The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-23
CHATTER III.
MY LADY OF MYSTERY.
Being a single autobiogra

Being a single autobiograph ical
chapter from the life Of Francis
Sedgwiek, with editorial comment by
Professor Chester Kent.
Dear Kent: Here goest / met her
first on June 22d. at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon. Some wonderful cloud
effects after a hard rain had brought
me out into the open. I had pitched
my easel In the hollow, on the Martin
dale Road. SO as to get that clump
of pine against the sky. There I sat
working away with WILL when
heard the drumming of hoofs. and a
horse with girl in the saddle came
whiZzing round the turn almost upon
me. Just there the rain has made a
puddle Of thick stucky mud. The
mudpie variety. AS the horse went
by at fun gallon, a fine. fat, mud-pie
rose. scared through the aid, and
landed In the middle OF my painting.
| fairly yelped.
To get II all off was hopeless. How
ever, ] went at IL. and was cursing
over the job when I heard the hoofs
coming back, and the rider pulled up
close to me.
II heard you cry out" said a
voice. very fun and CIV. Did l hurt
you / hope not"
No" l said without looking UP.
Small thanks TO you that you
didn't"
My tone silenced her for a mo-
ment. Somehow. though. ] got the
feeling that she was amused more
than abRshed at my resentment. And
her voice was suspiciously meek
when she presently spoke again.
ou're an artist aren't you ~
Med said. .busiiY scraping away
at nay capperplate. Tn an acheoIo-
gist. engaged in exhuming an ancient
ruin from n square mile Of mud"
She laughed: but in moment be-
came grave again. TN SO sorry she
said. Il know | shouldn't come plunE-
ing around turns i'm that reckless way
May IL should likt to-buy your
picture?"
You may not" replied.
That isn't quite fair. is il? she
asked. IF | have done damage,
should be allowed tn repair it"
'Repair7'' said T. How do you pro-
pose TO do ?" I suppose that you
think a picture that can be bought
for "a hundred dollar bill can be
painted with a hundred dollar bill. :"
mo; I'm not altogether Philis-
tine" she said, and | looked up at
her for the first time. Her face
(Elision and Comment by Kent;
know her face from the sketches
Why could he not have described
the horse? However. there's one
point clear: she is woman of
means.)
she said. II don't wonder you're
cross. ndA I'm truly sorry. Is it
quite ruined ?"
At that I recovered some decenccy
OF manner. Forgive a hermit"
said, who doesn't see enough peo-
pie to keep him civilized. The daub
doesn't matter"
She leaned over from the saddle
to examine the picture. ''Oh. but 1t
isn't daub!" she protested. Tt
know a little about pictures. It's very
interesting and curious. But why do
you paint on copper"
IT explained.
''oh!" she said. ST should so like
to see your prints''
Nothing easier" said MY
shack IS just over the hill"
And there is a Mrs" her eyes
suggested that / fill the blank.
''Sedgwick1" / finished. mo. There
Is no one but my aged and highly
respectable Chinaman to play pro-
priety But in the case of a studio.
les convenances are not so rigid but
that one may look at pictures I'M
chaperoned."
'I'm AFFAIR it wouldn't do she
answered, smiling. mo. I'm afraid
I'll have to give 1t up"
Chance settled that point then and
there. AS she finished. she was in
my arms. The girth had ioosened.
and the saddled had turned with her.
I had barely time to twist her foot
from the stirrup when the brute of
horse bolted. AS it was. her ankle
got bit of a wrench, She turned
quite white, and cried out a little, In
moment she was herself again.
king Cole has been acting badly
all day." she said. ''T shall have a
time catching him" She limped for
ward a few steps.
Here. that won5t dol" said I. let
me-"
.'You couldn't get near him
though, perhaps, If you had some
salt
81 can get some at my place" said
I. gathering UP my things. Your
horse Is headed that way. You'd bet
ter como along and rest there while
Ching Lung and / round up your
mount"
! Comment by G. X: Here follows
more talk! showing how young peo-
pie imperceptibly and unconscious