Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-21

in spite of the carpet slippers, rumpled shirt
| and baGgy neither garments.
Brandt was a character-a bit of the
| wrecks &c stranded every day in the year
| on the shores of the new world. His his
| tory was in his own keeping, but that it
had been full of change and incident, though
keeping steadily to the downward trend, no
| one knowing Brandt could doubt Replete
| with philosophy, history and literature; of
versatile gifts, simple and honest, yet deep.
! fiery, yet amiable; cynical, yet romantic,
enc Of the artists expressed it, "a man Of
| frightful principles and almost blameless
| life''-such was Brandt.
| 1t seemed that the foot of the faciis de-
scensus had been reached at last. Brandt
| seemed likely to end his days as hanger-on
| of the artist colony to which he had at
| tached himself, and to which, whether as
| model, man-of-all-work, messenger, critic
| CT cook. he was veritable boon. He
| loved them all. the happy-go-lucky fellows!
| He knew all their mornings and outgoings.
| and, for the matter of that, their outstay-
| ipgs, too. He rejoiced in their successes,
| and vlified the public when it failed to
| recognize their talents He interviewed
| creditors, bric-a-brac dealers and pawn
| brokers; lied for them, cried for them, and
fought for time. with impartial zeal. accept
| ing in proud silence the compensation which
| appeare at rather Irregular intervals upon
| the table in his private room. One thing he
| could not do for thenl-Titan that he was
| he could not wear their old clothes, and
| continued to outrage their feelings by
| startling selections from 9TH street bargain
| COUNTERS, until in sheer desperation a col
| lection was taken up and responsibility, in
the shape of decent black coat, thrust
upon the unconscious cause Of so much
esthetic disturbance.
But If Brandt loved and Served them all
1t was Muncaster whom he loved as the
Child Of his bosom, and over whom he
atched with jealous care.
With that subtle comprehension of mat
tiers of sentiment that belongs to the Ger
man character. helped out by actual obser-
walton, there was little of Muncaster's
unfortunate love story left for the old man
to discover, and deep was his sympathy and
hot his wrath against that cruel sex that
In one way or another Is mans inevitable
undoing. So. after this characteristic dia-
tribe against woman Brandt, with glance
at the young mans Respondent attitude,
withdrew, gloomily shaking his head, AMI
| for some time nothing further occurred to
| interrupt Muncaster's gloomy revery, but
1 finally a step and frou-frou of rich fabrics
| reached his ear, and. turning indifferently,
he saw that which made him rise hastily,
| pale to the lips.
1t was Mrs. Drayton, Beth's mother,
| standing there. looking at him, her fine
| face white under its silver hair, her dark
eyes, that seemed meant for softer glances,
inimical and cold
They had met before in the touch and go
| Of Washington society, where talent is
sometimes recognized In a way, and both
| bowed slightly. Mrs. Drayton even smiled,
the glimpse of white teeth giving her face
IT came" she said, with studied gra-
c.ousness, Ito see the painting for which
have been told my daughter has been pos
ing"
1.-THE painting for which Miss Drayton
has done me the honor to pose Is not on
exhibition" said Muncaster, his head very
high, his look as proud as hers. 1T is not
finished
Mrs. Drayton's fece became lightly suf-
fused. Her eyebrows arched themselves.
You mean,' she said huskily, that you
refuse to let me see the picture in its pres
ent stage?"
Muncaster bowed.
Il ask it as a special favor said Mrs.
Drayton after a moment.
Muncaster hesitated Then, with an i'm
pusive gesture, strobe across the room and
uncovered the great canvas
Il thank you Mr.. MLncaster," said Mrs.
Drayton. taking the chair he placed for
her and raising her lorgnette.
There was silence for some time. Mum
caster walked to the window again. How
he hated this woman! This woman with q
reputation for munifceEce and charity, and
all that, who could crush the joy out of
two young hearts as she was doing, and for
such paltry reasons! Nothing against him
but his powerfully birth, by every innate
quality her equal. and to be so scorned, SO
more than scorned-ignored!
Dead silence reigned in the studio. Even
Brandt was silent with his everlasting
drumming, though he was not far away.
No eye saw the change in that proud wo-
mans face as she looked upon Muncaster's
picture-great in conception if in nothing
else, poor fellow! She admitted that in her
critical, cultured mind. And the girlish fig
ure shrinking from the resistless embrace
Of the awful shrouded figure of Death, the
terrified, yearning face, the hands that
chung so sperately to the rose-wreathed
seat at the joyous banquet from which she
was being wrested-those were Beth's, her
beloved Beths, idealized, but still strongly
recognizable, and every fiber in the moth
er's being thrilled at the sight. A long
time she Looked; then recovering herself
with deep Inspiration. let the glass fall
ard turned toward the artist.
buy this picture. Will you, name your
price?" =
Muncaster turred and looked at her won
deringly; her aplomb aroused his admira-
ton. Then he laughed; his face became
handsome in its play of emotions.
ut is not for SALE Mrs. Drayton," he
said; land 1 do rot know that it ever will
be finished. You should understand that"
1T is finished sufficiently for my pur-
pose" the woman answered. with cold
smile. viii you sell it to me? At your
own price. remember
Then Muncaster understood. Beth was
right. This woman could be cruel! Merci-
less! Every vestise of color left his face;
his figure seemed to expand and neighten
MOI he cried hoarsely. There is a bet
ter way!''
And filling brush with paint, he dashed
it repeatedly over the face of the girl in
the picture. 1t was done in flash before
MIS- ITdy Hdllu cOuIu tedcH his arm.
She sprang to her feet with q cry. The
pity of it touched the artist in her-for the
moment the mother, the woman of the
world, was dumb.
Muncaster threw the brush aside, and the
two faced each other
That was a foolish, boyish actr' Mrs.
Drayton said. after moment. Il an very
sorry you did It,"
Muncaster burst into reckless laugh.
Mrs. Drayton came q step nearer to Mum
caster, her face disturbed by look almost
of sympathy.
when you are less excited, Mr.. Muncas-
ter, you will understand 1 think" she said
hurriedly, that l could not, under existing
circumstances, permit my daughters por-
trait to remain exposed to public view and
and comment! l regret, I assure you, l
regret exceedingly the destruction of such
a fine piece of work. (she was gaining self
control nowD land hope you will be more
| fortunate in your next model. Good morn
Mr. arr