Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-14
Discussing a s,stsr.,n.Lavv.
CHAPTER v.

Ss~~oOO"0 - eVs~sS>@o"s
you remember my sister-in-law.
don't you, Brandy?" was the question
that Leslie Wrandall put to a friend
one afternoon, az they sat drearily In
Q window of one Of the fashionable up.
town clubs, little more than q year
after the events described in the fore
going chapters. Drearily, have said,
for the reason that 1t was Sunday, and
raining at that
II met Mrs. Wrandall few years
ago In Rome" said his companion. re-
newing interest in conversation that
| had died some time before Of its own
exhaustion. She's most attractive. I
saw her but once. think it was ct
somebody's fete."
"she's returning to New York the
end Of tho MONTH" said Leslie. Been
! abroad for over q year. She had q
villa at Nice this winter"
Il remember her quite well. I was
Of an age then to be particularly SEN
sitive to female loneliness. II I'd been
staying on in Rome, should have
screwed up the courage, I'm sure, to
law dohCO uO4 " S4I AOA lA0.
Brandon Booth was Of an old Phila-
delphia family: an old and wealthy
family. Both views considered. he was
qualified to walk hand in glove with
the fastidious Wrandalls. Leslie's
mother was charmed with him be-
cause she was also the mother Of WV
ian. The fact that he went in for por-
<roS< D.Su<io~ oDA aoounod ovorao RI
subsisting on the generosity of his
father. preferring to live by his tai
ent, in no way operated against him,
SO far IS Mrs. Wrandall was con.
cerned. That was his lookout, not
hers; If he elected to that sort Of
thing. all we'll and good. He could
afford to be eccentric; there remained,
in the perspective he scorned, the bulk
of huge fortune to Offset whatever
idiosyncrasies he might choose to cul.
tivate. Some day, in spite Of himself,
she contended serenely, he would be
very, very rich What could be more
desirable than fame, family and for.
tune all heaped together and thrust
upon one exceedingly interesting and
handsome young man?
He had been the pupil Of celebrated
draftsmen and painters in Europe. and
had exhibited . sincerity Of purpose
that was surprising. all things con-
sidered. The mere fact that he was
not obliged to paint IN order to obtain
q living was sufncient cause for won
der among the artists he met and
studied with or under.
His studio In New York was not a
fashionable resting place. 1t was q
workshop. You could have tea there,
of course, and you were sure to meet
people you knew and liked. but it was
quite as much Of Z Workshop as any
you could mention. He was not q
dabbler in art, not Q mere dauber Of
pigments: he was an artist
Booth was thirty-perhaps Z year
or two older; tall, dark and good look.
ing. The air Of the thoroughbred
marked him. He did not affect loose.
flowing cravats and baggy trousers.
nor was he careless about his finger.
nails. He was simply the ordinary.
everyday sort Of chap you would
meet in Fifth avenue during parade
hours, and you would take second
look at him because Of his face and
manner but not ON account Of his
dress. Some Of his ancestors came
over ahead Of the Nsyhower, but he
did not gloat.
Leslie Wrandal was his closest
friend and harshest critic. It didn't
really matter to Booth what Leslie
said of his paintings: he quite under.
stood that he didn't know anything
about them.
when does Mrs.. Wrandall return"
asked the painter, after long period
of silence spent in contemplation Of
the cleaning pavement beyond the
clubs window.
That's queer" said Leslie. booking
up. II was thinking Of Sara myself.
She sails nsxt week. I've had . let
ter asking me to open her house In
the country. Her place 10 about two
miles from fathers. It hasn't been
opened In two years. Her father built
1t fifteen or twenty years ago. and left
1t to her when he died. She and
Challis spent several summers there"
Vivian took mo through It ono aft
ernoon last summer"
1T must have been quite - much
of . novelty to her - It was 70 you.
old chap" said Leslie gioomily.
What do you msanr
"vfvisns Q bit Of snob. She never
liked the place beoause old man oooch
built 1t out Of wossteds. She never
went there
But tho old mans been dead for
years"
THAT doesn't matter. The fact 10.
Vivian didn't quite take to Sara until
after-well, until after Challis died.
We're dreadful snobs. Brandy. the
whole lot OF u. Sara was quite good
enough for . much better man than
my brother. She really couldn't help
the worsteds, you know. I'm very
fond of her. and always have bsen.
We're pals. Cad, It was fearful slap
At the home folks when Challis JUST
fed Sara by getting snufed out tho
way he did"
Booth made On attempt 70 change
the subject, but Wrandall got back
70 It.
"since then we've Ill bean exceed
ingly sweet on Sara. Not because We
want 70 b. mind yos. but because