Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-07-29

plete without her, and even
her own sex, though critical to the
smallest fault, admitted that she de-
served her reputation.
According to report, she had been en-
gagged as many times as she had seen
seasons-which were three Whether
it was true or no, even Sir Wilfrid
could not have said. But a society
beauty must at least be reputed to be
engaged, otherwise her beauty becomes
thing of question, and it is satisfac-
tory that such an effort to maintain a
reputation need not be brought about
by ones own actions.
The fact remained, however, that
she was not married, and if her father
were asked for the truth of any of
these matters-or even congratulated
upon.them-he replied: "Violet knows
more about it than 1 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 it. :,
Lady Lowry had been dead for many
years, and Violet had grown to look
upon her father as chaperon. He
devoted his whole time to her. taking
her everywhere, ana denying her moth
ing. r
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-
cial 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 beard that there is
picture there, veTy much like me-
and I want to see it,
Sir Wilfrid 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-
ingly.
He often paid her compliments like
that.
Il don't know who it's by. she said.
smiling at him in return.
How should your" he replied. And
after breakfast they started
At II 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 it seems the fate of the
unknown men to be cut.
Violet did not know the name of the
artist or the picture, so it was some
time before they found out the paint
ing in question.
Sir Wilfrid discovered it. "Here we
are" he said-and then he uttered an
exclamation. 81 never saw anything
so like you in all my life," he said. ex-
citedly. Ear better than that old
academieian, who made you sit in his
studio for hours"
With little cry Of delighted expect
ancy. Vic let came to his side to look
at it.
Father" she exclaimed, "surely It's
meant for mel 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"
"Marvelousw was all Sir Wilfrid
could say. "Marvelousw and then he
repeated it again.
The picture was in water colors-
the head and shoulders of a very beau
dful girl, far more like Violet than
any photograph could have been. and
1t was called "The Study of a Beauty"
But this was not all. In a frame
quite as large, hanging by its side,
were a set of pictures with the same
title, and the same model in almost
dozen different attitudes. Here only
the back of the head was seen: in
another the face in perfect profile.
There it 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 a
mirror could have portrayed here.
They stood before the picture and
and could say nothing. Violet broke
the silence at last with a little CRY of
surprise and eagerness. One of the
hand studies showed ring on the
fourth finger. She bent down swiftly
and looked at it.
Eyes, father" she; said, excitedlv.
"look, it must be meant for me-see.
even the ring is exactly the same as
mine"
She held out her hand for him to in
spect; and on the fourth finger was a
singular ring of pearls and diamonds,
which was portrayed exactly on the
same finger in the sketch.
DO you know the artist, Violet?' Sir
Wilfrid asked, almost suspiciously.
Never heard of him. What's his
name? Is it in the corner?9
They both looked, but could see only
the small letters of tie initials-J. S.
S.. which did not enlighten them in the
least.
- w vi tam ludl JOu 0ll DOI Oh
for him?" asked Sir Wilfrid, still I'M
convinced.
Violet laughed. "Silly old dad" she
said. How could /, if I didn't know
him?"
"Of course not" he said, vaguely.
Sir Wilfrid looked at it again, then
went to one of the porters.
''Who is this portrait by?'' he asked
pointing to the study.
Don't know, sir." --said the man
"Leastways, I'm not allowed to tell"
Sir Wilfrid grunteds "Will sover
eign, be any held to you?" he said
smiling.
mot in the least, sir" the man re
piled, stolidly.
Sir Wilfrid grunted again. well, il
the picture for sale." he asked