The times., 1898-05-22
Ladies' piQue ties. 19e y

surprise to his friends and scourge
and chastsement to his valet. He liV-
ed chiefly in telegraph offices, hanson
cabs and in the shops of the florists
and fruiters. BY a constant succession
Of te!egrams he kept himself Informed
/ Of Christine's progress during those
brief periods when he was not driving
to see her, or purchasing for her
scented flowers, which she could not
bear TO have in her room, or out-of-
season fruit, which she was not allow
ed TO eat By the time she had recov-
cred her health her conquest was COM
Dlete, and, with the magnanimiry OF
cCnqueTor she decided TO do something
to please him. So she told him that she
meant to have her portrait painted. 1t
would be hung on the line at the acad-
lne-and afterWaTd she was going TO
give. the portrait to him. He said he
was charmed, and he really was.
But" he said. the sittings will
bore you terribly. and you are really
not strong enough for them Why
don't you have your photograph taken
instead?"
Christine pointed out that it wasn't
the same thing at all.
No he answered; Il suppose not"
In matters of art his education had
been somewhat neglected.
But" he went on. Il have really
seen some photographs which 1 liked
better than the things which had been
colored by hand"
She laughed at him, and INSTR ted
him.
But why do you go to Delmay?'' he
said. If l were going to have my por-
trait done I'd have it done at bed
rock prices. Delmay charges no end
of a. lot. just because he got some of
those writing chaps to scribble about
him in the papers"
But he paints 50 beautifully" said
Christine; there is no one at all like
him.
THAT is just it." said the major; eff
you were not very pretty it might be
Just as well to go to clever chap who
could put it on a bit for you, but as it
is, why any one of them who under
stood the rudiments of his trade
COUNT GO wrong"
However, Christine had her way
The majors conception of artists,
derived chiefly from stage plays, was
that they wore Yelveteen coats and
long hair and led improper lives. Del
may, it is hardly necessary to add, had
never worn a yelveteen coat in his life,
was as well dressed as the immaculate
AldJOT HIIlSeIl, dl1u ulileTSQ from MIN
chiefly in the fact that he possessed far
fewer scruples and much more intel
ligence.
Miss Blake was a patient woman,
but she got weary of continual attend
ance at Delmay's studio. After re-
peated sittings he still seemed to be
progressing very slowly; she didn't
like to tell him to hurry, especially as
he was always perfectly charming to
her, but she asked him to dinner with
vague idea that a sense of the social
obligation might lead him to shorten
those sittings as far as was possible
The Major suggested that he should
that it would be better for him to wait
until it was finished. 1t was nearly
finished when Delmay found that his
conscience would not allow him to go
on with it any further, and that he
would have to begin all over again
Once or twice, as Miss Blake sat in the
studio, turning over the illustrated pa
pers, her head nodded and her eyes
closed. She told Christine that it was
very boring. Christine said she was
very sorry, but seemed in the best of
spirits.
Once more it was late at night, and
the Major paced his chamber. They no
longer had the air of a dream that
might pass at any moment In fact, he
knew that except when he was away
for the shooting, or spending an occas-