Free press., 1901-08-31

with one daintily gloYed hand held ont
in welcome, and a glorious smile in her
sapphire-blue eyes. "The carriage was
farther down." she told h.-1. Mother
had gone to Truefts." So they walked
side py side, and the man knew tina! life
held nothing better than to walk beside
Betty in the sunshine.
81 think" she told Harold that night
when he came into their box at the
theater, 'that your friend Mr.. Delaield
is delightful"
mo, really?" said the young man in
genuine astonishment. well, he USED
to be no end of good fellow, but the
last few years he's gone crazy. He calls
| you his lady Of the lilies
A quick blush sprang to Betty's face
'He didn't say so, but unearthed a
sketch he'd made of you, yesterday, at
his studio, and it was written under
meath"
! ga sketch of me! OH" Betty drew
a quick breath. "Are you going to this
dance with US, Harold?" changing the
subject abruptly.
A few evenings later the Impression
ist, who had refused dinner invitation.
WAS stretched out N his favorite chair.
wreath in clouds of tobacco smoke, re-
viewin gthe situation. He was in love.
Such a thing had seemed impossible-to
love one woman as a man loves. He
had loved many as an artst-tall, will
loWy beings, with anaemic complexiOns,
and dreamy, dark-shadowed eyes. He
had made a cult of this sort Of thing,
and In his OWN line was looked upon as
a master There was nothing willowy
and underlined about Betty. He wonder
ed what she thought Of him, his velvet
coat, his Byronic collar and tie, his
sand-colored trousers, and soft hat.
! 'Jove!" he said aloud, what a fooi
I've been!"
He drank whislzy-and-soda tore up
the black and white sketch, and went to
his club There were few men in the
smoking room, and he joined them. The
talk was of art and artists, but not ex-
clusiveIy, for a man made a casual re-
mark that set all DeIafield's blood ting
ling. 81 wonder if it's true that Gibson
is going to marry his cousin" Harold
as the only son of a famous sculptor
was well known in artistic circles.
(which one!' asked the Impression
ist in hoarse voice.
SATELLITES daughter, the one that's
just come home from Dresden.
The talk turned On Betty; she was
considered ''a nice little girl ''rathel
good style" but the Impressionist took
no part in it, and presently he rose and
| went out.
''What a rum chap old Delafeld is,
said the man who had first spoken.
"Oh, he's very cracked" said another
Which was wrong, for Anthony Della
field had cast his madness from hin
like a cloak, and was a sane but des
pairing man. He meant to go home, bu
felt he must know the truth, so bent hi;
steps towards Harold's rooms. Tha
very modern young man had just re
turned from some social function, an(
was smoking, so he invited the Impres
sionist to join him; but Delafeld coul(
not smoke the pipe Of peace with hi;
rival. That he had come with a purpost
Harold could tell, although it was Quit'
unusual for the two men to drop fn OF
one another.
"eWhat is it?" he asked presently
''An impression
''Yes. A lasting one. VIII you tel
me, Gibson, if you're going to marr!
Miss Sutcliffe -
/ So that was where the shoe pinched.
| NO. he said, quietly, I'm going t
marry Aggie Benasis if she'll have NE
The girl with the hat. Why?"
81 heard it at the club
"And came to congratulate me; tha
was awfully good OF you, Tony. Have
drink"
''Not now, thanks, old man; mus
be getting home. 1 say, I'm going
give up impressions, and paint pol
traits
Betty would make rather a goo
picture, ddFOlu Sdlu, SO1tly, lOSSeU u
in "a sheet with a market bunch of illie
in her hands, and a far-away, dead-ant
gone expression in her eyes; you migf
call it The Lady of the - - But th
: Impressionist waited to hear no more.
] "Mr. Delafeld.
Mrs. Sutcliffe started slightly as 81
went forward to greet him, and cou1
e scarcely repress a smile.
A much coveted dinner invitation ha
:, been sent to Delafield at Betty's promp
: ing, and he trod on air she entered Il
room.
! Could this be the Impressionist? Th
d spruce, conventional-Iookingm man in Il
l. orthodox swallow-tail and a stern u
" bending collar! He had had his ha
le cut, too.
u But Betty came % the rescue at ono
l. and was, or seemed, quite unconscit
of anything unusual in his appearance
K chatting to him during dinner in b
t pleasant way, until his shyness TOT
IT wings, and he forgot that he was wo