The Monett times., 1921-06-03
A Lady of the Last
Century
BY MURIEL BLAIR
20 1921. Western Newspaper Union. }


dred years. For rents fully furnished.
at"
He named an absurdly low sum-at
least, 50 the young American painter
thought.
"Yoa see," the man continued cons
tidentially, ITS too quiet a place for
Mrs. Epping and Miss Sylvia. While
old Mr.. Epping was alive it was a
home to them. But since he's been
dead they've wanted to get away from
the sights that perpetua!ly reminded
them Of him.
Gurney agreed cordially with this
sentiment. He was spending the year
in England and meant to have at least
six weeks alone TO finish his great
panel painting Of the destruction of
Alexandria, the order for which from
the public library in his home city
had held out to him the hope of rec
ogniti0n and success after his many
years of loneliness and poverty.
Mrs. Epping's bit of an invalid"
The agent said one day, just after
Gurney had moved in. "She says she'd
be very pleased to make your ac-
quaintance if you would care to call
any afternoon at Chilworth."
"He scowled at me something aw-
full" the agent told Mrs. Epping af-
terward, "He seems cut out to be IL
hermit, that young man does"
Yet. somehow the panel painting
made little progress The fact is,
Gurncy found what many people have
found: = that it is easier to be alone in
company. than when one has ones
= own thoughts for companions. Life
in this oll English house proved de-
lightfuIly puzzie-provoking, He eX-
plored every nook of the rambling old
building. But he always came back
70 tile long central hail. where the
portraits of the Eppings hung.
Some of them bore names upon the
frames, but she was unnamed, this
beauty of the long ago. dressed in the
big Gainsborough hat and wide-sleeyed
gown OF the days Of the third George.
Gilrney was Fascinated by this pic
ture. And she must have beer dead
nearly a Gentry!
Gurney's work was abandoned; he
would spend hours before the picture.
Work? He don't work any more,
said old Mrs. Smith, the village gos-
sip. "He Just moons around and
stares Mt the pictures. think the
young man must be IN love"
In due time this piece of news
reached the ears of the kind-hearted
Mrs. Epping.
'Perhaps the young man lives too
much alone" she said. Martha, tell
James to harness the pony to the dog
cart"
When the Invalid made decision
she acted upon it. In little over an
hour she mad driven up to the manor
house, and at the gate found herself
confronted by a young man with wild
eyes and touSeled hair-and yet unmis-
takably gentleman.
"NIr. Gurney?' she asked, II am
Mrs. Epping." And seeing that he
made no move to ask her in, she added
tactfully:
II have heard about your paintings
and thought would ask you to let
me see them"
In half an hour she had completely
won his heart. She departed. carry
ing his promise to pay her call at
no distant Gate. He spent the night
before the picture.
In the morning old Mrs. Smith
found him lying in a delirium in the
hall.
brain fever" pronounced the doc
tor. The cause? Well, l should say
overwork, combined with solitude, per-
Eaps."
81 shall never forgive myself
never" said Mrs. Epping. James,
harness the pony to the dog-cart."
This time she had come to stay, as
two well-flIed trunks that accompa
MED her attested. She and Sylvia
took up their residence at the Manor,
and for two weeks they assiduously
nursed Gurney through the crisis Of
his malady.
"When he wakes" said the doctor,
"he will be in his right mind again"
Now whether Mrs. Epping had
shrewdly guessed the source of the
disiointed mutterings, which escaped
the artists lips during his. delirium
and made her plans accordingly or
whether it was kindly chance, nobody
can say, but when Gurney opened his
eyes again to reason he saw bending
over him the face of the woman in
the portrait. But it was the living |
face of young and charming girl, |
and blushing red under the young |
mans earnest scrutiny.
"Well," said Mrs. Epping, entering |
the room, 'you two are looking at |
each other as though you had never
seen person Of the opposite sex be-
fore. Mr.. Gurney. this is my daugh-
ter, Sylvia, whose portrait you may
have seen in the hail. in fancy dress,
lady Of the last CEN
tury."
Gurney lay back on his pillows, ut
terly content. It was miracle. the
doctor said, which brought him back