New-York tribune., 1922-08-20

sgt, ana II Is With the certainty vi uSln WSsi
,steived that we have ventured to disturb
yos'
Tbe painter Destrangcs made polite and
saneyoient gesture OF protest. They didn't
s;sturb him at all. He invited his visitors to-
.sks seats in comfortable corner of his big,
.auptuous studio. They were both art critics
.-sergy, with an established influence, and
III, younger and less able, but still highly
assui They were people well worth cultivat-
my.
what can do for you?"
NY dear master, our errand concerns
.sss of suffering which must be relieved at
suss An artist ayveteran, who twenty years
40 was doing Very interesting work, is now
il 8 desperate condition--sick almost blind,
stripped Of everything. If he has not already
starved T am not exaggerating, my dear mas
vr-st stssdua to the wonderful devotion Of his
vffe heroic creature. who, to keep the wolf
from ths door, has accepted the toughest sort
of work But human forces have their limits.
This unfortunate woman is worn out
4 am entirely at your service Destranges
answered, with the same polite benevolence.
@and believe me, gentlemen am grateful to
you for calling this unfortunate case to my at
tsnaon. But don't you think that some inme
date rsiief''
aUndoubtedly. We have collected little
money, but only in the form Of loans. must
50 tomorrow to Montrouge. But / have
nsglected to tell you the name of our protere.
Who will now have in you much more power
fal protector Perhaps you remember him.
Some of his canvases repeat attracted no.
tee twenty years ago, about the same time
Aatyou yourself were making your mark. His
name is Louis Chandler. Do you know him
nv dear naster?'
Bestranges gave start. But it was hardly
roticeable. He answered calmly:
know him slightly, it seems to me. Louis
Chandler? Perhaps met him once or twice
But that is of no consequence What YOU have
tod me has touched me deeply, and if you will
consent, Monsieur Sergy, will accompany YOU
tomorrow on the visit you expect to make. |
can then see better what is to be DONE
MY dear master, | shall be only too happy.
Will you allow me to come for YOU early to-
morrow afternoon?"
The callers got up. Destranges conducted
asn to the door Of the studio and then re-
hned to his chair and lighted another cigar
ah he tried unsuccessfully to clarity his
feelings. In spite Of his habitual coldness he
mad been deeply stirred on hearing that name
-ehandier What had he felt? Sorrow, ioy,
anger He shrugged his shoulders. No; moth
hg o. that sort. 1t was only a memory Of
pssF emotlons--older even than twertv wears
Now ne recalled calmly the time when he
lsa been IN love with Mare-Anne Deloire
Sne was the daughter of an architect whose
house he and Chandler had frequented. She
aaa rejected him. to marry Chandler whom
me loved That was all. For Destranges it
aad been blow, certainly, More than that
was a sort of mystfcation. That love
mould enter into his life, altogether conse-
Grated to work and ambition, was for him
cause Of establishment. He could not under.
stand why the young girl did not accept him
At once. He felt deep and bitter prudge
sgalnst Mar1e-Anne At each success he oh
famed, at each step he made toward celebrity
and fortune, he thought: 'tShe was wrong.
one must see it--too late
At the end of a long, dark street near the
bafrer the auto stopped before shabbv
DeSdangeS ana Sergy climbed five
Aisi's o. stairs and then a sort of ladder.
.hey knocked at a door, which opened into
pafe studio, with cracked and peelng walls,
me marsh light from the mansard windows
sccsatuated the poverty within 1t was how
yer, clean and self-respecting poverty. At
,,s oses, In an alcove, shut off by curtains.
sAsaaief lay in bed, asleep. Destranges
00Aea at Nine Chandler who had opened
as aoor tor them. How faded she was how
ual' now much older! How she must have
saaefed. Nevertheless he discovered in her
s'uasned face some traces of her former
ssuty The blue eyes had paled-wasbed
4py viglis and tears-but they still had that
wac slow, deep and sincere look. Mime.
lander had fixed it on Destranges only for
moment when Sergy presented him Sur
HRea, doubtless ashamed and perhaps indig
srt' she had given no sign of ever having
3nown her caller.
vas she dominating her feeling or had she
..siy none-too worn out by the daily strug-
ss 70 have any pride left? Destranges let
le1gy do the talking. In a low voice. SO as
= 20 disturb the sick man, the latter told of
ssr plans. Destranges eyed Marie Anne fur
sy Now he had only pity for her. He
,'a'a that he had overdone his triumph.
aieer hfteen minutes conversation they got
60. Destranges let Sergy pass out first.
fnra &c. 4 Il u = -,