The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-27
CONTINUED From Yesterday.)

CONTINUED From Yesterday.)
I felt that I could; and left him for
the nearest color mans.
Before | got to the shop, I met Mr..
canterbury talking his walking exer-
else. He stopped, shook hands with
me affectionately. and asked where l
was going. A wonderful idea struck
me. Instead of answering his question,
l asked after Lady Malkinshaw.
Don't be alarmed" said Mr.. Bat
terbury; her ladyship tumbled down.
stairs yesterday morning"
"My dear sir, allow me to congratu-
late you'll"
"Most fortunately continued Mr..
Batterbury, with a strong emphasis on
the words. and a fixed stare at me;
most fortunately, the servan had
been careless enough to leave a large
bundle of clothes for the wash at the
foot of the stairs, while she went to
answer the door. Failing headlong
from the landing, her ladyship pitched
(pardon me the expression)-pitched
into the very middle of the bundle. She
was a little shaken at the time, but is
reported to be going on charmingly
this morning. Most fortunate, was it
not? Seen the papers? Awful news
from Demerara-the yellow fever"
81 wish l was at Demerara," l said,
in a hollow voice.
"You! Why" exclaimed Mr.. Batter
bury, aghast.
81 am homeless, friendless. penni-
less" l went on, getting more hollow
at every word. "All my intellectual
instincts tell me that l could retrieve
- A.s4sA - ~ Il - ~
world, if | might only try my hand at
portrait-painting-the thing of all
others tina | am naturally fitted for
But l nave nobody to start me; no
sitter to give me a first chance; moth
ing in my pocket out th~ree-and-six-
pence; md nothing in my mind but a
doubt whether l shall struggle on a
little longer, or end it Immediately in
the Thames. Don't let me detain you
from your walk, my dear sir. I'm
afraid Lady M%alkinshaw will outlive
me, after ALL"
"Stopi' cried Mr.. Batterbury; his
mahogany face actually getting white
with alarm. "Stop! Don't talk in that
%dreadfully unprincipled manner-don'
implore, l insist! You have plenty
of friends-you have me, inc your
SloltI. IbhC " lpl u ut IhillNlii5
think of your family, and take to por-
trait-painting!'
"Where am l to get a s~itter?" I in
! quired, with a gloomy shake of the
head.
Me-" said Mr.. Batterbury, with an
| effort. I'll be your first sitter. AS g
beginner, and especially to a member
of the family, l suppose you terms
r-;11 - a,11arata C,,a11 hooinniaoG G
you know the prOverb?" Here he
stopped; and a misery leer puckered
up his mahogany cheeks.
'TH do you, life-size, down to your
J waistcoat, for fifty pounds" said l.
Mr.. Batterbury WINGED, and looked
about him to the right and left, as if
he wanted to run away He had tiv'
:. thousand a year, but he contrived
to look, at that moment, as if his ut
! most income was five hundred. l walk
J ed on a few steps.
Surely those terms are rather higf
/ to begin WITH" he said, walking after
2 me. Il should have thought five-and-
thirty, or perhaps forty
"a gentleman, sir, cannot condescent
to bargain said 1, with mournful dig
nifty. FAREWELL | waved my hand
and crossed over the way.
Don't do that cried Mr.. Batter
bury. Il accept. Give me your address
I'll come tomorrow. Will it include the
frame? There! there! it doesn't include
the frame. of course. Where are yor
going now? To the colorman? Fl
doesn't live in the Strand, l hope-ol
near one of the bridges. Think OF
Annabella. think of the family, thinl
of the fifty pounds-an income, a years
income to a prudent man. Pray, pray
be careful, and compose your mind
promise me, my dear, dear fellow
promise me. on your word of honor, tc
compose your mind!"
I left him still harping on that string
and suffering. I believe, the only serious
attack of mental distress that had eve
affected him in the whole course of hi:
life.
Behold me, then, now starting afresf
in the world, in the character of a por
trait painter; with the payment of mr.
remuneration from my first sitter de
pending whimsically on the life of my
grandmother.