Evening star., 1896-12-19

If you want to buy any of my pictures. or
anything. don't you know. you must come
another day"
II did not come about pictures, but about
something vastly different and more seri-
GUS"
MY good fellow-you'n excuse my inter
rupting you. won't you? There is no serious
business except art, and today don't even
talk art"
"Hrrran I+yes" said Marsten hotly "are
more serious than art"
please don't raise your voice. You are
certainly wrong about things. but haven t
time to correct you today. don't you know.
All one needs to say about your last re-
mark is tnat human lives are ephemeral,
while art is everlasting. Therefore is art
The more important of the two. But we'll
other day? I'm sure L shall be delighted to
see you at any time.
Couldn't you give me five minutes out
on the landing?"
guests. You see. we have the dancing earl
on in few moments. His grace is just
now ARRANGING his skirts. / really must
go. don't you know
Then / will stay until the earl has done
his dancing. if that is what he is here for"
DO. my dear fellow, do A most excel
lent idea j am sure you will like it, for,
though L have not seen the dance myself,
of tea 1 would have sent you card If l
had thought that any of my fathers work
men were interested in the latest move
ments of art. but never mind the lack of
invitation. If you care to stay without it.
L shall be delighted 1t is really very good
of you to drop in in this unexpected way.
1t is the kind of thing / like, so Bohemian,
don't you know You'll excuse me now, I'm
sure" and Barney tripped away to see that
all arrangements for the appearance of the
earl were complete
The model stand had been pushed to one
end OF the room fronting the audience;
heavy curtains had been drawn across the
big north window, leaving the place in
semi-darkness; there was the kissing and
sputtering of lime light in the gallery.
causing inquisitive people to turn their
heads to see what IL was.
Marsten stood against the wall beside al
other man, who said to him in a weary
tCne:
Who is this man. Barnard Hope?"
He is an artist" answered Marsten, as
tonished that one guest should question a
stranger regarding their mutual host.
Evidently. replied the other. But
who are his people, or has he any?
His father is one of the richest mana-
facturers in London"
"Egad. l was sure of it. I knew there
was shop somewhere in the background
the fellow Is SO beastly civil"
Conversation was here interrupted by a
figure ledping on the model stand while at
the same instant binding white light was
thrown from the gallery upon il. There
was a ripple of applause, and the earl a
beardless youth of perhaps twenty, bowed
He looked like girl In his clinging, fiuted
skirts. He was a scion of an ancient noble
family, founded by an affectionate dancer
or the opposite sex In the reign of the sec
ono Charles. and IL was quite in the regular
order of things that there should be a
recrudescence of terpsichorean ability in
the latest member of the house.
The white light changed to red and the
skirt dance began. As 1t went on 1t was
received with tumultuous applause for a
London audience is always easy to please
especially when there is no charge for ad-
mission at the doors. Still, 1t must be I'D
mitted that the sprightly little earl de-
served the warmth of his reception for
his exhibition was a model of grace and
agility, while his manipulation of the voIu-
mirous skirts left little 10 be desired The
yarie-atcd colors thrown the fiuttering
whiriing nrapeTy gave a weird, unearthly
effect 10 the rapid movements of his grace
and the grand finale. where a crimson Hight
was fling upon the flimsy silk waving hig:
above the dancers head. gave the agile
young Eobienan the appearance of one of
the early martyrs wrapped in flames
The curtains were drawn back the en-
tranced assemblage rose to its feet, and
gathering about the host. congratulated
him upon the success of his afternoon
Barney received these Fluctuations with ex-
Gberant EratitCafiOn. and the Young earl
firally emerging from behind the scenes
clothed and in his right mind, but a trifie
veil
earned share of the condiments for let
cynics say what they will. true merit IS
always sure Of apprecla lion in the great
city.
Edna Sartwen fingered for n moment ~,
the outskirts of Tie throng that pressed
around Barney and the little earl. then
letsurely made her way toward, the door
waiting for her stepmother, who fingered
TO than6 her host. The men who ba5
stocd along the wall were already in the
street, and the other visitors had neariv
all departed
MdFstcn stood alone where he was VIII -
the entertainment was going on pazI,p
with beating heart at the girl he loved
She came slowly toward him. her head
ayerted. watching her stepmother standiner
In the fast thinning group about Rarnev
There was certain Inconsistencies about
her movements. as if the young man hsd
hypnotized her and was drawing her TO
him by mere force of will. At last her
skirts touched him and his nerves tingled