Evening star., 1897-03-06

had always done HIS arrival in any room
Immediately frightened the occasion, and
he was by all odds the mott POPULAR young
man in his set. His failure in the tragic
role he had marked out for hin39elf at first
worried Barney and led him to suspect
that he was not SO deep as he-had imag-
ined, but this disquieting thought gave
way under his ultimate0real1ation that
the taciturn recluse of llfctioh and the
drama was merely a melancholy humbuR
who did not exist in reafIife This COM
forting discovery did much to place Bar
ney once more on good terms with him
self, and by and by he aband6fied the at
tempt to pose as stricken victim of wom-
ans Interpretation, andswas tpnce more
the genial host and the welcome guest.
AS time went on, and his fame continued
to spread, he fell more and more under the
gentle influence of Lady Mary Fanshaw.
who was a modest, refined and altogether
charming girl. She had an unbounded
admiration for Barney's strength and man
illness, and his many deeds of kindness
and lavish generosity, which he himself
was at no particular pains to conceal. won
her deep regard. She did not pretend to
understand his paintings, but was unite
Wiling to believe what appeared to be the
universal estimate. that they were works
OF the very highest genius.
In the company of Lady Mary Rarnev's
heroic determination to lead a monas.fc
nfe became fainter and fainter When
barney saw whittier he was drifting he
held serious consultation with himself
Six months had elapsed since the episode
at Eastbourne, and this half year had been
the most fateful in his whole existence.
Even though there was a lingering dtsap-
pointment over the now self-admitted fact
that his life had not been wrecked. vet
he felt he owed 1t to his dignity not to pro
pose to Lady Mary until a year at least
mad intervened between the two ,matri-
monial excursions. To propose sooner
would be to admit that he did not know
his own mind-and he particularly prided
himself on his strength of mind An ac-
ton that is indecent haste in six months
may be the epitome of calm delberatton
a mans most cherished political conytc-
lions have changed completely within a
year. and a grateful country has tes,i-
ned Its appreciation of the honesty of tho
transformation by bestowing a peerage or
a knighthood upon the man. Why. then.
should not great painter be deeply in
love with two charming girls, If a reasona-
Die interval separated the declarations of
anectlon! Barney said to himself that it
was undoubtedly wrong to be in love with
Two or more at the same time, and he had
to admit that in former days he had come
dangerously near that complicated condi-
youth is an excuse which covers multi
tude OF errors. This day six months"
saio Barney oennltely. Il shall ask Lady
Mary to be my wife, Having thus reach
eo manly IN his meditations he felt that
sense OF satisfaction which man ALWAYS
experiences when a perplexing problem is
authoritatively settled one way or another.
Nothing is so demoralizing as indecision.
Hitherto he had been almost afraid to meet
Lady Mary, much as he delighted In her
companionship, but now there was no rea-
son why he should hold aloof from her.
therefore, having written down the date
on which the momentous proposal was to
take place he arose with joyful exuber-
ance of spirits and resolved to celebrate
his decision by driving down to the pretty
surrey village near which Lady Marys
father lived.
The tandem was thing of the past He
found that the sight of it brought up pain
iul recoilections Of Eastbourne; SO he sold
1t, and acquired a most stylish four-wheeled
vehicle, which he called his 'growIer," !"
drawn by two spirited blacki horses He
spoke to his friends apolosetically about his
growler, and said 1t gave no particular
scope Tor mans driving powers, but would
serve until the coach which he had ordered
from the most noted bafilderIi in London
was finished A four-in- hand Ne held. was
the only thing manIlrouh drive with
credit to himself and Satisfaction to all
beholders. So with the Black span dancing
before him. held by firm hand. he rat
tied across Chelsea bridge asad made for
the interior of Surrey. u.
Chapter XxxI.ao
1t is pleasant thing On a beautiful day
to drive through Surrey f1anes.i. with a fine
paie Of horses in front and uS;eried menial
Barney, who knew the cHintryrwell. chose
the byroads rather than the MAIN thorough
fares, for he had a Keen love" Of, nature
and an appreciation of landscape, as be-
came man who had placed on canvas SO
many amazing reproductions Of natural
scenery.
AS he neared his destination he turned in
to the particular lane which he knew to be
Lady Mary's favOrite walk, and he kept O
sharp lookout ahead, hoping to descry the
girl In the distance. He also looked at his
watch. and slowed the horses when he saw
he had arrived at the head of the lane
somewhat in advance Of the time he had
set for himself Barney was above all
things a practical man, and he knew that
outside of the drama, condolences rarely
happened unless they were touched up q
bit; SO before leaving Chelsea he took the
precaution to telegraph Lady Mary, telling
her that at a certain hour he would be at
the head Of the lane and that II he met
there any one who lived in the neighbor-
hood who would extend to him a cordial
invitation to visit a certain country house,
he would accept with all the heartfelt
gratitude of homeless man perambulating
the country with two horses and a wagon.
1t was one of Barney's habits rarely to
write letter. and to depend almost entire
ly on the telegraph as a means of COM
munication with his fellows.
He delighted in sending a friend ter
page telegram on some perfectly trivial
subject, and to the numerous people all
over the country who now wrote to him
asking for his autograph he invariably sent
it in long telegram, explaining in the mes
sage that, as he never wrote letters, any
signature of his at the end of epistle
was sure to be forgery, and no auto
graphs were genuine unless they came by
wire. Barneys electrical autographs now
bring good prices AT auction sales.
AS he entered the lane, then, he looked
ahead for fulfillment of the coincidence
he had arranged, and was presently re-
warded by seeing the fine figure of the girl
| coming toward him, an ebony stick In her
| hand, and three big dogs following her.
Barney threw the reins to his man, told
him to drive on, and sprang down.
The girls cheeks We're as rosy as the
dawn, either with the exercise in the pure
air or the pleasure of meeting him.
After greeting her he cried:
You got my telegram, then?" +--..-
Yes. Have you any money left after
sending it?"
"Oh, I'm in funds today. l sold pic
| ture for a thousand pounds yesterday to
| a Chicago man. They know how to buy,
those western fellows! He took one Of the
burnt-umber night scenes, made me sign
my name on it in scarlet with letters three
| inches long, and then told me, with a
chuckle, after it was done, that he would
have given a couple Of hundred extra for
| the signature II l held out Thus. are we
poor artists imposed upon! Still, the scar
let lettering cOmDletely killed the half