Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-07

cago man. They Know how to BUY, those
western fellows! He took one OF the burnt
umber night scenes. made me sign my name
on 1t in scarlet with letters three niche
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
| had held out. Thus are we poor artists
imposed uponl Still, the scarlet lettering
completely killed the half-tones in the paint
ing, and ruined 1t, in my opinion, but he
said 1t was the signature he wanted, so we
are both satisfied. He was a perfectly frank
heather; said he could buy better paintings
In Chicago for IS each, with a discount of
II he took a quantity, but that people over
there wouldn't have the work OF the native
artists at any price. He proudly claimed to
know nothing about art himself-tin goods
was his line. ! said ! supposed that was all
right as long as the goods brought In the
tin, and he replied that that was what he
was after"
We'll, I'm sure 1 congratulate you"
Me? Now. Lady Mary, l call that hard
lines. l thought you were a friend OF mine
l did. indeed"
II am. May 1 not congratulate you on
selling a picture?'
mo, your ladyship; no m'umi But you
might congratulate the Chicago man. l feel
that he did ne out of two hundred. oh. he's
got a bargain, and he knows 1t! l tell you
what 1t is, my pictures are getting so ex-
pensive that | am beginning TO realize 1t is
reckless extravaganza for me to have so
many of them hanging in my studio. 1t
looks like ostentation, and l hate that. That's
why ! took the thousand, merely to get rid
Of It,"
Did 1t take you long 10 paint?"
Yes, a good while. or course. l can't tell
just how long, for one does not do a master
piece like that right off the reel, don't you
know. | suppose l must have spent as much
as six hours on 1t, off and on. You see, you
have to wait until the groundwork dries
before you can go on with the rest. / first,
with a big brush, covered the whole Of the
canvass with burnt umber and then let 1t
dry. That's night, as it would appear IL
there were no lights anywhere. Then you
put in your high lights--little dahs of white
paint. That seems easy, but l tell you 1t
requires genius. Then, If there Is water,
even though unseen to the general eye, you
put in little wabbly lines Of gray paint under
tho dots of high light. and there you are,
don't you know. 1t all seems simple enough
to talk about, and plenty of fellows are try
ing 1t, now | have shown them the way; but
somehow they don't hit it off, don't you
know. But sink the shop in a Surrey lane;
l hate talking about shop, anyhow! Now.
am l going to get my invitation, or am l
not?"
anxious to meet you.'
That's very nice of him. But, l say, Lady
Mary"
Tho young man stopped suddenly, and the
girl looked up at him. She read in his eyes
such honest. undisguised admiration of her
SELF that she dropped her own and blushed
still more rcsily.
"What is it?" she asked. Have you for
gotten something's
No. he said eagerly taking the u%nresist
| ing fingers of her two hands in his, as the,
stood there. No. have Just remembered
| ought to have something to say to you
father, don't you know. We can talk abou'
painting, and-well, Mary, we should have
some topic of vital interest to us both Il
discuss, shouldn't we?"
The girl laughed a little, but did not reply
The three dogs stood some distance off, re
garding the pair with suspicion; and a low
growl from one of them indicated that The
situation was unusual and must not be car
ried too far.
what shall I say to him, Mary?" cried thu
young man with a tender thrill in his de2I
voice. May / tell him l care more for his
laughter than for any one else in the world
May II"
The girl made no attempt to withdraw hel
hands, nor did she do more than give hin
one swift, brief glance.
'If it is true she murmured, II see nj
reason why you should not tell him So"
True cried Barney fervently. There!
nothing on earth so true, Mary, my darling
as that love you. And do you-do yol
care in the least for a big, laundering fellow
like me?"
always, always said Lady Mary. Ever
since l first met you. And long before TN
world recognized your genius, Barney, did,
The jubilant young man, suddenly aban
doning the hands that were thus promised
him, clasped the girl to him and kissed her
1t is a remarkable thing that a man Otter
attains celebrity for doing something tina
hundreds of others do better, while the worlt
remains ignorant Of performances that arr
really entitled to fame. As Barney threw
one arm around Lady Mary's waist he saw
out of the corner Of his eye, the big dos
spring at his throat. Yet the young maj
kissed the girl as tenderly and as gently al
if nothing particular were happening on tn
other side of him; and Lady Mary, ciosint
her eyes for the moment, rested her hea'
against hhis breast and breathed a decI
sigh Of contentment. She was awakened
from her momentary dream by savage
mouthing growls, and, remembering the dogs
Jumped back in alarm. With rigid muscles
Barney held at arms length. his strong arm
grasping the collar, a brute only slight!
smaller than a pony, whose angry fangs wer'
tearing at his coat sleeve. The other TIVE
dogs looked on, snarling, but apparently wait
ing for their mistress to give the word o
attack. The girl shrieked at the sight.
Down, Nero, down. she cried. "HoV
dare you, sir"
Oh, it's all right" said Barney, nonchal'
antly. Don't scold him. IT'S his nature
to. don't you know. He'll find out two thlnEf
in about a minute; first, ana most important
that I'm going to be one OF the family; and
second. that he's met his match. | say
Mary, this wouldn't be a bad scene for the
aquarium, don't you know; Samson denying
the lightning, or was 1t Ajax? | never car
remember these classical illusions"
Down, sir" commanded the girl. Come
here and apologize
Barney relaxed his grasp on the collar
and tho huge dog cringed up to Lady Mary
with a most crestfallen air. 1t was evident
that, although he deferred to his mistress
authority, he was still mistaken in his
opinion that such goings on as he had just
beheld were entirely out of order, and al
though he humbly licked the girls hand, he
cast side looks at Barney that were any
thing but friendly, yet the truculent glance
was mitigated by that respect for proven
strength which one strong animal feels when
he meets a stronger. The girl, crouching
patted his shaggy coat, and, alternately scold-
ing and petting him, explained the situation
as well as she could, beseeching Nero Il
treat Barney as a brother.
When she stood up again-blessed are th'
MISUNDERSTANDING said:
Lets see II he understands?'
Nov, Barney" cried the girl, you mus
behave yourself, You can't tell who nigh
come into view any moment"
Wei risk the chance c~omer-purely loi
the dogs benefit, you know, Mary
Tho big dog made no move this time, bu'
his angry eye lighted up with a dangerous
lurid CLEAN, and the corners OF his heavy