Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-19

I LbusAb6I Peu!1ny I0rO' the AIR
| Drives away your grim despair,
Lulls the feverel brow of care,
Meath the children's sway.
| -Pearson's Weekly.
A QUEER CASE.
l. Many years have passed since we
were sitting together, one May morning,
in trellised arbor that overlooked Men
tone and its western bay. Ny friend
was a handsome man of 40 years, or SO,
a landscape painter, who lacked fame,
believe, only because he lacked the de-
sire OF fame and the spur Of poverty be-
cause he could be content with art for
arts sake.
"f you like he said, II will tell
you queer story about myself. I do
not swear you to secrecy, since love
laughs at the VOWS of confidants as we'll
as OF lovers, but. as you are an alter ego,
you must agree to keep my story to
yourself till the actors have left the
scene. Besides, I do not suppose you
will ever yearn desperately to impart
the secret to others.''
faughingly held out my hand i'll sign
of agreement, and he proceeded with his
tale.
"You must know" he began, 'sthat
from my early childhood my mothers
brother stood to me in place of parents
Well to do, leisured, he was mainly en-
crossed in scientific pursuits. Grave, of
severe and dignified demearor, he had
long cultivated the talent Of silence. AS
grew up he indulged me in my desire
of freedom and my love of art He ex-
pressed himself as satisfied with my
choice Of profession, supplied me amply
with requisite funds, approved my dill
gence, shook his head at most when I
| could not show him many new studies
There was only one subject which could
serve to break down his reserve, and
that was woman. Even then he seldom
ventured beyond witty epis rams. The
cause Of this confirmed misogyny may
be right in assigning to some youthful
love disappointment, but have nothing
but conjecture to base upon. Twas eager
to please this grabbed, austere uncle Of
mine, whom knew to be warm hearted
at the core, SO unOstentatiously helpful
| was he to all whom he discovered to he
in need Of assistance, but MY eagerness
| led me to the commission Of an error. I
was constantly On the lookout for epi
grams that should be new to him and
occasionally managed to fashion one
which could produce as an impromptu.
I readily seized opportunities to pass
from epigram to defamation. In a word,
I overdid my part. And yet my uncle
seemed to quietly smile at my sallies
and often congratulated me on my re-
volt from petticoat government.
''Well, can honestly say that for
long my art was my sole mistress, but
when was reaching my thirtieth year
Don Cupid spread his wiles and captured
me- I was making studies Of Picardy
scenery and visiting at pleasant cha
teau. Ny hostess daughter one day in
formed me that the dear music mistress
and friend Of her school days Tar Eng
lish lady, she added) was to arrive in
the course Of the week My fate, my
fate, murmured at her advent. 1t was
a case of love at FIRST sight; and, more
over, the coup dc foudre was not one
sided. committed another error, much
graver than the first. told her of my
uncle's idiosyncrasy and, though she
was inexperienced (she was but a year
or two younger than y and had not
lacked. could not have lacked, unaccept-
ed lovers, won her reluctant consent
to asecret marriage. The case was sim
plified since she had none but distant
relatives. could readily resign her post,
cared not for society. And SC, we spent
a happy winter in the London in which
my uncle and lived, but Lot together
hidden, unsupported. In the spring it
was my custom to go to Italy, and OF
course my cry this time was Italian
petimus, first person plural.
Q. 'sBut with the spring came the unex-
pected death of my uncle. One morning
Irang at his-docr and was stupefied by
/ the tidings that he had been found but
an hour or two ago dead in his bed. A
messenger had been sent at once to my
studio, but was not there. l had just
| come in time TO forestall further in.
| quiries at the homes Of various artists
with whom it might be supposed that l
! had staid the light. Dazed, crossed
the threshold Of the death chamber and
looked sorrowfully on that truest friend
whose voice should hear no more. l
realized the criminality of my want OF
confidence, my silence, my secrecy. Aye,
but repentance was useless, the past IS
irreyocable. An hour later sailed out
into the streets for a little while and
sent telegram to Margaret Informing
! her in guarded terms Of what had hap
pened and of my necessary absences till
should have executed the last due rites.
"To the funeral succeeded the open
ing and reading Of the will, a matter
which had but little occupied my care
! less thoughts. Could I believe my ears?
Yet there was no possible doubt His
dear nephew was his sole legatee on
condition that he should marry in the
space of two years, during which time
the customary charitable subscriptions
and my quarterly subyention were to be
paid. Otherwise the property was to
pass in certain proportions to these char
tiles, and his dear nephew was to look
20 his art for livelihood. sought
privacy with what haste could and
tried to think it all over. Why this to-
tai change in my uncle's views? Had
he repented a his wonted fear and ha.
tired Of women? Had my exaggerated
echoes of his sentiments displeased him,
as masters are won't to be displeased
with too apt disciples? On the other
hand, sure that / was confirmed cell
bate, did he wish by an unacceptable,
impossible condition to drive me from
amateurism to strenuous achievement
in my art? Well, facts were facts and
hypotheses were only hypothesis. !
walked hastily homeward to Margaret.
thinking the while how I should break
the news. Greeted with All anxious In
, quiry as to my paleness, l stammered
out the tidings in coherent fashion.
/ She, too, grew pale, and a long silence