Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-10-03
THH
THE
PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY,
BY OSCAR wmpR

81 see you did. Don't speak. Wait I'LL
you hear what I have 10 say. II was quito
true that have worshiped you with fai
more romance Of feeling than a man usual!
gives to a friend. Somehow. 1 had ncve
loved a woman ! suppose 1 never had time
Perhaps, as Harry says, a really grand
passion is the privilege Of those who have
aothing % do, and tina Is the use Of the idle
classes In the country. Well, from the mo
ment met you, your personality had the
most extraordinary influence over me. ]
quite admit that i adored you madly
extravagantly, absurdly. / was jealous OF
every one to whom you spoke. / wanted tc
n you all 70 myself. ] was only happy
when ! Is with you. When ] was away
from you. you were still present in my art.
II was all wrong and foolish. IL Is all
wrong and foolish still. OF course I never
let you know anything about this. II would
have been impossible. You would not have
understood il ] did not understand " my
self, One day | determined 10 paint a Won
dcrful portrait Of you. II was to have been
my masterpiece. But as ] worked at 1t,
every lake and film Of color seemed TO me
to reveal my secret. ] grow afraid that the
world would know of my idolatry. ! felt,
Dorian, that | had told too much. Then IL
was that I resolved never 10 allow the
picture 10 be exhibited. YOU were a little
annoyed: but then you did not realize all
that IL meant TO me. Harry, to whom /
talked about IL. laughetl at me. But ] did
not mind that. When the picture was
finished, and | sat alone with ii, l felt that
I was right. Well. after a few days the por-
trait left my studio. and "a soon as | had got
rid Of the intoierable fascination Of its
presence 1t seemed to me hat I had been
foolish in imagining that I have seen any
thing in il, more than that YOU were ex-
tremely ood-looking and that ! could paint.
Even now 7 can not help feeling that IL is q
mistake 10 think that tho passion one feels
in creation is ever really shown in the work
one creates. Art Is more abstract than we
fancy. Form and color tell us Of form and
color-that is all. 1t often seems 10 me that
art conceals the artist far more completely
than ii ever reveals him. And so when l
got this offer from Paris | determined to
make your portrait the principal thing in
my exhibition. II never occurred 10 me that
you would refuse. j see now that you were
right. The picture must not be shown.
You must not be angry with me, Dorian, for
what / have told you. As said to Harry
once. you are made TO be worshipcd."
Dorian Gray drew a long breath. The
color came back 10 his cheeks, and a smile
played about his lips. The peril was over.
He was safe for a time. Yet he could not
help feeling infinite pity for the young man
who had just made this strange confession
to him. He wondered il he would ever be
so dominated by the personality Of a friend.
Lord Harry had the charm Of being very
dangerous. But that was all. He was too
clever and too cynical to be really fond of.
Would there ever be some one who would
I'LL him with a strange idolatryi Was that
one Of the things that life had in store,
at is extraordinary 20 me. Dorian" said
Hallward. 'that you should have seen this
in the picture. Did you really see it."
''Of course l did"
''Well, you don't mind my looking at it
nowl"
Dorian shook his head. sYou must not
ask me that Basil. / could not possibly
let you stand in front Of that picture"
"You will some day, surelyl"
"Neyer."
"Well. perhaps you are right. Ard now
goodbye. Dorian. You have been the one
person in my life Of whom / have been
really fond. don't suppose | shall often
see you again. You don't know what il cost
me to tell you all that have told you"
MY dear Basil, = cried Dorian. what have
you told met Simply that sou felt that yoJ
liked me TOO much. That is rot even a com
pliment."
1T was not intended as a compliment /
was a confession
"A very disappointing one"
"Why, what did you expect. Dorian' You
didn't see anything else IN the picture did
youi There was nothing else 10 sect"
mo there was nothing else 20 see. Why
do you ask But you must not talk about
not meeting me again. or anything Of that
kind. You and I are friends. Basil, and we
must always remain So
You have got Harry said Hallward,
sadly.
'Oh. Harry cried the I'D, with q ripple
of laughter. Harry spent his days saying
what was incredible, and his evenings in
doing what was improbable. Just the sort
OF life ! would like IA lead. But still | don't
think ] would go TO Harry If l was in
trouble. / would sooner go TO you, BASIL
But you won't sit to me againi'
'Impossible!"
"You spoil my life as an artist by refusing,
Dorian. No man comes across two ideal
things. Few come across one
Il cant explain it 10 you. Basil, but ]
must never sit to you again. i will come
and have t-a with you. That will be just as
pleasant
.'Pleasanter for you. I am afrsid," muir
INJURED Hallward, regretfully. And now
goodbye. ! am sorry you wsn't let me
look at the picture once again. But that
can't be helped. / quite understand wha,
you feel about H."
As he left the room. Dorian Gray smiled
to himself. Poor Basil how little he knew
Of the true reason! And how strange 1,
was that, instead Of having been forced &c
reveal his W secret, he had succeeded.
almost by chance, in wrestling a secret from
his friend. How much that strange con-
fession explained TO him, Basil's absurd
fits Of jealousy. his wild devotion. his ex
travagant pane2yrics, his curious reticences
he understood them all now, and he felt
sorry. There was something tragic in q
friendship so colored by romance.
He sighed, aud touched the bell. The
portrait must be hidden away at all costs,
He could not run such a risk Of discovery
again. Il had been mad OK hiIa ~ have TIC
thing remain, even for an hour, in a room
TO which any Of his friends had access.
CHAPTER VIII.
When his servant entered, he looked al
him steadfastly, and wondered il he had
thought Of peering behind the screen. The
man was quite impressive, and waited for his
orders. Dorian lighted a cigarette, and
walked over to the glass and glanced into
1t. He could see the reflection of victor's
face perfectly. II was like "a placid mask
Of servility. There was nothing 10 be
afraid Of, then. Yet he thought it best &c
be on his guard.
Speaking very slowly. he told him to tell
the house-keepcr that he wanted to see her
and then to go to the frame-maker' and
ask him TO send two of his men round a,
once. 1t seemed to him hat as the mar
left the room he peered in the direction oil
the screen. Or was that only his fancyi
After . few moments, Mrs. Leaf, a dear
old lady in q black silk dress, with q photo
graph of the late MIR. Leaf framed in
large gold brooch at her neck, aud old-fash
toned thread mittens ON her wrinkled hands,
hustled into the room.
well. Master Dorian" she said, .'wha,
can l do for youi I beg your pardon, sir