The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-19

round OF boy just planting his pole
for high pole leap. IL was not fin
ished thing. mind you. but all the mus
cles seemed to be exactly as they would
be In life, the folds OF the tunic suggested
movement. and the whole thing did ad-
mirably as a model for the subject.
Pelham was the first 10 speak. There.
now, GUS he said. can't you draw
your boy from that?
" MIR. Pelham said one OF the two
girls. you are the first live genius ever
saw
~ believe you must be the incarnation
OF the soul of Michael Angelo said the
other.
Il noticed that when she-it was Fay
the fair sister-sald that. Pelham looked
at her quickly and as II he were going to
say something in reply and then checked
himself.
well, that was not the last exhibition
Of his wonderful talent which that young
man gave as. lie sat down one day,
when Gus had brought bis color box,
broke the lid off an old cardboard MILL
merry box and made a perfectly beautifui
group of the two faces of the sisters, as
they sat together one sketching in char
coal the other watching and giving criti-
cisms.
YOU might think there was some
mystery about this remarkable youth.
but | can assure you he had made none
himself. He told us that he had been
born with a good fat silver spoon in his
mouth twenty-five years before, that
his parents were dead that ne had
neither brothers nor sisters, had been
educated in England and Grmany ana
had Just come TO the end OF four years
of travelling
g" wanted 10 get some sense into my
head he said. before | finally made up
my mind to study art. l spent good
deal of time in India. and now my NINA
Is about made up. hope TO take my
first lesson in drawing in Paris this tall.
'That last was the most astounding
statement ever heard him make. Inc
idea Of his never having taken lesson
In drawing so far,
"Refore he left us Pelham gave us a
delightful little dinner at restaurant
that you and I know we'll on sixth ave
nue.. At dessert he handed the girls TWO
koeDsakes. I'm the shape OF TWO rings
which he said he had designed hiHseil
and had had made here; but the DARK
maiden had a ruby In her ring and the
fair a sapphire He made them wear the
rings on their foreingers.
~ needn't tell YOU that when orr
Gem went away we were all very as
consulate. But ! was curious 10 know
whether either Of those two girls let
towards him otherwise than as friend.
All I could ever conclude was that both
were in love with him, for both OF them
refused good offers IN succeeding years,
and both are still old bachelor maids
with two superbly jeweled rings on their
forefngers. And mind, these things nap
pened more than ten years ago.
but about that preaic'o, OF In'n'
that failed. I quite expected 10 hear Of
Pelham in years to come as one OF the
foremost artists Of the world. IL was
not merely that he had the gift Of deX-
teritv of execution. but when j talked 10
him about art. as 1 often did, it seemed
10 me. that art was all the world TO him.
and so l waited and waited, often
asking people who / knew had recent
lv been in the Latin Quarter If they had
heard or seen anything of this genius of
ours. Some knew Of him and his genius.
but I never could hear of his having ex-
hibited anything.
AT last, two years ago, when ! was
I'm Florida on business. L recognized my
man. standing on the platform OF a
small railroad station. I got on the
train and let my baggage go its way,
losing twenty-four hours time, on pur-
pose TO talk 10 him.
and what do you think he said?
" Oh. yes. 1 remember you quite well
in New York. Painting? ] never paint
now. There arc so many things In life
that seem better worth while. l grow
oranges for fun. It's a more healthful
occupation, and it leaves one more time
10 think. and the world enjoys oranges
much more than pictures, you know
"The leaping boy? oh. yes. Those
two girls kept st. ! believe. No doubt
they still have it. locked up among their
treasures"