Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-01-08
A QUEER CASE.


in tfellised arbor that overlooked Men
tone and its western bay. My friend
was a handsome man of 40 years or so,
"a landscape painter, who lacked fame, l
believe, only because he lacked the de-
sire of fame and the spur of poverty be-
cause nc could be content with art for
art s sake
"If you like" lie said, II will tell
you a queer story about myself. / do
not swear you to secrecy, since love
laughs at the vows of confidants as we'll
as of lovers, but, as you are an alter ego,
you must agree to keep my story to
yourself till the actors have left the
scene. Besides, do not suppose you
will ever yearn desperately to impart
the secret to others.
l laughingly held out my hand in sign
of agreement, and he proceeded with his
tale
"You must know" he began, that
from my early childhood my mothers
brother stood to me III place of parents.
Well to do, leisured, he was mainly en-
crossed in scientific pursuits. Grave, OF
severe and dignifed demeanor, he had
long cultivated the talent of silence. AS
l grew up he INDUCED me in my desire
of freedom and my love Of art. He eX-
pressed himself as satisfied with my
choice Of profession, supplied me amply
with requisite funds, approved my dill
gence, shook his head ut most when /
could not show him many new studies.
There was only one subject which could
serve TO break down his reserve, and
that was woman. Even then he seldom
ventured beyond witty epigrams. The
cause of this confirmed misogyny l may
be right III assigning TO some youthful
love disappointment, but / have nothing
but conjecture to base upon. Twas eager
to please this grabbed, austore uncle of
mine whom / knew to be warm hearted
at the core, so unostentatiously helpful
was he to all whom he discovered to be
In need Of assistance, but my eagerness
led me TO the commission of an error l
was constantly on the lookout for cpl
grams that should be new to him and
occasionally managed to fashion one
which l could produce as an impromptu
l readily seized opportunities to pass
from epigram to defamation. In word
/ overdid my part. And yet my uncle
seemed TO quietly smile at my sallies
and often congratulated me on my re-
volt from petticoat government.
"Well, l can honestly say that for
long my art was my sole mistress, but
when l was reaching my thirtieth year
Don Cupid spread his wiles and captured
me. l was making studies of Ficardy
scenery and visiting at a pleasant cha
teau. My hostess daughter one day in
formed me that the dear music mistress
and friend Of her school days Can Eng
lish lady, she added was to arrive i'll
the course of the week. My fate, my
fate l murmured at her advent 1t was
IA case Of love at first sight; and, more
over, the coup de foudre was not one
sided. l committed another error, much
graver than the first. / told her Of my
uncle's idiosyncrasy and, though she
was inexperienced (she was but q year
or two younger than II and had not
lacked, could not have lacked, unaccept-
ed lovers, / won her reluctant consent
to secret marriage. The case was sim
plihcd since she had none but distant
relatives, could readily resign her post,
cared not for society. And so we spent
a happy winter in the London in which
my uncle and / lived, but not together
hidden, unsupported. In the spring ii
was my custom to go to Italy, and of
course my cry this time was Italian
petimus, first person plural.
But with the spring came the unex-
pected death Of my uncle. One morning
1 rang at his door and was stupefied by
the tidings that he had been found but
an hour or two ago dead in his bed. A
messenger had been sent at once to my
studio, but j was not there. ! had just
come in time to forestall further in
quiries at the homes of various artists
with whom it might be supposed that /
had staid the night. Dazod, l crossed
the threshold Of the death chamber and
looked sorrowfully on that truest friend
whose voice l should hear no more. /
realized the criminality of my want of
confidence, my silence, my secrecy. Aye,
but repentance was useless, the past is
irrevocable An hour later / sailed out
into the streets for little while and
sent telegram TO Margaret informing
her in guarded terms of what had hap
pened and Of my necessary absences till
should have executed the last due rites.
ITO the funeral succeeded the OPEN
ing and reading of the will, a matter
which had but little occupied my care
less thoughts. Could l believe my ears9
Yet there was no possible doubt. His
dear nephew was his sole legatee on
condition that he should marry in the
space of two years, during which time
the customary charitable subscriptions
aud my quarterly subvention were to be
paid. Otherwise the property was to
pass in certain proportions to these CHAR
ities, and his dear nephew was to look
10 his art for livelihood. / sought
privacy with what haste l could and
tried TO think it all over. Why this to-
tai change in my uncles viewsi Had
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