The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-07-09


in strategic position commanding the
house. Here he was observed by Mr.
Raphael SAINT, who was returning across
the park from study Of the chalk pits
His curiosity having been fired by Por-
sons account of the new arrival, he
turned aside with the idea of discussing
nocturnal art.
Mr.. Watkins was apparently unaware
Of his approach. A friendly converse
ton with Lady Hammerpond's butler
had Just terminated, and that individual
surrounded by the three pet dogs which
it was his duty to take for an air
ing after dinner had been served, was
receding in the distance. Mr.. Watkins
was mixing color with an air of great in
dustry. SAINT, approaching more nearly,
was surprised to see the color in ques-
ton was as harsh and brilliant an
emerald green as it is possible to i'm
agine. Having cultivated an extreme
sensibility to color from his earliest
years, he drew the air in sharply between
his teeth at the very first glimpse of
this brew. Mr.. Watkins turned round.
He looked annoyed.
"What on earth are you going to do
with that beastly green?" said SAINT.
Mr.. Watkins realized that his zeal to
appear busy in the eyes of the butler
had evidently betrayed him into some
technical error. He looked at SAINT and
hesitated.
pardon my rudeness," said SAINT;
''but really, that green is altogether TOO
amazing. It came as shock. What do
you mean to do with it?"
Mr.. Watkins was collecting his re-
sources. Nothing could save the situa-
ton but decision. IF you come here
interrupting my work." he said, I'm
a-goin' to paint your face with it."
SAINT retired, for he was a humorist
and a peaceful man. Going down the
hill he met Person and Wainwright.
EITHER tina, man is a genius, or he is a
dangerous lunatic," said he. "Just go
up and look at his green" And he con-
tinued his way, his countenance bright
ened by a pleasant anticipation of q
cheerful ARRAY round an easel in the
cleaning, and the shedding OF much
green paint.
But to Person and Wainwright Mr..
Watkins was less aggressive, and ex-
planned that the green was intended to
be the first coating of his picture. 1t
was, he admitted, in response to re-
mark, an absolutely new method, in
vented by himself. But subsequently
he became more reticent; he explained
he was not going to tell every passer-by
the secret of his own particular style,
and added some scathing remarks upon
the meanness of people Hanging about
to pick up such tricks of the masters
as they could, which Immediate ~ re-
lieved him of their company.
Twilight deepened, first one, then an
other star appeared. Til" rocks amid
the tall trees to the left of the house had
long since lapsed into slumbrous silence,
the house itself lost all the details Of it's
architecture and became dark-gray
outline, and then the windows of the
salon shone out brilliantly, the conserva-
tory was lighted up, and here and there
bedroom window burnt yellow. Had
anyone approached the easel in the park,
it would have been found deserted. One
brief, uncivil word in brilliant green
sullied the purity of its canvas. Mr..
Watkins was busy in the shrubbery
with his assistant, who had discretely
joined him from the carriage drive.
Mr.. Watkins was inclined to be self
congratulatory upon the ingenious de-
vice by which he had carried all his ap-
paratus boldly, and in the sight of all
men, right up to the scene of opera
tions. ''That's the dressing-room," he
said to his assistant, land, as soon as the
maid takes The candle away and goes
down to supper, we'll call IN. My! how
nice the house do look, to be sure,
against the starlight, and with all it's
windows ami lights! Sw"pme, Jim, I
almost wish was a painter chap. Have
you fixed that there wire across the
path from the lau1dry?"
He cautiously approached the house
until he stood below the lressing-room
window, and began to put together his
folding ladder. He was much too expe-
rienced a practitioner to feel any un-
usual excitement. Jim was recon-
noitering tn: smox'ng-room. Sudden
ly, close beside Mr.. Watkins in the
bushes, Their: was violent crash and a
stifed curse. Some one lad tumbled
over the wire which his assistant had
just arranged. He heard sect running
on the grarel pathway beyond. Mr..
Watkins, like oil true artists, was
singularly shy man. and he monument
ly dropped his folding ladder and be-
gan running circumspectly through the
shrnbbery. He was indist,nctly aware
of two people hot upon his heels, and he
fancied thai he distinguished the out
line of his assistant in front of him.
In another noment he hac, vaulted the
low stone wall bounding the shrubbery,
and was in tine open park. Two thuds
on the turf followed his own leap.
It was a c.ose chase in the darkness
through the trees. Mr.. Watkins was
loosely-built man and in good training,
and ne gained hand over hand upon the
hoarsely painting figure in front.
Neither spoke, but, as liz. Watkins