Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-03-23
THE MESSING WILLIAMS

A dull London afternoon was fading away into q murky twilight. One by one the lamps lit up in the streets, and the gloom gathered in the garret iu which Jack Chatteris sat painting Presently that gentleman threw down brushes and palette with a sigh.
 Thank goodness, that's six finish cd! I'll run down to old Breadbean before he shuts up shop. Then I can buy a new pair of boots for to-mor- row."
 He laughed rather bitterly and strode across to the window to look out upon the ehimneypots of Camden Town.
 The prospect was not eXhilarating, but it exercised a weird fascination upon Jack Chatteris as he stood at the window of his garret and rattled two halfpennies against a latchkey that was q week behind in it's rent. 4 gIeam of gold shone in the western sky behind the forest of chimneypOts.
 'That is the gold of her hair,' thought Jack.
 A very dirty chimney stack writhed hideously in the foreground.
 That's me-" thought Jack sadly, land she's as far away from me as the sunset"
 And, after all, 'she" was only as far away as Park lane.
 Jack was painting her portrait, which, when finished, was to be sub mitted to the hanging committee of the Royal Academy.
 "If they don't hang me I shall have to hang myself" Jack used to think In his more desponding moments.
 Her father was a soap-boiling mil. nonaire.
 Jack was the son of a pot-boiling artist. Therein lay the cause of his despondeney, for in painting the lady's portrait upon his canvas he had like wise painted 1t upon his heart, and, to make matters worse, the canvas was nearly finished.
 sI can't go on painting in high lights and putting them out again for many more weeks" he unused sadly and the old lady is already beginning to suspect me of working with a dry brush"
 This surmise was more correct than even Jack himself dared to think. Lady Silyertown did suspect the young artist of a secret hankering after her fair daughter. Moreover, she had not iced a certain wistful look in heV daughters eyes of late.
 ''Neyer mind about the portrait be- ing finished John. It's fashionable to leave 'em smudgy nowadays" Lady SilvertoWn had remarked to her hus- band. Pay the young man his money and let him go. 1 believe our Mays getting soft on him, and I'm sure he's in love with her"
 tBosh! mother" Sir John had re. piled. May knows better She only looks pensive-lke because she's having her portrait painted"
 Jack Chatteris knew nothing of this conversation as he stood gazing out at the twinkling lamps below, but his heart grew heavy within him as he thought of the near completion of his picture. How could he speak of love to the daughter of Sir John Silvertown, millionaire
 'The fats in the fire" said Jack to himself, unconsciously quoting a fav- orite but much condensed phrase of Sir Johns
 Then, mailing his pot-boilers together, he sallied forth to sell them to Broad. bean, the dealer at starvation prices. The next day came the final sitting. He was ushered into Lady Silvertown's morning-rOom.
 Hardly had the servant left the room when the door opened and Miss Silver town herself approached him.
 Miss Silvertown was pale, but out. wardly composed.
 'I-I wish, MT. Chatteris," she began with a slight catch in her throat, .'to thank you for the pains and care you have bestowed upon my portrait, and I hope you will accept this as a memory of these pleasant hours"
 She slipped a small paint box into his hand
 No words passed between them, but each understood the thoughts that pos sessed the others mind.
 At length Jack spoke.
 "Is it possible" said he half in in. terrogation.
 Miss silvertown nodded, then came q sob.
 This was too much for Jack. He took her unresisting in his arms.
 Forgive me, degf. I have been wicked fool to fall in love with you" You must forget mer'
 Miss Silvertown shook her head.
 T can't-I-T won'tr' she sobbed. q told mamma so this morningr'
 MT. Chatteris whistled under his breath.
 'The old dragonr' he murmured.
 "Mamma is not dragon" corrected Miss silyertown. ''She is quite right, but-but-'
 "Of course" replied Jack, whose soul of sudden became uplifted with mighty joy: but I'll work like a niprer