The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-06-30

X CHRONICLE. TUESDA
4 look up and caught what seemed 3
look of bland encouragement and ap-
prevail on the face Of the Orienta
image on the cabinet opposite.
1t was too precious letter to trust
to another hand, and he put it in the
letter-box himself, confident of re.
ceiving the answer by return of post;
he waited the next day, and two days
more-but no reply came, though he
knew that Sybil and her aunt were
still at Sussex Place.
Then he went to the postoffice and
made inquiries, which he felt at the
time were farce, but he had no real
doubt that his Letters had been de-
liVered in the usual way; they gave
him form to be filled UP and sent
to the stmaster-general, but it oc-
cured to him that Sybil might be
troubled by official inquiries which
would only vex her whether the let
ter had been received or not.
So he took the more sensible
course of writing again, and his let
ter was one which no girl with any
vestige of a heart could leave I'M
answered. Bales happened to come
into the room shortly afterward
"Will you be wanting this yere
image for a few minutes he in
CURED, because / thought if you
had no objection I'd get my missus
to give it wash down. What with
the black dust about, it's got so that
little soap and water wouldn't Dc
it no harm.
Just as you like" said Campion.
This for the post, sir?" said
Bales, Rs he was leaving the room
with the idol tucked under his arm
like a terrier, and saw Campions let.
ter on the table.
'No-let me see, l was going to
the post with it myself; but, very
well, Bales, only it must be posted
in time for the last collection, mind!''
Bales went out with kind of re-
sentful grunt at being supposed in
need of such a reminder. In about
ten minutes the idol reappeared, not
a whit cleaner, in charge of Mrs.
Bales.
Gould you oblige Bales with a
little brandy, SIR" she asked.
Certainly, you know where to find
it. Isn't he well?"
He's had slight fall, sir, and
came down rather seyere-like on
the back of his head. don't know
what's come to Bales lately, he's took
so to falling about and 'urting him
self. :" And later in the day Bales
grim countenance was not improved
by bandage, but he made no refer
ence to his accident.
Had Sybil heart or had she not?
He waited again for some airily ten
der lines from her, but they never
came
He sent for Bales and questioned
him; but Bales was indignant at the
mere suggestion of any default on his
part. ANY letters, Mr. Campion, sir,
as you give me to post. l post. You
gave me that there letter-and posted
it was, you may depend upon it,
After this he decided not to write
again; SYPHILIS silence was evidently
Intentional. Still he did not blame
or doubt her; she might be prevented,
or have promised not to write until
she had seen her father.
The picture was finished, but now
he began to feel dissatisfied with it
he had meant to do so much more,
and he felt that he had come very far
short of rendering the exact shade
of expression he thought to have sur
prised
And there seemed now a want of
balance in the composition, which he
could have wished to set right before
it was too late; some accessory was
needed at the right of the picture. to
keep the gorgeous hangings from be-
coming too prominent, and to relieve
their somewhat bizarre effect.
1t happened that at the instant this
occurred to him his eye was resting
upon the figure of the idol, and he ut
tered an exclamation of sudden en-
lightenment. There was his access
sorry! Yes, it was the very thing, in
sufficient character to harmonic with
the surroundings, so quantity ugly as
to accentuate the charm of his sub
ject. 1t seemed as if some instinct
had led Sybil to give it to him for this
particular purpose.
He placed the idol upon the drag
on pedestal, and began to paint it
experimentally, but he had scarcely
done more than indicate its position
on the canvas before he became en-
chanted with his success. He painted
on for two days, denying himself to
every one. scarcely allowing himself
time for meals. so strongly did his
subject appeal to his Imagination;
and as he went on he was astonished
himself at the brilliancy and accu-
racy with which he had initiated it's
dingy tone and grotesque features.
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