The record-union., 1899-11-26

- S-AA liz AAcJOI , POiAS ~ - =, >---
very worst sort of concert. An ordi-
nary tune. as he sometimes observed.
he could more or less understand. He
was made to dance frequently, and In
the small hours of the morning, when
respectable, middleaged gentlemen
should be IN their beds. 1t was very
trying, but gradually it dawned on him
that there were one or two compensa-
tions. Christine certainly behaved very
nicely to him. He bought her ring
diamond and sapphires), and her re-
ception of it gave him great pleasure
He repeated this pleasure by buying her
other things. After a fortnight ne
owned to himself that things might
have been worse
But he didn't fall in love with Chris
tine definitely until she fell ill. Then
the Major went temporarily mad. He
became a source of wonder and pained
surprise to his friends and scourge
and chastisement to his valet. He lived
chiefly in telegraph offices. hansom
cabs and in the shops of the florist ana
fruiterer. By a constant succession o.
kilograms he kept himself informed Oh
Christine's progress during those brler
periods when he was not driving to see
her, or purchasing for her scented flow
ers, which she could not bear to nave
in her room, or out-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 of a conquerer 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 academy-Delmay
was always hung on the line-and alter
ward she was going to give the portrait
to him. He said that he was charmed.
and he really was.
But he said, 1.-The sittings will bore
you terribly, and you really are not
strong enough for them. Why don,
you have your photograph taken In
stead?"
Christine pointed out that it 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 colored
by hand"
She laughed at him, and instructed
him.
But why do you go to Delmay?' he
said IF l were going to have my
portrait done I'd have it 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; If
you were not very pretty it might be
just as we'll to go to a 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
couldn't go wrong
However Christine had her way.
The Majors conception of artists, de-
rived chiefly from stage plays, was that
they wore velveteen coats and long
hair, and led improper lives. Delmay,
it is hardly necessary to add, had never
worn a velveteen coat in his life. was
as we'll dressed as the immaculate Ma
jor himself and differed from him chiefly
in the fact that he possessed far fewer
scruples and much more intelligence.
Miss Blake was a patient woman, but
she got weary of continual attendance
at Delmay's studio After repeated sit
tings 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 a vague idea
that a sense of the socla1 obligation
might lead him to shorten those sit
tings as far as was possible. The Major
suggested that he should see the por-
trait, but Christine thought that It
would be better for him to wait until
it was finished IT 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, turn
ing over the illustrated papers, her head
nodded and her eyes closed. She told
Christine that it was very boring. Chris
tine said she was very sorry, but
seemed in the best of spirits.
Once more it was late at night, and
the Major paced his chambers. They
no longer had the air of a dream that
might pass at any moment In Iact'
he knew that, except when he was away
for the shooting, or spending an occa-
sional week in Paris, he would inhabit
them for the rest of his natural life.
Christine's letter lay on the table. He
took it up and reread portions of it.
1T was your impetuosity that drove
me into it. l was frightened, and hard
ly knew what to say, and gave way. l
had my fears even at the time. but
thought that 1 would give it far
trial, and see if I could bring myself
to love you. l am sorry If l have given
you any pain, but I know now (some-
thing which has happened recently has
shown mel that l could never really
love you like that
He read this through twice. Then he
recalled that scene in the garden where
the proposal had been made, and nc
remembered from whom practically the
proposal had come. And then, though
he was sore at heart, he grlnned saruon-
ically.
1t says much for the generosity OF MS
nature that, although he was not pres
ent in response to Miss Blake's INVITA-
ton to the reception on the occasion OF
her niece's marriage with Maurice Del
may-it says much, / say. that, though
he was not present-he sent silver can
dlesticks-four of them.
The Delmays still use them.-To-Da
Gratitude.
re fool;n, mighty thankful Sence / read