Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-08-08

laS q SllnpIt ana beautiful nature. Your
aunt was quiJs right in what she said Of
him. Your influence would be bad. The
world is wide, and has many marvellous
people In it. Dh't take away from me The
)ne person that makes life absolutely lovely
70 me, ano gives TO my art whatever wondcr
or charm il possesses. Mind, Harry, thrust
you< lie spoke very slowly and the words
seemed wrung out OF him almost against his
will
What nonsense you talk - said Lord
Henry, smiling, and, taking Hallward by
the arm, he almost led him into the house.
CHAPTER n.
As they entered they saw Dorian Gray.
He was seated ~ the piano, with his back
TO them, turning over the pages Of a volume
Of Schumann's Forest Scenes "You
must lend me these, Basil" he cried. u
want TO learn them. They are perfectly
charming.
THAT entirely depends on now you sit TO
day, Dorian"
"Oh, ! am tired Of sitting, and I don't
want a life-sized portrait Of myself" an
swered the lad. swinging round on the
music-stool, in a willful, p~etulant manner
When he caught sight Of Lord Henry.
faint blush colored his cheeks for a moment,
and he started up. II beg your pardon,
Basil, but | didn't know you had any one
with you"
''This is lord Henry Wotten, Dorian, an
old Oxford friend Of mine. have just been
telling him what a capital sitter you were,
and now you have spoiled everything"
"You have not spoiled my pleasure in
meeting you, Mr.. Gray said Lord Henry.
stepping forward and shaking him by the
hand. "My aunt has often spoken 70 me
about you. You are one Of her favorites,
and, l am afraid, one Of her victims also"
III am in Lady Agatha's black books at
presc IT." answered Dorian, with a funny
look 81. p~enitence. ~ promised to go to her
club in Whitechapel with her last Tuesday,
and I really forgot about 1t. We were &c
have played a duet to~gether-thrce duets. l
believe. don't know what she will say TO
me. ] am far too frightened TO call"
'Oh, ! will make your peace with my
aunt. She is quite devoted 10 you. And |
don't think il really matters about your not
being there. The audience probably thought
down TO the piano she makes quite enough
uoISc lOf IWo people.
That is very horrid 10 her, and not very
nice to me- answered Dorian, laughing.
Lord Henry looked at him. Yes, he was
certainly wonderfully handsome, with his
finely curved scarlet lips, his frank blue
eyes, his crisp gold hair. There was some
thing In his face that made one trust him at
once. All the candor Of youth was there, as
well as all youths passionate purity. One felt
that he had kept himself unspotted from the
world. No wonder Basil Hallward wor-
shipped him. He was made TO be ~worshiped.
you are too charming to go in for phil
anthrophy, Mr.. Gray-far too charming
And Lord Henry flung himself down on the
divan, and opened his cigarette-case.
Hallward had been busy mixing his colors
and getting his brushes ready. He was
looking worried. and when he heard Lord
Henry's last remark he glanced at him,
hesitated for a moment and then said:
Harry, l want TO finish this picture to-day.
Would you think it awfully rude Of me IL l
asked you TO go awayi"
Lord Hsnry smiled, and looked at Dorian
Gray. IAN l to go, Mr.. Gray" he asked.
"Oh, please don't, Lord Henry. l see
that Basil is in one Of his sulky moods; and
I can't bear him when he sulks. Besides. /
want you tell me why l should not not go in
for philanthrophy."
~ don't know that I shall tell you that,
Mr.. Gray. But l Certainly Will not run
away, now that you have asked me TO stop.
You don't really mind Basil, do you. You
have often told me nat you liked your sit
ters TO nave some one to chat to-
Hallward bit his lip. IF Dorian wishes
il, Of course you must stay. Dorian's
whims are law to everybody, except him
self"
Lord Henry tool up his hat and his gloves.
.sYou are very pressing, Basil, but l am
afraid | must go. / have promised to meet
a man at the Orleans. Goodbye, Mr.. Gray.
Comesmd see me some afternoon In Curzon
Street. ! am nearly always at home at five
o'clock. Write to me when you are coming.
| should be sorry TO miss YOU
Basil" cried Dorian Gray, 'if Lord
Henry goes / shall so too. You never open
your lips while you are painting, and it is
horribly dull standing on a platform and
trying to look pleasant. Ask him TO stay.
I insist upon it,"
Stay. Harry, TO obligc Dorian, and TO
oblige me- said Hallward, gazing intently
at his picture. 1t is quite true. | never talk
when / an working, and never listen either,
and il must be dreadfully tedious for my
unfortunate %sitters. l beg you to stay"
But what about my man at the OrleausG'
"Hallward laughed. 81 don think there
will be any difficulty about that. Sit down
again, Harry. And now Dorian. get up on
the platform, and don't move about too much,
- -. -, .to-.;. a.. ..,A.k Aal IIanr 81
says. He has a very bad influence over all
his friends, with the exception of myself
Dorian stepped up on the dais, with the
air Of a young Greek martyr, and made a
little moue of discomfort to Lord Henry, TO
whom he had taken a fancy. He was so
unlike Hallward. They made a delightful
contrast. And he had such a beautiful
voice. After a few moments he said to him
Have you really such a bad influence, Lord
Henry AS bad as Basil saysr
'There is no such thing as q good In
f~iuence, Mr.. Gray. All influence is i'm
moral-immoral from the scientific point OF
view
"Whyi"
Because to influence a person is TO give
him ones own soul. He does not think his
natural thoughts, or burn with his natural
passions. His virtues are not real To him
His sins, il there are such things cs sins
are borrowed. He becomes the echo Of some
one else's music. an actor Of a part that has
not been written for him. The aim Of life
Is self-development. To realize ones nature
perfectly-that ID what each Of , IL herr
fos. People are afraid OF themselves, now
adays. They AVE forgotten the highest oil
all duties, the duty that one owes to one'i
self. OF course they are charitable. They
feed the hungry, and clothe the beggar
But their own souls starve. and are naked
Courage has gone out Of our race. Perhaps
we never really had it. The terror o.
society, which is the basis Of morals, tn,
terror Of God, which is the secret Of religion
these are the two things that govern Us
And yet"
Just turn your head a little more to th,
right, Dorian, like a good boy" said Hall
ward, deep In his work, and conscious onl.
that q look had come into the lads face tina
he had never seen there before.
And yet" continued Lord Henry, in hi
low, musical voice, and with that graceful
wave of the hand that was always s.
characteristic Of him, and that he had ever
in his Elton days, ~ believe that IL one mai
were to live his life out fully and complete
ly, were TO give form to every feeling, ex
.r.aosA- .l -~~l.s. A. -w~-