a face illumined-第1章
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A Face Illumined
by E。 P。 Roe
Preface
As may be gathered from the following pages； my title was obtained
a number of years ago； and the story has since been taking form
and color in my mind。 What has become of the beautiful but discordant
face I saw at the concert garden I do not know； but I trust that
the countenance it suggested； and its changes may not prove
so vague and unsatisfactory as to be indistinct to the reader。 It
has looked upon the writer during the past year almost like the face
of a living maiden； and I have felt； in a way that would be hard
to explain； that I have had but little to do with its expressions；
and that forces and influences over which I had no control were
moulding character。
The old garden； and the aged man who grew young within it； are not
creations； but sacred memories。
That the book may tend to ennoble other faces than that of Ida
Mayhew； is the earnest wish of
E。 P。 Roe。
Cornwall…on…the…Hudson； N。 Y。
Contents
Chapter I： A Face。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。11
Chapter II： Ida Mayhew。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。22
Chapter III： An Artist's Freak。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。35
Chapter IV： A Parthian Arrow。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。42
Chapter V： Spite。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。51
Chapter VI： Reckless Words and Deeds。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。60
Chapter VII： Another Feminine Problem。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。71
Chapter VIII： Glimpses of Tragedy。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。85
Chapter IX： Unexpectedly Thrown Together。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。96
Chapter X： Phrases too Suggestive。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。108
Chapter XI： A 〃Tableau Vivant〃。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。118
Chapter XII： Miss Mayhew is Puzzled。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。126
Chapter XIII： Nature's Broken Promise。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。137
Chapter XIV： A Revelation。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。145
Chapter XV： Contrasts。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。159
Chapter XVI： Out Among Shadows。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。172
Chapter XVII： New Forces Developing。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。184
Chapter XVIII： Love Put to Work。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。195
Chapter XIX： Man's Highest Honor。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。203
Chapter XX： A Wretched Secret that Must be Kept。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。209
Chapter XXI： A Deliberate Wooer。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。216
Chapter XXII： A Vain Wish。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。225
Chapter XXIII： Jennie Burton's Remedies。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。232
Chapter XXIV： A Hateful； Wretched Life。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。239
Chapter XXV： Half…Truths。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。246
Chapter XXVI： Sunday Table…Talk。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。251
Chapter XXVII： A Family Group。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。262
Chapter XXVIII： Rather Volcanic。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。268
Chapter XXIX： Evil Lives Cast Dark Shadows。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。278
Chapter XXX： The Deliberate Wooer Speaks First。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。284
Chapter XXXI： An Emblem。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。293
Chapter XXXII： The Dangers of Despair。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。303
Chapter XXXIII： 〃Hope Dies Hard〃。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。311
Chapter XXXIV： Puzzled。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。324
Chapter XXXV： Desperately Wounded。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。335
Chapter XXXVI： Temptation's Voice。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。350
Chapter XXXVII： Voices of Nature。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。360
Chapter XXXVIII： A Good Man Speaks。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。369
Chapter XXXIX： Van Berg's Escape。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。387
Chapter XL： Van Berg's Conclusions。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。397
Chapter XLI： The Protestant Confessional。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。403
Chapter XLII： The Corner…Stone of Character。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。424
Chapter XLIII： A 〃Heavenly Mystery〃。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。435
Chapter XLIV： 〃The Garden of Eden〃。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。443
Chapter XLV： Problems Beyond Art。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。470
Chapter XLVI： A Resolute Philosopher。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。486
Chapter XLVII： The Concert Garden Again。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。500
Chapter XLVIII： Ida's Temptation。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。518
Chapter XLIX： The Blind God。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。538
Chapter L： Swept Away。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。555
Chapter LI： From Deep Experience。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。569
Chapter LII： An Illumined Face。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。589
Chapter LIII： A Night's Vigil。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。601
Chapter LIV： Life and Trust。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。615
Chapter 1。 A Face。
Although the sun was approaching the horizon； its slanting
