The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-07-07
CHAPTER Nv.
Continued.


marvellous and lifelike manner that
he caught his breath, only half able
to believe that his hand had really
attained to such added skill.
Picture Sunday passed, but did not
affect him, for, wisely or unwisely, he
had never encouraged the society
stream to flow through his studio,
and it now passed him by in igno-
rance.
Still he worked on, retouching and
improving, with ever growing de-
light, until past the regular Gros-
venor sending-in day, for, on giving
the measurements of the space his
picture required, he had been granted
few days grace, but at last, one
afternoon, he had to allow it to be
taken away, and saw it depart with
sense of desertion.
Even then he was not disposed to
be idle. He had forgotten Babcock
and his landscape all this time, but
now, with feeling that he owed it
as kind of atonement to his de-
parted rival, he painted in a figure
from an old sketch-book with all the
care he could bestow.
And, s. fortnight later, letter
bearing the royal arms was brought
to him, containing an official notice
which he read with a sick bewilder-
ment
Two-thirds of his years labor
wasted, a crushing and double fail
ure! Xerxes and Sappho, in which
he had been so proudly confident, re-
jected!
His self-confidence staggered UNI
der the shock-where was all the in
crease of power he had been SO con-
scious of? How could he have de-
ceived himself so blindly, so grossly?
If SYPHILIS portrait had not already
left the studio, he would have de-
stroyed it then and there in the first
mad rush of despair and disappoint-
ment. 1t was safe at least from re-
lection, having been sent by express
invitation, but for all he knew it
might prove as hideous failure.
He was still chatting under the Bit
terness of this rejection, when an
academician called Perceval, who
was on the hanging committee that
year, looked in to see him. Perceval
had always been a kind and appre-
ciative friend, who had shown a
warm interest in Campion from his
student days.
You've had your medicine, I see,
ch?" he said, as he saw the young
painters face.
YES" said Campion, with a forced
laugh. land gulped it down"
WELL" Perceval said, II did all l
could for you, but it was no use
they wouldn't have you at any price"
Thanks" said poor Campion,
drearily, "and-and did you think
them so Internally bad?"
do you want my candid opinion
don't say yes if you mean mo- Very
we'll. then, if you must have it; l
couldn't believe my eyes when read
your name on EN-. My dear boy.
, send in such screamers. like the pic
lures outside shooting saloon, or
a peeptshow, by CAD they are!
assure you, consider it good thing
for you they are rejected; you'd have
been guyed, sir, if they'd hung you"
Campion groaned "You saw them
a couple of months ago, and spoke
rather well of them"
well, you've played the very
deuce with them since / scarcely
knew 'em again at first. Come, my
boy, you must set to and turn over
new leaf unless you want to join the
noble army of rocket-sticks. You've
got on wrong track; you're playing
to the gallery, and confounded
transporting kind of gallery at that"
II suppose you're right, Perceval,
I've been a fool. I've perpetrated
portrait, too, which can't escape the
pillory, for it's at the Grosvenor. If
the others are bad, suppose this is
even worse, for / thought it was the
best thing I'd done"
go round to the gallery, and see
If you can't get them to let you have
it back. You mustn't play any tricks
with your reputation just yet. my
dear fellow; leave that to u.s."
Campion shrank from this ex-
tNme step. Il can't do that; so
much depends on it, l can't trust my
own Judgment any longer, Perceval,
you know them there; you're exhibit
fng something yourself, aren't you?
I'm leaving town tonight can't
stay here now-will you see the pic
lures If you can, and use your own
discretion? If it's bad, use all your
influence to get it taken down. I'll
give you the fullest authority"
well, don't suppose they're Of
ten asked to do such thing, and
it may be ticklish business to man
age" said Perceval. "but I'll try my
best. If the portrait Il haven't seen
it, so don't know is poor work and
unworthy of you. I'll worry them till
they give it up"
However, before another week had
passed this telegram came to him at
the homely inn where he was stay
ing
Have seen pic. Daring, very, but
far from bad Think it will do. Hung
on line end of East Gallery. Under
circs. let it stay there.
What relief this pregnant message
brought him! He was not such a
complete failure. then, after all. Sybil
would not have to think him a
Ivretched imposter, and the fate of
his Academy failures troubled him