Evening star., 1896-07-04

Uiu ,,o, Gnap. Addie was Ill and-and all that,
Just as I said" interpolated Addie.
drumming a neat foot on the floor.
oaresay you were right, Caxton,"
q littIs mHh, h;, on; but perhaps We were just
SaHton ~ smiled and, turning to Addie said:
Mrs p.snsne: witness is not very satisfactory.
tility." A assuming RESPONSE
asking other people to assume II !" ~
Neither husband nor vic se.r,as . AZ
ee cenn the point of his remark They were
s seanu,hg together now. Adde'S left hand
her riept pn -, na,nes arm. and she held out
we won't quarrel about it." she said
Snafitaoly. Sns "a But l thought ought to tell
sort sou, AZ case you should ever do the same
think you may feel easy about tbatn
sai9 Caxton. I've had my lesson"
les; SAID she, in simple acouiescence
Ana' she added. hes going to write n
.SaxIon shot swift glance at Batnes
ha,niaas answer seemed to come-a dismayed.
ptess .I protest. and Baines said:
low" 'ou hno"' OLD fei-
why. Addington. you've all your time
~ oSw, s SINCE you got rid OF that horrid board
Booby Baines made no answ.r c
nL,se,t.ne i',i,se his own wrongs in pity for the
.t. man. began to apologize for him
s;, ao needs lot Of grit and resolution 70
M 81, down and write thing like thai over
second time" said he "' oNef
Wen, and Addington's got them. thouph
~ ycu .hihk ne hasn't" she flashed ont a.
eor,.s anu ~hen 1t Is done again and
Caxton." nv was fishI Mr.
M sure 1 hope 1 shall be proved
wrong, said he. as he exchanged q 49,,
TT,a The, shaKe IA OF the hand with Mrs Baines.
icok was still In Booby's ewes He nd al
nus time now, he had left the board of
trade twas 1t really so horrid0 and he
81 Gt.;. ses 20 work at once to rewrite Stress
, nu otIlVins under the lively and con-
slant encouragement of an admiring wife
Si,e is sometimes glad to be a bachelor"
away. ''e walked
me world was not let into the whole
secret OF the massacre Of Stress and
SSisrlNlrg The professor knew but he was
elScreet. Caxton was not likely 10 tell
end the Baines treated the incidep, o.,
lhouSh 1t hal never been. Yet il leaked
cut-who can tell how?-that The .yreatar
pa, oi 'he oook had been written and then
ces,royed by its author Caxto,'s share
IN IN the transaction was not mentioned an5
MIS- Nlis. Saines was not unkind enough to ex-
pose hlm' mus tie way was left clear for
quiy drawn, and the admirers OF Nr
baihes wearied not I'm praisirS an artist
whose regard for perfection was SO scrun,.e
Ious as TO lead him to destroy the work Of
1nchths, and set to again on blank sheet
Booby Baines himself said little but he
owned TO having found faults in the frs.
draft This admission was eno,,gh. Tho
version was now authorized, and admir-
iEe sympathy watched the conscientious
author as he set to work again y.s he
set TO work again, in helpless bondage to h,s
loNlng vile, in loathing despair of rha ,acL
f tnere seemed no avoiding it and no per-
ard confident than ever. She laughed
away doubts. and was sturdy in refusing
10 regret the lost board of trade But
toward Caxton her bearing was cold and
her manner stern.
Now, in those days a certain eminent per-
son put himself at tho head of great
movement for the promotion of artistic
culture in the masses of the people. Great
sums were raised. great buildings built
and couple of baronetcies were under
stood to be offer for a prize Prof
Martin, being highly distinguished in quite
another line, was invited on to the general
committee, AMI, being an energetic man.
took large part in founding the first of
the great buildEges, the College of Art in
the Old Kent road. And when the College
OF Art was neatly finished Mr.. Tom Cax-
ton began to be most assiduous in calling
on Prof. Martin. In vain the professor de-
clared that he had no influence with the
eminent person CT with the general COM
mittoe CaXUon knew better. In vain the
professor pleaded that public interests
alone could be regarded in the appointment
of secretary to the College of Art i'm the
Old Kent road. Again Caxton knew better.
Its on my conscience, professor he
urged. Think of the poor beggar sitting
down TO that job all over again.
The professor thought of IL, and his face
softened.
After ALL he observed, "he is supposed
to know something about art"
A week after, the general committee
having met under the presidency OF the
eminent person, and Prof Martin having
brought forward n certain candidate for
the Office Of secretary, Tom CaAton again
drove in fast hanson to Nanessa Ter
race. The little house was itself again;
its windows we're decked with flowers: a
peraElbulator stood in the hall. Addie
Baines ran out to meet the visitor.
'Oh, is il you, Mr.. Caxton?" she said,
drawing herself up.
"Yes. Where's Addington? i must see
him. I've got an important message for
him."
Hes IN the study writing Come along"
For the Importance hinted in Caxton's
manner overcame her dislike of him.
They entered the study. Baines was in
Ills armchair at the table. He was leaning
back when the door opened, but in an in
slant he sat upright seized pen, pulled q
blank sheet of paper into position before
him, and then looked round with a startled
air.
I'm afraid we're interrupting you. dear"
said Addie.
1T doesn't matter" he answered eager
ly. please stay"
Then Tom Caxton told the news-how
That the appointment of secretary to the
College of Arts was at the disposal of Mr..
]. Addington Baines in case he should think
fit to accept it.
And said Tom, Il consider the offer
an uncommonly high compliment to you"
Baines' eyes sparkled. Since the revela-
ton concerning STRESS and Striving he
had been Ill at ease in living entirely on
Adde'S money, and four hundred year
is just comfortable addition to eight hum
dred.
1t would be most congenial work." said
he. 1T would give me real scope"
Addie looked a little doubtful
Would it leave him time to go on with
his own work." said she, with a gesture
toward the table and the papers strewn
upon it.
"Well,' said Tom, that's the drawback
Mrs. Baines. The work will be very heavy
and will take his whole time Indeed the
committee will expect the secretary to de-
vote his entire energies to the work.
'Ohi' cried Addie, in dismay. then he
won't he able to get on with Stress and
Striving!' You must consider that. Ad-
dington.'
For moment Caxton trembled: he burn