The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-16


did"
There was pause. and then Hrlhouse
, answered:
To tell you the truth, Watt. 1 sold it,
VINO bought 1.-THE American; your
fancee?" ''N-
Didn't tell you that before2" Hin-
mouse said, somewhat sharply.
Watts smiled and resumed his cigar.
Ferhaps you did, forget-it was a
lovely FACE, and always had an idea that
the original ana you were-there-I beg
your pardon-of course, it's none Of my
"oh. I don't care" said Hulbouse ris-
ing 70 his feet and walking up and down.
IeslIessly Aou are quite right In your
supposluon; we were lovers, engaged low
els, ana no Madonna was ever sweeter
than the girl / have thrown up for nv arr >,
Art be hangedi Speak honest, Hill
mousse. TEL the truth; say you We're unable
10 resist the destinations Of the widow, or
! her fortune-which?"
We'll, hang it, What is a fellow TO do9
GU can paint without money. You want
models, colors, canvasses: You want a de-
cent studio-an environment to produce a
great picture. All that means money If
we lived in those halcyon days when the
/ pope and cardinals took genius bv the
| hand and said: Look here, YOU handler
OF charcoal, you dreamer OF beautiful
creams, don't stunt your genius by be-
coming an incarnate committee OF ways
ana means how to exist 20 paint and
dream, and paint all you dream and ali
you see, and We will provide the needful.'
II, l say, we lived in such a sensible age
| as that, one might afford to cherish the
| Madonnas of the heart to the end of time /:
| but what is the fact? Paint your hest
you won't sell 1t; paint your worst and
| pretuest-it sells-fast enough but you
| are undone as a painter Moral-hnd a
| substitute for the popes and cardinals in
| the woman you marry and then on to sue
/ cess, fame, Immortality"
| HilIhouse paused and looked a challenge
| TO Watts, and Watts, looking at him curl
| ously through the smoke, said gravely:-
You have been helping yourself too
/ plentifully to wine, old boy. Wine loosens
/ the tongue. 1t is hardly complimentary TO
the woman you are going to marry, all
| this, / should say"
| Perhaps not--all the same. that's about
| the sum of 1t all-Aad Of course I dom
/ speak to everyone as freely as to you. so
| you needn't baulH. l daresay things will
right themselves in time, both here and
| in England"
One month after this a newspaper ad-
dressed to Miss Anna Sutherland, Devon
| shire, England, was delivered by the car
| rier with the usual morning mali. Anna
glanced at the handwriting and a flush
| passed over her face, leaving II paler even
| than usual. She turned the paper over
and over till her eyes caught a large blue
| pencil mark opposite the marriage notices
directly opposite one reading thus:
AT the Embassy, on the 14th inst, Arch
.
OF the late Patrick II. CONAN, of New
York"
| 1t was not until after another interval
Of five years that Watts met Hfllhouse
| again, and then it was on the banks of the
Luggie, in the kind grey Scottish gloam-
ing.
Both met at the entrance to the avenue
| which led up to the old house showing
| spectrally among the trees, and the new
! moon leaning back, peered at them Gu
riously through the spaces between the
Hllhouse was leaning over the gate
with his chin between his hands, sunk
in reverie, when the familiar voice reused
! him.
Hello! Well, of all people you are the
! last I should expect to see here"
Hillhouse started, stared and instinct
| lively extended his hand.
Watts! this is indeed a surprisen'
! 1T is to me-" said Watts, shaking hands
swelling it in New York"
NO l am here"
The words were spoken in such a dry,
| quiet tone that Watts looked again at
| his friend.
How is Mrs. Hllhouse-quite well, I
hope?"
II don't know; in fact, there is no Mrs.
| Hillhouse now-she is divorced-is Mrs.
| 2. Il. CONAN of New York again
"Oh, dear mel I'm sorry to hear that"
! We'll, you needn't; l am well rid Of
| her, / assure you; but it served me right.
| The mills of the gods grind slow, Watts,
| but / find they grind exceeding small.
You bet they do!
And how goes Eting-selling well?"
| "Oh, yes; can't complain. How is it
| with yourself, there"
| "Oh, $3.50. Always painting away and
| holding my own, at least. Sold a picture
| for two hundred and fifty the other day.
! But why were you incoming up here
Come and see the White Lady like my
/ self?"
what White Lady? only landed here
| this afternoon. No, this place once be-
longed to friend Of mind-,let me see
some ten years ago; but they sold the
| place and went to Devonshire, in Eng
/ land"
"Ahv
Eyes. And Just took an odd fancy to
come up and look at the old place again"
81 see By the way-if it be a fair ques-
! ton, Hillhouse-is your English Madon-
/ IA still in Devonshire? Do you know 1
was quite in love with that head I am
| going there soon; would you mind giving
me the address or note of introduce
tion?"
Hillhouse frowned slightly, but he an
swered:
| Certainly, I shall give you the address.
4 / suppose the Madonna herself will be
changed in these ten years; very likely
| she is married"
"Oh, that doesn't matter. Married or
single, she will always have that sweet
womanly look Of goodness which gave the
peculiar charm to that head. 1 shouldn't
wonder If the years have only added to
/ its loneliness. Time does in some faces,
! especially if sorrow has been scalping at
/ the expression. At all events, am going
| to paint a Madonna for next years eXhi-
bition at Munich, and shall try to get
your Madonna to give me a sitting or
! two for her head"
The twilight was not yet 50 profound as
! to conceal the frown which gathered on
/ the brow Of Hillhouse.
! "Ah-well-should you go-you need not
mention my American experiences, you
! know" Me said. THESE English girls
are very conservative in their ideas, you
| know"
VERY glad to think they are-but I
shant mention you at all. Besides-some-
/ thing else may turn up-and may not
90. But you have not yet heard of this
place being haunted, have you?"
/ mo, not l. As told you, / have just
/ got here a few hours ago."
well the most charming legend! It
seems that a white figure is seen to glide
up and down this avenue and out and in
/ among the trees after dark. 1t was seen
/ last night by my landlord, who was pass
/ ing this gate here, and he swears he saw
/ her glide and vanish behind a tree. The
/ mar felIov hasn't got over IL since"