Because you wouh withdraw your
offer if you knew al. I am not so vile
a to sail under false colors with you.
must tell you'll ought 10 have told you.
cannot accept your heavenly kindness.
and il is so hard to tell You why; you
do not know how hard. You have been
like a cup of cold water in the desert
Think what man would feel who had
to pour it away, and see the sand drink
what his lips were parched for
II hope you know that you are secure
of my sympathy"
II don't know: an. is horribly hardr'
He drew lines on the table with a shak-
ing hand.
You surely are not afraid of me?''
THAT is just what / am l am afraid
of everything and every one; and of you.
at this moment. most of al. I must tell
you, though. You said, once a gentle
man. always a gentleman. or some thing
like it, didn't your
yes"
Il was born u gentleman. and educated
as one; but if a man dishonors his birth
and his training. wat then?"
Then he is very much u be pitied-"
FentOn drew mis- breath in a gasp.
Miss BrevO0r:, | am a returned con-
Wet. i was five years in prison"
CoTdelia started. The theory of the uni
versai brotherhood of MAJ necessitates
the admission of the criminal into the
family circle; but theory and practice are
different.
But you were innocent?'
mo. ! was guilty"
There was a little pause, then Cordelia
spoke. Il am sure you are very sorry
For myself? 1 have suffered enough
for my sin to repent it,"
II did not mean that. / am sure YOU
would be just as sorry, even had you not
suffered"
81 don't know"
II am sure of it. VIII you tell me a
little more?"
Il will try. I had plenty o. money, and
/ lived up to my income. / fell in love
when l was twenty-three, and | MARRIED
/ was unbusin esslke; / speculated fool
ishly, and lost lot of money. l could not
make my wife see the necessity of re-
trenchment; l was as weak rs wster-a
fool, in short. as 1 am, and always have