The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-28


He had left Philip Rutherford and
annexed Miss Phoebe Horton (much
the prettiest OF the three Miss Hor-
tons). and now passed into the garden,
looking as one who passed out of the
valley of the shadow.
London gardens are not big, and at
the moment parts OF 1t were densely
populated but the major and his COM
panion passed through the groups near
the house into the comparative solitude
beyond.
In general condemnation OF the yio-
lin, Phoebe supported him enthusiastic
ally. and the walk In the garden would
not have been taken more than three
minutes fifteen seconds by a respect
able chronometer.
lie returned Miss Phoebe Horton TO
Philip Rutherford in excellent condi-
tion and sought out Christine. He found
her, and he judged by appearances that
there was a storm gathering. unques-
tionably the best thing To 90 with
gathering storm is 10 take 1t in To sup
per.
mo, thank YOU" said Christine. IL
don't want any supper"
We'll" the major said, "it's very hot
I'm here and this music doesn't much
appeal to me, you know. VIII you come
out into the garden"
Christine got up. sighed and said
that she only came because she was
tired OF saying no TO everything.
The garden was almost empty now;
nearly everybody was In the supper
room.
You like this garden, don't you?"
said Christine.
well, yes" he said, these lanterns
and things aren't bad. II you get right
NJ hA A.
muslc-at least, not enough TO matter.
"Dod you go up 10 the far end just
now?" said Christine.
What do you mean?
For the last half hour you've been
hiding in the garden"
30, come. you mustn't say such
things
You've been hiding in the garden
with Phoebe Horton She tried 10
laugh. ~ thought you'd had time to
explore IT.
AS a matter of fact" said the ma
jor. II don't suppose 1 was out here
five minutes. If I'd been out here for
five fortnights, what would III nave
mattered TO your
Nothing" she said drearily. Moth
ing matters 10 me now"
"Tell me-" he said. what is it?'
She began TO cry.
An hour and a half later Major Owen
got out OF hanson i'm Jermyn street.
He paid the man his legal fare, added
another quarter because the man
didn't grumble at all, and went up To
his chambers. He changed his dress
coat for a smoking Jacket. mixed him
self n brandy and soda. lit "A cheroot
and sat down I'm an easy chair.
II have done for myself" he said.
Then came second thoughts. Had he
F.... lot mo kF.l =
charming: she had distinctive ways of
her own. but she was none the less
charming She would he considere1.
do him credit. The money did not hap
pen to matter much in his case. but he
remembered vaguely that there was
money.
few hours before he had never
dreamed of marrying. certainly not
marrying a girl like Christine. AS II
was, he had proposed To her for reasons
that he -vst-- -totaffy- Unable to analyze,
and n must go on with it.
The engagement was TO be short The
drudgery OF il began at once. He had
60 go TO many places where he had
never been before. and did not want
10 go again.
1t was all very trying, but gradually
Il daWned on him that there were one
or two compensations. After fort
night he owned TO himself that things
might have been worse.
But he didn't fall I'm love with Chris
tine definitely until she fell III. Then
the major went temporarily mad. H.
became a source of wonder and panied
surprise 20 his friends, and a scourge
and chastisement TO his valet. He lived
chiefly in telegraph offices. hanson
cabs and in the shops of the florist and
fruiterer.
By the time she had recovered her
\. 4.
with the magnanimity OF conqueror.
she decided TO do something to please
him. So she told him that she meant to
have her portrait painted. He said that
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 IN
stead?"
Christine pouted that il wasn't the
same thing at all. In matters OF ART
his education had been somewhat ne
elected.
The majors conception OF artists. d.
rived chiefly from stage plays. was that
they wore YelVetecn coats and long hair
and led improper lives. Delmay had
never worn a velveteen coat I'm his life.
was as well dressed as the immaculate
major himself. and differed from him
chiefly i'm the fact that he possessed far
fewer scruplcs and much more intelli-
gence.
Miss Blake was n paticnt woman. but
shc got weary Of continual attendance
AZ Delmay's studio. The major suggest
Cd that he should see the portrait, but
Christine thought that IL would be bet
ter for him 20 wait until II was FIN
ished. " was nearlys finished when
Dclmay found that his conscience
would not allow him 90 GO on with IL
any further. and that he would have
10 begin all over again.
once or twice as Miss Blake sat I'm the
studio. turning over the illustrated pa
pcrs. her head nodded AMI her eyes
closed. she told Christine that ~ was
very boring Christine said she was
very sorry. but seemed In the best of
spirits.
once more u wn> late at night. and
tho major paced HIS chambers They no
longer had the air OF dream that
NOW good digestion waits on appr-
titc. and helath on both" IT ID doesn't
try EurdoCk Blood Bittnrs