The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-06-24

her own sex. though critical 10 III
smallest fault, admitted that she d.
served her reputation.
According 10 report, she had been eI
gagged as many times as she had see
seasOns-which were three. Whetbe
IT was true or no, even Sir Wilfri
could not have said. But a soc!et
beauty must at least be reputed to b
engaged. otherwise her beauty become
a thing Of question, and it Is satlsfaC
tory that such an effort to maintain
reputation need not be brought abou
by ones own actions.
The fact remained, however. tha
she was not married, and If her fathel
were asked for the truth OF any Oi
these matters-or even congratulated
upon them-he replied: "yiolet know,
more about it than l do; in that she
probably knows that there's no truth
in it-whereas | don't know that it's
true And at that complicated an
swer people smiled, when they under.
stood il.
Lady Lowry had been dead for many
years, and Violet had grown TO look
upon her father as a chaperon. lie
devoted his whole time to her. taking
her everywhere, and denying lLar moth.
ing.
Il want TO go and see that exhibition
OF sketches at the Bohemian Gallery" ,"
violet said TO her father one morning
at breakfast.
why he asked. curiously. He
knew that there must be some espe.
clal reason-there always was except
to the unavoidable invitations. 81
don't suppose it's worth seeing" he
added. mo well-known men exhibit
at that gallery. They're all strugglers."
Every mans struggles are original
In a way she said. thoughtfully.
Moreover, | have heard that there is
picture there, very much like me
and | want to see it,"
Sir Wilfrld smiled "Now I under.
stand he said. "Of course we will
go. If it's good. I'll buy it. and If it's
bad-well. I'll buy it all the same and
burn it, and he looked at her admir-.
ingiy.
He often paid her compliments like
that.
don't know who it's by. she said.
smiling at him in return.
How should you?" he replied. And
after breakfast they started.
At IL o'clock in the morning there
were few, If any. people at the gal
lery. 1t Is doubtful If any one went
after lunch for 1t seems the fate of the
unknown men to be cut.
Violet did not know the name Of the
artist or the picture, so 1t was some
time before they found out the paint.
Ing in question
Sir Wilfrid discovered II. "Here we
are he sald-and then he uttered an
exclamation. II never saw ANYTHING
so like you in all my life" he said ex
cltedly. Far better than that old
academician. who made you sit In his
studio for hours"
With little cry of delighted cxpect.
ancy. Vic let came to his side TO look
at it,
Father She exclaimed "surely It's
meant for me! Look, you see there's
more than one of them. Here's an.
other frame full Of different attitudes
and poses; but how on earth could the
artist have painted them? Aren't they
wOnderful?"
Marvellous" was all Sir Wilfrld
could say. Marvellous" and then he
repeated it again.
The picture was in water colors-
the head and shoulders OF very beau
dful girl, far more like Violet than
any photograph could have been. and
1t was called THE Study OF n Beauty" "
But this was not ALL In n frame
quite as large, hanging by its side.
were set of pictures with the same
title, and the same model In almost n
dozen different attitudes. Here only
the back of the head was seen; i'm
another the face in perfect profile.
There 1t was bending low, as over a
book; and there, again, was thrown
back so that the full throat was show.
Ing. Yet still further, there were cor
.ners of the paper devoted to studies of
the arms and shoulders and hands: all
every one of them, as like Violet as
mirror could have portrayed here
They stood before the picture ant
and could say nothing. Violet brok,
the silence at last with n little cry o.
surprise and cagerness. one OF th,
hnd studies showed ring on III,
fourth finger. She bent down swiftly
and looked at It,
Yes. father" she said, excitnrly
Took, il must be meant for me-see
even the ring is exactly the same n
mine"
She held out her hand for him 10 in
spect; and on the fourth finger was
singular ring OF pearls and diamond.
which was portrayed exactly on tn
same finger In the sketch.
DO you know the artist, violetY" 81
Wilfrid asked, almost suspiciously.
Never heard OF him. What's hi
name? Is IL in the corner?"
They both looked. but could see onl
the small letters of the jnitials-J.
s.. which did not enlighten them in II
least.
"Are you certain that you did not S
for himT' asked Sir Wilfrid, still u
convinced.
Violet laughed. "Silly old dad" 81
said. How could |, II didn't kno
hLmi"
"0f course not" he said, vaguely.
Sir Wilfrld looked at 1t again, tn,
xr-apf 10 ota Of th, ,,rfare