Middletown transcript., 1921-08-06
4 Lady Of the Last
Century
By MURIEL BLAIR
%. 1921. western Newspaper Union.)

He named an absurdly low sum-at
least, so the young American painter
thought.
"You see," the man continued con-
hdentially, tits too quiet place for
Mrs. Epping and Miss Sylvia. While
old Mr.. Epping, was alive it was a
nome to them. But since he's been
dead they've wanted to get away from
tie sights that perpetually reminded
them of him.
Quincy 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
.anel painting of the destruction of
alexandria, the order for which from
the public library in his home city
has. held out to him the hope OF rec
u-nition and success after his many
years Of loneliness and poverty.
Mrs. Epping's bit Of an invalid
the agent said one day, just after
Gnmey 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. Epplng at
terwara. "He seems cut out to be a
hermit, that young man does"
Yet, somehow the panel painting
made little progress. The fact Is,
Gurney 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 old English house proved de-
lishtfully puzzle-provsking. He ex-
plored every nook of the rambling old
building. But he always came back
to the long central hall, where the
portraits of the Eppings hung.
Seme 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-sleeved
gown of the days of the third George.
Gurney was fascinated by this pic
ture. And she must have been dead
nearly 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 at the pictures. think the
young man must be iii love-"
piaan nf npNS
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 had driven up to the manor
house, and at the gate found herself
confronted by young man with wild
eyes and touseled hair-and yet unmis-
takably a gentleman.
"Mr. Gurney?" she asked, Il am
Mrs. Epping." And seeing that he
made no move to ask her in, she added
tactfully:
II have heard about your paintings
sad thought l would ask you to let
me see them."
In half an hour she had completely
w5n his heart. She departed, carry
Ing his promise to pay her call at
no distant date. He spent the night
before the picture.
In the morning old Mrs. Smith
found him lying in delirium in the
hall.
brain fever" pronounced the doc
tor. "The cause? Well, should say
overwork, combined with solitude, per-
haps."
Il 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 welLtilled 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 m;llady.
"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
disjointed mutterings, which escaped
the artists lips during his delirium
and made her plans accordingly or
whether it was kindly chance, nobody
ny,nnn6 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 blushng 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 hall, in fancy dress,
representing lady of the last cen
tury."
Gurney lay back on his pillows, ut
terly content. 1t was a miracle, the
doctor said. which brought him back
10 health so swiftly. But Sylvia knew
differently.
"You gave he back my life," he
said softly, 9s they left the parish
church together, man and wife, three
months later, land I am going to de-
vote my life to you"
1t is Sylvia's face which forms the
central panel of Gurney's great paint.
ing in the Museum Of Edinburgh--iia
masterpiece.