The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-08-15
Eyes. I am glad now, I wonder shall I

romance by tlying to make it last forever.
i is q meaningless word, too. The only
difference between n caprice and a lifelong
passion is that tho caprice lasts q little
longer"
AS they entered the studio, Dorian Gray
put his hand upon Lord Henry's arm. "In
that case, let our friendship be n caprice"
he murmured, blushing at his own boldness,
then stepped up on the platform and re-
sumed his pose.
Lord Henry flung himself into a large
wicker armchair, and watched him. The
sweep and dash of the brush on the canvas
made the only sound that broke the still
ness, except when Hallward stepped back
now and then to look at his work. from u
Instance. In the s%lanting beams that
streamed through the open doorway the
lust danced and was golden. Tho heavy
scent of tho roses seemed to brood over
everything.
After about a quarter Of an hour, Hall
ward stopped painting, looked for a long
time at Dorian Gray, and then for a long
time at the picture, biting the end of one of
his huge brushes, and smiling. at is quite
finished" he cried, at last, and stopping
down he wrote his name in thin vermillion
letters on the left-hand corner Of the can
vas.
Lord Henry came over and examined the
picture. 1t was certainly a wonderful
work of art, and a wonderful likeness as
well.
MY dear fellow, I congratulate you most
warmly, he said. Mr.. Gray, tome and
look at yourself"
III lad started, as if awakened out of a
dream. 'Is it really fnishedin he muir
INJURED, stepping down from the platform.
"Quite finished" said Hallward. And
you have sat splendidly to-day. l am w
fully obliged to you"
''rhat is entirely due to me, !" broke in Lord
Henry. "Isn't it, Mr.. Gray9"
Dorian made no answer, but passed list
tcssly in front of his picture end turned
toward it. When he saw it he drew back,
and his cheeks flushed for q moment with
pleasure. A look of joy came into his eyes,
as if he recognized himself for tho first
He stood there motionless, and in wonder,
dimly conscious that Hallward was speak
ing to him, but not catching the meaning Of
his words. The sense of his own beauty
came on him like a revelation. He had
never felt it before. Basil Hallward's COM
pliments had seemed to him to be merely
the charming Congregations of friendship.
He had listened to them, laughed at them,
forgotten them. They had not influenced
his nature. Then had come Lord Henry,
with his strange %panegyric on youth, his
terrible warning of its brevity. That had
stirred him at the time, andnow, Us he stood
gazing ut the shadow of his own loneliness,
the full reality of the description flashed
across him. Yes, there would be a day
when his face would be wrinkled and wien,
his eyes dim and colorless. the grace of his
figure broken and deformed. Tho scarlet
would pass from his lips, and the gold steal
! from his hair. The life that was to make
his soul would mar his body. He would be-
come ignoble, hideous, and uncouth.
AS he thought OF it, Il sharp pang of pain
struck like n knife across him, and made
each delicate fiber of his nature CULVER. His
eyes deepencd into amethyst, and a mist of
tears came across them. He felt as if u
hand of ice had been laid upon his heart.
Don't you like it!' cried Hallward at
last, stung q little by the lads silence, and
not understanding what it meant.
"Of course he likes it" said Lord Henry.
"Who wouldn't like ita It is one of the
greatest things in modern art. l will Civ
you anything you like to ask for it. l must
have it."
ut is not my property, Harry"
Whose property is it"
"Dorian's, of course"
II is a very lucky fellow"
"How sad it is !" murmured Dorian Gray,
with his eyes still liked upon his por
trait. "How sad it is! / shall grow old,
and horrid, and dreadful. But this picture
will remain always young. 1t will never be
older than this particular day of June. If it
UaS n,,1y tha nthor ,yo L To ~ ,,,oc T ,vbr
were to be always young, and the picture
that We're to grow oldl For this-for this
l would give everythingl Yes, there IL
nothing in the world 1 would not give!"
"Iou would hardly care for that arrange.
ment, Basil" cried Lord Henry laughing.
at would be rather hard lines on you"
Il should object very strongly, Harry"
Dorian Gray turned and looked at him,
II believe you would, Basil. You like your
art better than your friends. l am no more
than a green bronze figure. Hardly as much,
l dare say"
Hallward stared in amazcment. twas SC
unlike Dorian to speak like that. What had
happened! He seemed almost angry. His
face was flushed and his checks burning.
Yes" he continued, ~ am less to you
than your ivory Hermes or your silver Faun.
You will like them always. How long will
you like met Till Ihave my first wrinkle, /
suppose. know nov that when one loses
one's good looks, whatever they may be, one
loses everything. Your picture has taught
me that. Lord Henry is perfectly right.
Youth is the only thing worth having.
When l find that 1 am growing old, I will
Kill myself"
Hallward turned pale, and caught his
hand. Dorian Dorian" he cried, don't
talk like that. l have never had such o
friend rs you, and shall never have sucb
another. You are not Jealous of material
things, arc you?"
~ am jealous of everything whose beauty
does not die, l am jealous of the portrait you
have painted Of mo. Why should it keep
what l must losel Every moment that
passes takes something from me, and gives
something to it. Oh, if it was only the other
wayI If the picture could change, II ]
could be always what 1 am now! Why did
you paint it1 1t will mock me some day
mock me horriblyi" The hot tears welled
nto his eyes; he tore his land away, and
tlinging himself on the divan, he buried his
face in tho cushions, as if he was praying.
'This is YOU doing, Harry" said Hall.
ward, bitterly.
My doingl"
"Yes, yours. and you know it,
Lord Henry shrugged his shoulders. at
is the real Dorian Gray-that is all, he an.
swered.
1T is not"
eff it is not what nave I to do with It'll"
"You should have gone away when l asked
your
81 stayed when you asked me-"
Harry, l can't quarrel with my two best
friends at once, but between you both you
have made me hate the finest piece OF work
/ have ever done, and l will destroy it.
What is it but canvas and color1 will not
let it come across our three lives and maj
them"
Dorian Gray lifted his golden head from
the pillow, and looked at him with pallid
face and tear-stained eyes, as he walked
over to the deal painting-tablc that was Sc,
beneath the large curtnined window. What
was he doing there! His fingers were stray
ing about among tho litter Of tin tubes and
dry brushes, seeking for something. Yes,
it was the long pAlette-knifc. with its thin
blade Of 1.-the steel. He had found it at last.
fJa wos roinr tn rim I'M the canvas