Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-02-04

0uuu11tL6Q Ills Work TOT nef cIllASAritl'
It was Teddy Holbrook. looking flush
ed and expectant
At first glance Fielding took in the
1ine shape OF the head that was bent
courteously before the secretary; at
q second he discerned bit Of white
heather in the young mans buttons
hole. 1t gave him curious twlnge Of
resentment
Diana stared at the cardboard for
such an unreasonable length of time
that Miss Maxwell felt warranted in
speaking: Twill the secretary kindly
proceed with the work of the even
ing?"
At which the secretary looked up
with shining eyes and made a most
unparliamentary break. Presently,
virgie, dear, but Mr.. Holbrook has
given me such a task! He has de-
parted entirely from the routine work.
He has been drawing us-the room,
the table-the meeting-you--me- all
OF US. He ought to be fined FOR neglect
ing the work cut out for him, but this
is so awfully clever, can't find it In
my heart to impose the fine. / should
like to take vote upon it,
BY which time every girls head
was crowding over the cardboard and
every boys neck was craning over the
girls shoulders. Teddy stood mod
estly back, covered with genuine con-
fusion at the unexpected publicity
given to his work.
His idea had been that Miss Towers,
pursuing her usual method, would
glance at the work, lay it down and
write something In her secretarys
book. If he had known this was going
to happen he would not have given
such Importance to her figure. On the
cardboard, as in his fast-beating heart,
everything centered about her. But
he hadn't meant to give himself
away" In such ''blockhead style as
this
Into the chorus of "Ohs," "Ahs,"
''Lovelies," and "Wonderfuls, Mrs.
piesbrow projected a request. Her
stratagem was in peril. The standing
group about her chair had prevented
Diana from discovering the visitors.
Diana, my dear, perhaps Mr.. Field
ing can help you to decide upon the
merits of the young gentleman's
work"
And then Diana, standing up with
a rosy face, extended the wonderful
drawing to Mr. Fielding
I'm not sure, godmother," she
said, with a flicker of resentment in
her eyes, that we are being quite
kind to Mr. Holbrook." Then, with
superb composure she beckoned the
culprit forward.
"Godmamma, this is the artist, Mr..
Holbrook. My friend-Mrs. Desbrow.
Some of you, I believe, she already
knows"
While these presentations were being
made Fielding was studying the drawing
critically. 1t was a remarkable specimen
of freehand work. The billiard room with
dts cue racks and familiar wall decorations
was accurately sketched in. The group
about the billiard table was dashed in
with mastery grasp of detail, and the
figure of Diana, sketched at a moment
when her eyes were lifted to some object
on the wall, was full of delicate precis-
ion and subtle appreciation of her good
points that showed real genius in the
workman.
Am I to understand" he said presently,
"that the young gentleman did this in the
course of this sitting?'
His evident skepticism was a tribute to
Teddy. Dana accepted it as such. Yes;
isn't it tremendously clever? Doesn't it
show real genius? He never saw the
room before"
'It unquestionably does show genius.
Present me, please"
"Holbrook?"-he stood holding Teddy S
hand the next minute in a cordial clasp
lone is always stumbling upon clews 10
lost friendship in this big city. I once had
very dear friend named Holbrook. But
he died a great many years ago. You
SNOulu HdTOly nave Ueen llOTe tlldH d year
or two old when / read of Neville's death"
Teddy flushed with pleasure. 1t was
good to meet somebody in this wilderness
of houses and men who had ever known
his people.
MY fathers name was Neville Ho-
brook. And he died when l was years
o,d"
"And you are living here in New York
city?"
81 am existing here, sir"
"Alone?"
If they had been alone. he might have
answered differently. He might have gone
into some sort of explanation touching his
Skeleton" AS It was there was no call
to crafty this mans passing curiosity by
an exposition of his private affairs.
"I am entirely alone in the world, sir.
Ny mother died when I was 10 years old,
and have no brothers or sisters
Fielding had drawn him aside while
talking, so that this friendly inqusitive-
@ess had escaped other ears.
The refreshments had also came in, and
Diana was dispensing them, graciously
assisted by Mrs. Desbrow. The latter was
wondering If Diana could fail to note the
superior repose of manner and nobility of
bearing that distinguished Fielding from