rays found a young artist still bending over his easel。 That his
shoulders are broad is apparent at a glance； that upon them is placed
a shapely head； well thatched with crisp black hair； is also seen
at once； that the head is not an empty one is proved by the picture
on the easel； which is sufficiently advanced to show correct and
spirited drawing。 A brain that can direct the hand how to do one
thing well； is like a general who has occupied a strategic point
which will give him the victory if he follows up his advantage。
A knock at the door is not answered at once by the intent and
preoccupied artist； but its sharp and impatient repetition secures
the rather reluctant invitation；
〃Come in；〃 and even as he spoke he bent forward to give another
stroke。
〃Six o'clock； and working still！〃 cried the intruder。 〃You will
keep the paint market active； if you achieve nothing else as an
artist。〃
〃Heigho！ Ik； is that you？〃 said he of the palette； good…naturedly；
and rising slowly he gave a lingering look at his work； then turned
and greeted his friend with the quiet cordiality of long and familiar
acquaintance。 〃What a marplot you are with your idle ways！〃 he
added。 〃Sit down here and make yourself useful for once by doing
nothing nothing for ten minutes。 I am in just the mood and have
just the light for a bit of work which perhaps I can never do as
well again；〃 and the artist returned promptly to his picture。
In greeting his friend he had revealed that he was above middle
height； that he had full black eyes that were not only good for
seeing； but could also； if he chose； give great emphasis to his
words； and at times be even more expressive。 A thick mustache
covered his lip； but the rest of his face was cleanly shaven； and
was strong and decided in its outlines rather than handsome。
〃They say a woman's work is never done；〃 remarked Ik Stanton； dropping
into the easiest chair in the studio； 〃and for this reason； were
there no other； your muse is evidently of the feminine persuasion。
I also admit that she is a lady of great antiquity。 Indeed I would
place her nearer to the time when 'Adam delved and Eve span' than
to the classic age。〃
〃My dear Ik；〃 responded the artist； 〃I am often at a loss to know
whether I love or despise you most。 If a little of the whirr of
our great grandam's spinning wheel would only get into your brain
the world might hear from you。 You are a man of unbounded stomach
and unbounded heart； and so you have won all there is of me except
my head； and that disapproves of you。〃
〃A fig for the world！ what good will it do me or it to have it hear
from me？ you ambitious fellows are already making such a din that
the poor old world is half ready for Bedlam； and would go stark mad
were it not for us quiet； easy…going people； who have time for a
good dinner and a snack between meals。 You've got a genius that's
like a windmill in a trade wind； always in motion； you are worth
more money than I shall ever have； but you are the greatest drudge
in the studio building； and work as many hours as a house…painter。〃
〃When your brain once gets in motion； Ik； fiction will be its natural
product。 You must admit that I have not painted many pictures。〃
〃That is one of the things I complain of； I； your bosom friend and
familiar； your； I might add； guardian angelI； who have so often
saved your life by quenching the flame of your consuming genius
with a hearty dinner； have been able to obtain one picture only
from you； and as one might draw a tooth。 Your pictures are like
old maid's childrenthey must be so perfect that they can't exist
at all。 But come； the ten minutes are up。 Here's the programme
for the eveninga drive in the Park and a little dinner at a cool
restaurant near Thomas's Garden； and then the concert。 That prince
of musical caterers has made a fine selection for to…night； and；
with the cigar stand on one side of us and the orchestra on the
other； we are certain to kill a couple of hours that will die like
swans。〃
〃You mention the cigar…stand first。〃
〃Why not？ Smoke is more real than empty sound。〃
〃Are you not equally empty； Ik； save after dinner？ How have the
preceding hours of this long day been killed？〃
〃Like boas。 They have enfolded me with a weary weight。〃
〃The snakes in your comparison are larger than your pun； and the
pun； rather than yourself； suggests a constrictor's squeeze。〃
〃Come； you are only abusing me to gain time； and you may gain too
much。 My horses have more mettle than their master； and may carry
off my trap and groom to parts unknown； while you are wasting
paint and words。 You are like the animals at the Park； that are
good…natured only after they are fed。 So shut up your old paint
shop； and come along； we will shorten our ride and lengthen our
dinner。〃
With mutual chaffing and laughter the young men at last went down
to where a liveried coachman and a pair of handsome bays were in
waiting。 Taking the high front seat and gathering up the reins； Ik
Stanton； with his friend Harold Van Berg at his side； bowled away
towards the Park at a rapid pace。
Harold Van Berg was； in truth； something of a paradox。 He was an
artist； and yet was rich； he had inherited large wealth； and yet
had formed habits of careful industry。 The majority of his young
acquaintances； who had been launched from homes like his own； were
known only as sons of their fathers； and degenerate sons at that。
Van Berg was already winning a place among men on the ground of
what he was and could do himself。
It were hard to say which was the stronger motive； his ambition or
the love of his art； but it seemed certain that between the two；
such talent as he had been endowed with would be developed quite
thoroughly。 And he did possess decided talent； if not genius。 But
his artistic gift accorded with his character； and was controlled
by judgement； correct taste； and intellectuality rather than by
strong and erratic impulses。 His aims were definite and decided
rather than vague an
