The free press., 1896-10-29
THE ARTISTS STORY.

II tell you. ladies, declared hand
some and cynical Wilton Robeley, the
artist "a fortune teller showed me the
image of my wife two years before I
ever saw her in the flesh and thou.
sands OF miles from the place I first
met her,.
"You are the last man in the world
whose mind would think obscured
by the clouds of mysticism, replied
the rich Mrs Austyn, his friend and
patron. "You have never shown any
patience with the charlatans who pre-
tend to expose and expound the Sc
crets that wise Providence has or
dained we should not fathom. And
yet you are taxing our credulity with
a statement that would be marvellous
if true"
81 must insist upon my veracity In
this instance" smiled the artist.
Now don't stop to argue, mamma,
urged the elder of the Austyn girls.
''There is story in this, and after
NIr. Robelcy has told it you can re-
claim him from the darkness of his
Buperstitions and air your theories.
Now do tell us all about it; ;'and three
pretty sisters sighed their curiosity in
chorus.
Just so, you don't ask me to ex-
plain, said the artist with a quizzical
oOk. 81 shall give you the remark
ble facts and leave you to wrestle
Fith them. Eight years ago / was in
Paris pursuing my studies, and lived
Ihe life of Bohemian from choice,
fsther than from necessity. We fell
ows held the responsibilities of life
'ery lightly and laughedsat all human
phenomena that would not yield to
he test of materialism. I was chief
lmong the scoffers, and found bare
aced fraud in everything from clair
'oyancy to the piercing of the future
through the medium Of tea grounds.
Then as now 1 occasionally broke
lntlrely away from my usual sur
cummings and was one day sauntering
lone through Rue de Bouges. As I
asaed one Of the most pretentious
ouses l was startled by scream for
ep and dashed through the open
oorway to find n woman battling with
ames that with great leaps and fash
were consuming the white draper
. OF what struck me as a consecrated
tar out of place. Our combined
lorts soon mastered the incipient
pnhagration. As the woman anoint-
my hands with some soothing To-
On l saw that she was as dark as
Fpsy' Her hair rippled back from
u forehead in waves of blue black.
II eyes we're brilliant in the same
Yep coloring. and her strong, even
e'n suggested polished ivory. She
Us an amazon in size, yet the sweep
9 curves of beauty were such as to
senate the artist while her motions
efe supple and graceful as those OF
ger.
lou are gentleman, and
ere is but one way in which
'an oner return for your services,
: said as turned to leave. Her
'lce was soft as the notes of a lutte
y ner accent gave unsuspected
arms to my mother tongue. II was
fn OF royal blood in India.
rough study of the sacred vedas
= 'ne pure doctrine of Karma I at
Aea the power of divination. Your
0ple would classify me among for
y 'ellers; but ! am poles apart from
7 vulgar humbugs that trade upon
uorance and approximation. Prom
you will come tomorrow, for
!" upset by this accident Then I
'e both your historian and your
Spnss ! shall count on you.
seur.
-nough | mentally sneered ct the
/. 4aa pretensions and lay awake
'ne night assuring myself that
'0a'' never seek her out, was at
ooof ten mluutas hafo~a 49,