The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-07-08

,WitVneu oii the llbHl anu went w peut
and the next morning, having dressed
himself with great care, and grumbled
profusely at his very excellent valet,
he called on Miss Blake, in Bryanston
Square, Now. Miss Blake was the
sister OF Christines father, Colonel
blake, and Christine's guardian,
The engagement was to be short.
The drudgery of it began at once. He
had to go to many places where he had
never been before, and did not want to
30 again. He waited, perfectly
chastity figure, in the shops Of fashion,
able milliners, feeling that every lady
customer who entered regarded him as
hn insult and an outrage. He had to
BIT through concerts, they were very
good concerts, and very good con-
cert was, from the Majors point OF
view, the very worst sort Of concert.
An ordinary tune, as he sometimes OBJ
served, he could more or less under
stand He was made to dance fire.
luently, and in the small hours Of the
morning, when respectable, middle
hged gentlemen should be in their beds.
It was all very trying. but gradually
i dawned upon him that there were
bne or two compensations. Christine
certainly behaved very nicely to him.
He bought her ring diamonds and
and her reception OF 1t
gave him great pleasure. He repeated
This pleasure by buying her other
things. After fortnight he owned to
himself that things might have been
worse
But he didn't fall in love with Chris
tine definitely until she fell i'll. Then
the Major went temporarily mad. He
became a source of wonder and panied
surprise to his friends, and scourge
hnd chastisement to his valet. He
lived chiefly In telegraph offices, ham
som cabs and in the shops Of the flor
lst and fruiterer. By a constant sue
tession of kilograms he kept himself
Informed Of Christine's progress dur
Ing those brief periods when he was
not driving to see her, or purchasing
Tor her scented flowers, which she
could not bear to have in her room, or
put-of-season fruit, which she was not
allowed to eat. BY the time she had
recovered her health her conquest was
complete, and, with the magnanimity
bf conqueror, she decided to do some
thing to please him. So she told
him that she meant to have her por-
trait painted. 1t would be hung on
the line of the Academy-Delmay
was always hung on the line-and af-
terward she was going to give the por-
trait to him. He said that he was
charmed, and he really was.
But" he said, "the sittings will
bore you terribly, and you are really
hot strong enough for them. Why don't
you have your photograph taken in
stead?"
Christine pointed out that 1t wasn't
the same thing at all.
NO." he answered. II suppose not"
In matters of art his education had
been somewhat neglected.
But" he went on, Il have really
seen some photographs which l liked
better than the things which had been
eolored by hand"
She laughed at him, and instructed
him.
But why do you go to Delmay's?"
he said. IF l were going to have my
portrait done I'd have 1t done at bed
rock prices. Delmay charges no end of
/ lot, just because he got some Of those
writing chaps to scribble about him in
the papers"
But he paints so beautifully" said
Christine; there is no one at all like
him"
THAT is just It," said the Major; III
you were not very pretty 1t might be
lust as we'll to 60 to clever chap who
could put it on a bit for you, but as ii
/, Is, why any one of them who under
stood the rudiments of his trade
couldn't go wrong.
| However, Christine had her way
The Majors conception of artists
derived chiefly from stage-plays, was
that they wore velveteen coats and
long hair, and led improper lives Del.
may, it is hardly necessary to add, hat
never worn velveteen coat In his life
was as we'll dressed as the Immaculate
Major himself, and differed from hin
chiefly in the fact that he possessed
FAR fewer scruples and much more in
telligence.
Miss Blake was a patient woman, bu
she got weary of continual attendant,
at Delmay's studio. After repeated sit
tings he still seemed to be progressing
very slowly; she didn't like to tell hin
to hurry, especially as he was Away
perfectly charming to her, but sh,
asked kim to dinner with a vague ide;
that sense of the social obligation
might lead him to shorten those sit
tings as far as possible. The Majo
suggested that he should see the por
trait, but Christine thought 1t woul
be better for him to wait until 1t wa
finished. 1t was nearly finished whe
Delmay found that his conscienc
would not allow him to go on with
any further, and that he would have
begin 1t all over again. Once or twice
as Miss Blake sat in the studio, turnin
over the illustrated papers, her hea
nodded and her eyes closed. She tol
Christine that 1t was very boring
Christine said she was very sorry, BIT
seemed In the best Of spirits.
Once more 1t was late at night, an
the Major paced his chambers. The
no longer had the air Of dream ths
might pass at any moment In fac
he knew that, except when he wa
away for the shooting, or spending a
occasional week In Paris, he would II
habit them for the rest of his natur;
life.
Christmas letter lay on the tabl
He took it up and reread portions of
VT was your impetuosity that dro,
me into 1t. l was frightened, an
hardly knew what to say, and gay
y