The Master of Silence

uneral arrangements were made as simple as possible, so as to exclude all except the functionaries whose presence was absolutely necessary. A rector of the Church of England read the ser

if you will let me. He said you

y heart, of the happiness it would give me to fu

to see him ag

the most serious r

en I shall see him. He has gone to the Great F

e faith was built upon the deepest foundations. He evidently gave much thought to the relationship between man and his Creator after he fe

tled and amazed me the night I saw it first, and he regarded it with fonder interest than he was wont to bestow upon the work of his brush. I believe that face was the closest presentment of a human soul I shall ever see until standing, as I hope to stand some time, in

rtificates of deposit accompanying the will, and bonds of the United States. There was a considerable bequest for me, whom he had named as executor of the will, which, howeve

cutor of the will. Rayel wished to go with me, and I gladly assented, for it seemed wise as an initiatory step in the new life that was awaiting him. He waved his hand to the mute, who stood looking at us through the big gates after we had passed out into the road, and then he walked on beside me in silence. The sun-shot haze of a beautiful autumn day hun

ings which, though familiar and commonplace

nly taking hold of my

d whisper, and shyly stepped

aid I, subduing my desir

ok at his commanding figure, and some stared at him rudely. Remembering my own emotions when I first stood in his presence, I was not at all surpris

y in the hands of a reputable lawyer, who said that th

my entrance upon the utter isolation of my uncle's home. It was my earnest desire to see something of the big metropolis on the western Atlantic

as moved to bitter tears. The thought of its loneliness, now that its master was dead and we were leaving it, perhaps forever, brought

ts on Fifth Avenue, near Madison Square. As soon as Rayel had recovered from the fatigue and excitement of the trip, we set about unpacki

course, but I explained to him that the collection was wholly the work of my cousin, who was not yet old himself. In answer to his questions I assured him that the paintings would not be exhibited in the National Academy, and that my cousin's work had nev

f the leading dailies, which subjected us to

anion" was the name which had appeared on our bill for picture-framing, the clerk who had waited on us having taken it down incorrectly. "U

claimed the credit of having discovered a genius who, although

pted by no motive but idle curiosity, besieged us until we bolted our doors in dismay against all comers. The mail, too, brought us missives of varying import from perso

not any of Signor Lanion's paintings are for sale. If they are, I would be gla

imself did us the honor to call. After looking at the paintings, he expressed his willingness to buy the entire collection. I told him, however, that we would not part with more than ten canvases, and he seemed glad to buy even that number at a price which was so far in excess of our expectations that I was loath to accept it. Our beloved "Woman"-that was the title we had given Rayel's strangely derived conception-was among the paintings included in the sale to Mr. Paddington

nd most elegant on Fifth Avenue. It was a matter of common fame that his entertainments were the cause of more envy and heartburning in the fashionable sisterhood than any other events of the season. I had some doubt about the propriety of taking Rayel to such a place, unaccustomed as he was to the refinements and co