In Friendship's Guise

rs, except for a heavier mustache that improved his dark and handsome face. To judge from appearances, he had not run through with all his money. He was daintily booted and gloved, and wore morn

!" cried Jack, ho

mly; his momentary co

Clare-"

ed, laughingly. "I'm called Ver

ernon, the ri

e s

man. If I had known I would have looked yo

k. "I supposed you were st

couple o

didn't meet before. Fa

"and feeling a bit seedy this morning, I came for a stroll along the river. I hear of a galla

lieve

know who

p the landlord, "and I can assure

that," modestly

second there was a troubled look in his eyes. He spoke

clothes at once, Jack

interrupted the landlord. "

p an engagement," Nevill resume

"Stop at my studio," giving him the address,

get a cab at Kew Bridge. Come and see me, Jack

," said Jack. "I am seldom at

enched garments and rubbed himself dry, then putting on a suit of clothes belonging to his host. The latter brought the cheering new

attire. He left his card and a polite message for the girl, pressed a substantial tip on the reluctant landlord, and was soon rattling homeward up C

uickly-I am wedded to my art. It's rather a fetching name, Madge Foster. Come to think of it, it was hardly the proper thing to leave my card. I sup

from the adventure of the morning, and he saw more frequently the face of the love

for six wretched months, after that bitter night when Diane fled from him, he had suffered acutely. In vain his friends, none of whom could give him any clew to his betrayer, sought to comfort him; in vain he searched for trace of tidings of his wife, for her faithlessness had not utterly cr

narrow little house in Bayswater, put him in possession of a fairly large sum of money. He left Paris with his friend Jimmie Drexell, and the two spent a year in Italy, Holland and Algeria, doing pretty hard work in the way of sketching. Jack returned to Paris quite cured, and with a determination to win success in his calling. He saw Drexell off for his home in New York, and then he packed up his belongings-they

d work, he obtained more than a foothold. He had sold a couple of pictures to dealers; his black-and-white drawings were in demand with a couple of good magazines, and a clever poster, bearing his name, and advertising a popular whisky was displayed all over London. Then,

e was a free man now in every sense, and the world looked brighter to him. He worked as hard as ever, and with increasing success, but he spent most of h

parts of town; in that respect he was better off than artists living in Hampstead or St. John's Wood. He had a couple of small furnished rooms at one end of the studio, in one of which he slept. He usually dined in t

rs begged him to illustrate books. He was making a large income, and saving the half of it. Nor did he lose sight of his loftier goal. His picture of last year had been accepted by the Academy, h

letter. It was directed in a feminine hand, but a man had clearly penned the inclosure. The writer signed himself Stephen Foster, and in a few brief sentences, coldly and curtly expressed, he than

lightly hurt. He had been trying to forget the girl, but now, think

-grubber in the city, and regards artists with contempt. If I had a daughter like that, and a m

the sheaf of manuscript aside. He rose and put on a hat an

t, sir?" asked Alphonse, who w

nswered. "You can go w

Railway station. He walked slowly to the high-road, and then westward with brisker step. He struck down throug

ne hand, and by her side lay a sketching-block and a box of colors. She heard the young artist's footsteps, and glanced up. A lovely blush suffused

d to see you

you," Jack repl

anted to

er has wri

ent. I wanted to th

said Jack, thinking that the girl looked far

ed my life. I am a good swimmer, but that

plied, as he seated himself without invitation on the bench

d then added gravely: "It is so strange to know you. I admire artists so much, and I

yourself,

try to. I wi

y said as much, to his companion's delight, and then the conversation turned on the quaintness of Strand-on-the-Green, and the constant and varied beauty of th

ather is coming home early t

ly good-b

clouded her lovely face. Jack understood the mea

ou here someti

rha

ot forbid me t

is quite free, Mr. Vernon. Oh, pleas

f farewell over her shoulder, and Jack moodily watched her slim and graceful figure va

you is to pack up your traps and be off to-morrow morning for a coupl

and muttered, as he flipped it in

Roebuck on the hill, beloved of artists, where he met some