The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-06-11
Copyright. by w. G. Chapman)


Gently. And he's the finest painter
in America, the critics say, although
he's hardly known yet You don't
mind being painted by an unknown
genius?"
I'D let a bricklayer paint me II 1t
would please you, Evie," answered
Lord Jocelyn gayly.
He wondered afterward why this
short interview had left Evelyn so
strangely confused. After some cogi-
tation he set it down to his blunder-
ing remark about Steel
II can't see why you want to have
Richards portrait painted by that
Nermicelli man, Evelyn" her mother
lamented. You're always so queer,
and so decided when once you get a
notion into your head. He's cheap,
OF course, but l should think that
you'd want to give Richard the best
there was to be had"
Her protest was not carried to the
ultimatum point. Mrs. Squires was
not n woman of persistent force of
character. and she always stood rath-
er in awe of her accomplished daugh-
ter, mingled with pride at the finished
product of her husbands purse. She
had never altogether ceased to feel
that the up-bringing in her native
village still hampered and confined
her actions; she was never wholly
at home in the magnificent mansion
on Fifth Avenue, or the cottage" at
Newport, and the shameful memories
OF those days when she was a simple
farmers daughter, far more intimate
with setting" hens than Persian rugs
and Vatican pictures, were an abid-
Ing humiliation. Her mood was still
resentful, however, when, on the fol-
lowing morning, she stepped into her
automobile with Jocelyn and Evelyn
and suffered herself to be borne
southwark into the unfamiliar regions
of Washington Square She shifted
in disdain when the chauffeur stopped
in front of the squalid tenement house
in which Torelli had his studio
Evelyn, my dear, if you say it's
chic to come to these places. sup
pose you're right" she said doubt
fully. II can't see, myself. how any
body can work in them, let alone live
in them. If Mr.. Vermicellis such a
fine painter as you say, why don't he
begin on the outsider"
She seemed terrified by the dark
ness OF the hall and of the stairway
and held tightly to Jocelyn's arm as
they assembled. The artists room.
however, was suffused with light spa
cious and clean, though bare. Along
the base Of the walls numerous pic
lures, finished and incomplete, were
laid. Jocelyn surveyed them with
agreeable surprise; even his own anna
flourish taste told him that these were
excellent. The pleasant impression
was not diminished when he turned
to bow to the painter-a clean.look-
ing, .youngish man, with handsome
features and n crop of black hair
brushed back off high forehead.
After the preliminary introductions.
which Mrs. Squires on her part. dis.
posed Of with the stiffest bow. Lord
Jocelyn suffered himself to be posed
In a chair by the window, and soon
the artist was busy sketching his
preliminary outline.
How much are you goin' to nav
for this. Evelyn ?" asked Mrs. Squires.
breaking the silence
Hush, mother" said the girl.
flushing in embarrassment
But | want to know, Evelyn. Five
hundred, did you tell me? Five hun
dred? Why, it won't take more than
four or five sittings If he goes on
at this rate, and it can be delivered
inside Of a couple Of weeks. Look
mes finished Richards head. And 1
declare. it looks just like himi"
Torelli lost his self-control for n
moment
Madame forgets that the cost OF
paints and yarnishes has been I'm.
creased under the new tariff" he said
in a low voice; then bit his lip I'm
humiliation.
The remark was lost upon his audi
tor
We'll. If Miss Squires is willing. II
amt up to me-" she answered
But she became aware of the in
creasing GOODNESS and sense OF embar-
rassment in the studio Presently
Torelli threw down his brush. mo
more today" he announced Mrs
Squires rose stifny and asked Lord
Jocelyn to assist her down the stairs
to the automobile.
Really Richard, the smells in
these places are almost unbearable."
she said The atmosphere seems
full Of turpentine."
Lord Jocelyn, having assisted his
future motherin-law into her seat.
finding that Evelyn fingered. went
back in search OF her. He had as
cended TO the head of the fight on
which Torelli had his studio. when
he was suddenly rendered dumb by
what he saw through the halfopened
door.
For Evelyn squires lay like dead
weight in the painters arms. and he
was showering kisses upon her
checks and lips
Il cannot bear t. Marco" he heard
ner say in q low voice as she strug-
s.cd out Of bis arms u thought our
meeting would give us a few more
moments together But T now sec
that this interview must be our
last"
Why should &c be our last2" he
whispered Come with me. Evelyn.
/ ann known now can earn living
with my brush I'm q year ] shall be
Famous i am rich already havo