Out of the Ashes, by Ethel Watts
Mumford
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Out of the Ashes, by Ethel Watts
Mumford This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and
with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Out of the Ashes
Author: Ethel Watts Mumford
Release Date: August 25, 2004 [EBook #13273]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUT OF
THE ASHES ***
Produced by Kevin Handy, John Hagerson, and PG Distributed
Proofreaders
OUT OF THE ASHES
BY ETHEL WATTS MUMFORD
1913
I
Marcus Gard sat at his library table apparently in rapt contemplation of
a pair of sixteenth century bronze inkwells, strange twisted shapes, half
man, half beast, bearing in their breasts twin black pools. But his
thoughts were far from their grotesque beauty--centered on vast
schemes of destruction and reconstruction. The room was still, so quiet,
in spite of its proximity to the crowded life of Fifth Avenue, that one
divined its steel construction and the doubled and trebled casing of its
many windows. The walls, hung with green Genoese velvet, met a
carved and coffered ceiling, and touched the upper shelf of the
breast-high bookcases that lined the walls. No picture broke the simple
unity of color. Here and there a Donatello bronze silhouetted a slim
shape, or a Florentine portrait bust smiled with veiled meaning from the
quiet shadows. The shelves were rich in books in splendid bindings,
gems of ancient workmanship or modern luxury, for the Great Man had
the instinct of the masterpiece.
The door opened softly, and the secretary entered, a look of uncertainty
on his handsome young face. The slight sound of his footfall disturbed
the master's contemplation. He looked up, relieved to be drawn for a
moment from his reflection.
"What is it, Saunders?" he asked, leaning back and grasping the arms of
his chair with a gesture of control familiar to him.
"Mrs. Martin Marteen is here, very anxious to see you. She let me
understand it was about the Heim Vandyke. I knew you were interested,
so I ventured, Mr. Gard--"
"Yes, yes--quite right. Let her come in here." He rose as he spoke,
shook his cuffs, pulled down his waistcoat and ran a hand over his bald
spot and silvery hair. Marcus Gard was still a handsome man. He
remained standing, and, as the door reopened, advanced to meet his
guest. She came forward, smiling, and, taking a white-gloved hand
from her sable muff, extended it graciously.
"Very nice of you to receive me, Mr. Gard," she said, and the tone of
her mellow voice was clear and decisive. "I know what a busy man you
are."
"At your service." He bowed, waved her to a seat and sank once more
into his favorite chair, watching her the while intently. If she had come
to negotiate the sale of the Heim Vandyke, let her set forth the
conditions. It was no part of his plan to show how much he coveted the
picture. In the meantime she was very agreeable to look at. Her strong,
regular features suggested neither youth nor age. She was of the
goddess breed. Every detail of the lady's envelope was perfect--velvet
and fur, a glimpse of exquisite antique lace, a sheen of pearl necklace,
neither so large as to be ostentatious nor so small as to suggest
economy. The Great Man's instinct of the masterpiece stirred. "What
can I do for you?" he said, as she showed no further desire to explain
her visit.
"I let fall a hint to Mr. Saunders," she answered--and her smile shone
suddenly, giving her straight Greek features a fascinating humanity--"
that I wanted to see you about the Heim Vandyke." She paused, and his
eyes lit.
"Yes--portrait? A good example, I believe."
She laughed quietly. "As you very well know, Mr. Gard. But that, let
me own, was merely a ruse to gain your private ear. I have nothing to
do with that gem of art."
The Great Man's face fell. He was in for a bad quarter of an hour. Lady
with a hard luck story--he was not unused to the type--but Mrs. Martin
Marteen! He could not very well dismiss her unheard, an acquaintance
of years' standing, a friend of his sister's. His curiosity was aroused.
What could be the matter with the impeccable Mrs. Marteen? Perhaps
she had been speculating. She read his thoughts.
"Quite wrong, Mr. Gard. I have not been drawn into the stock market.
The fact is, I have something to sell, but it isn't a picture--autographs.
You collect them, do you not? Now
![](qr/23080/1.png)
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the
Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.