The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08

as she went to open her window after dressing
she drew back with n new eonsciousntss and
over the opposite roots. She had seen them
many times before, but now they had acquired
course. the reverse Of the poor painters sketch.
must have been n transhgured memory OF ner
own; Then she glanced enrioT = along the ,1ne
with their occasional revelations OF the meHdgc
behind them, were also familiar 70 her, put now
lar interest at last impclled her to lit her eyes.
Higher in the corner house and SO near the roof
that 1t scarcely seemed possible for a grown man
to stand upright behind 1t, was an ett de 6pU
looking down upon the other roofs. and framed
ham M Sn Some g1p'H faes OF eWSt MAJOR ostrander. His eyes
seemed to be turned toward her window. Her
n MS; impulse DT TSs 70 TO open an It o and aas sef @1nslin9 n' OF
mischiea and shyness made her turn away
quickly.
walking slowly so near her house that their en-
counter might have been scarcely accidental on
Conservatoirc. In the light Of the open street
she thought he looked pale and hollow checked;
she wondered il it was from his enforced frugal.
ity. and was trying to conceive some elaborate
plan Of obliging him 10 accept her hosplta,lty, az
least for a single meal; when he said; think
You have brought me luck. Miss Maynard.
Helen opened her eyes wonderinRly.
The two Russian connoisseurs who stared at
Us so rudely were pleased, however, to also stare
at my work. They offered me q fabulous sum
for one of my sketches. IT didn't seem 70 me
dealer. whom | had forced to take a lot at one
dftieth the price, so | referred them to him"
No. sid Helen, Indignantly. you were
ostrander laughed. II am afraid what you
call my folly didn't avail, for they wanted what
"of course" said Helen. why, that sketch
OF the housetop alone was worth a hundreH
She did not like to reveal that sne knew what
he got for his pictures. and added. more thar
any OF those uslrerS would give.
y" am glad YOU think so well Of 1t. for l do not
mean to sell it, he said simply, yet with u sig
niicance that left her silent,
She did not see him again for several days.
The preparation for her examination left her no
time, and her earnest concentration in her work
fully preoccupied her thoughts, she was sur
prised. but not disturbed on the day OF the
awards to see him among the audisnSe OF anX-
ious parents and relations. Miss Helen May
nard did not get the first prize, nor yet
She did not know until afterward that
this had long been u foregOne conclusion
of her teachers: on account or some intrinsic
defect in her voice. She did not know until long
after that the handsome painters nervousness
on that occasion had attracted even the sympa-
thy Of some Of those who were near him. For
she herself had been calm and collected.
No one else knew how crushing was the blow
which shattered her hopes and made her three
years OF labor and privation a useless struggle;
Yet. though no longer a pupil. she could sim
teach: her master had found her "A small patron
age that saved her from destttqtion: That night
she ,circled up. quite cheerfrlly in her usual
swallow flight to her nest under the caves. and
even t%wittered on the landings a little over the
coincidence OF the concierge. who knew-my
God what a beast the director of the Conserva-
toire was, and how he could be bribeG-but when
at last her brown head sank on her pillow she
~cried-just II little.
But what was all this to that next morning.
the glorious spring morning. which bathed all
the roofs OF Paris with warmth and hope. re-
kindling enthusiasm and ambition In the breast
dirt below. II seemed quite natural that she
should meet Major Ostrander not many yards
away as she sailed out. In that bright spring
sunshine and the hopeful spring Of their youth
they even laughed at the previous day disap-
p%ointment. All. what a claaue it was after
much rather see that satin-faced Partisan girl
who had got the prize Sinking at the critics
things for Paris. but Paris wasn't the world!
America would come to the fore yet IN art of all
there should be a cunservatoire of its own. Ot
course, Paris schooling and Paris experience
weren't TO be despised in art; but. thank Heaven.
she had that, and nodirectors could take it from
her. This and much more: until. comparing
free for that day. Why should they not take ad,
vantage OF that rare weather and rarcr opportu-
nifty TO make a little suburban .excursioni But
where ! There was the Bots; but that was still
in Paris. Fontainebleau! too far. There were
Versailles All. yesf Eersailies:
~ ihsne o sh Mgi Knew IL a. q a ao' Artist o , s,dh ar
an American reader of that French historic ro-
NANCE reader who hurried over the sham in,
of the Petit Trianon. and the sham heroics OF a
shifty court TO get TO Lafayette. Helen knew it
10 q SL4Ih "Ap hh' ~ thNP., - NtAN 's.''lA
from her patriotic father, but had enjoyed the
woods. the park. the terraces-and particularly
amused, omniscient tolerance OF youth for .
ERsoas f2 t shis srn 70 1ai i PTGSssas;a o'' H%efi
can-French girl far superior to the obsequious
attes dh2nneur whose hroGades had rust!se
realized the truth OF her fellow pupils mis-
c%hieyouS criticism OF her companion that day
at the Louvre. surely there was no claSsica
statue here comparable TO the one-armed sol
der painter. All this was as yet free from
frank pride OF friendship. But. oddly enough
their mere presence and cOnpanionship seemed
not yet felt themselves. Family group,
watched the handsome pair in their innoceu
condolences, and with French eNubcrant recog
milton OF sentiment thought them the incarna
tion OF love! something in their manifest equal
ity Of condition kept even the vainest and mos
susceptible spectators from attempted rivalry u
cynical interruption. And when at last the!
dropped side BY side on the sun-warmed ston'
bench on the terrace, and Helen, inclining he
= brown head toward her companion. infOrIue,
\ him of the difficulty -he had experienced in get
ting gumbo soup, rice, and chicken. corn cake
or any OF her favorite home dishes in Paris. al
exhausted but gallant bontrr1rdirr rose from
: contiguous bench and, politely lifting his hat L
the handsome couple, turned slowly away from
[ those tender condolences he would not permi
himself to hear.
But the shadow OF the cross began to lenGthen
l casting broad bars across the dNSe, and the 81
e sank lower to the level OF their eyes. The,
were quite surprised on looking round a feN
moments later 10 discover that the garden
were quite deserted. and Ostrander. on cor
sulting his watch. found that they had Just los
{ IA train which The other pleasure seekers had ey
4 identity awaited themselves Of. No matter, Their
was another train an hour later. They coul
still linger for a rev moments, in the brief sunset
and then dine at the local restaurant before the
left. They both laughed at their forgetfu
+ ness, and them, without knowing, why, sue
denly lapsed into silence. A faint win
blew in their faces and thrilled tn
I thin leaves above their heads. Nothing els
u moved The long windows Of the palace in tina
sunset light seemed to glisten again with the II
cendiary fires OF the revolution, and then wen
out blankly and abruptly. The two companion
Q felt that they possessed the terrace and all il
memories as completely as the shadows who ha
r lived and died there.
+" am so glad we have had this day together.
said the painter, with "A conscious breaking {
the silence. for / am leaving Paris tomorrow.
g Helen raised her eyes quickly 10 his.
For u few days only he continued. IN
n Russian MISUNDERSTANDING | ought to say M
e patrons-haye given me a commission 10 make
e study OF u chateau which the Princess bought.
g A swift rccOlleg tiOn Of her FELLOW pupils raj
lery regarding the Princcss's possible attitud
J. toward the painter came over her and gave
n strange artiiciality to her response.