The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-01-30


about to tell her.
A strange smile fitted over his face
and he said calmly: "If you had listened
Kate. you might have heard something
entirely different from what you ex-
pected."
! She was silent; perfect torrent of
thoughts rushed through her brain.
Something different from what she had
expected to hearg' Had Bertram for a
purpose of his own, told her deliberate
falsehood?
Victor noticed her confusion and spoke
of the portrait. II never saw a more
perfect likeness" he said
Il am glad you think it good one, for
it is to be given to papa for q birthday
present And do you know that strange
as it may seem in these days of photo
graphs and ferrotypes, that this is the
first picture of any kind have ever had
taken q
"You have forgotten one I think" :"
said Victor smiling "A year ago last
summer Bertram showed me one of you,
a daguerreotyPe, and as he handed it to
me he quoted line from Whittier about
hazel eyes, using the name of Kate Leon
ard instead of Maud Muller"
She shook her head wonderingly
Surely you must have dreamed it" she
said
Nay, l have not dreamed it. 1t was a
good picture of you, although there was
something about it that was not quite
natural; the expression perhaps"
"a daguerreotype you sayY'
"Yes, in small blue velvet case, with
a line from French author written on
the opposite side"
"Ah, 1 remember now, he borrowed a
picture of my mother from aunt Betty,
saying he wished to paint one from it.
am said to resemble her. Why surely
he did not" but she paused again while
a blush of shame,-shame for her hus-
bands falsehoods, dyed her cheek
Are you ready Mrs. Conway p inquired
the artist, coming in from the next room
with his pallet and brushes.
Kate laid aside her little fur skating
cap and took the chair he offered, while
Victor scrutinized some landscapes on
the wall, without having the faintest
| idea of what he was looking at. Every
thing was clear to him now. Kate had
loved him. and her strange manner that
evening at Oakwood was explained Con-
way had been treacherous and had told
a series of falsehoods to accomplish his
designs. II should not murmur if he had
| gained her hand in an honorable man.
ner," thought Victor But the thought
of my innocent guileless little friend
having to spend her life with such man
! is terrible to me, for the man who could
so coldly deceive in one instance would
not scruple to do so again. How entirely
l was mistaken in my estimate of Ber-
tram's character. / could not help CEN
suring his idle careless habits, but l
| imagined him to be a good-natured fell
low, incapable of Intentionally doing
wrong" He glanced toward Kate Of
what was she thinking? Possibly her
thoughts were similar to his own.
| The artist broke the silence: "You are
going to skate this morning are you not,
Mrs. Conway p
Eyes; my husband will stop for me. 1
preferred to walk this far, because 1
could SO much better enjoy the fresh air"
There was another long silence, and
presently carriage whirled up to the
door, and Bertram entered the room
"Are you ready to go, Kate p he asked,
and then exclaimed: Victor Hays, as 1
live by bread Why what lucky wind
blew you to New York, old fellow p
"a wind nnlucky enough to blow me
away again tomorrow
Deeply grieved to hear it, I'm sure
Won't you call before you goT'
Thank you Bertram, no. have so
many engagements that shall not have
time to do So"
Conway could not help feeling uncom-
Portable in the presence of this man. He
turned to the portrait. How much it
resembled the one of her mother, that
he had showed Victor. What if the lat.
ter should mention it. and betray him
to Kate? He grew uneasy, and said i'm
patiently:
Come Kate, do hurry: you can come
again tomorrow. twill suit you as we'll,
will it not Howard2"
Certainly" replied the artist laying
aside his brushes; "but 1 should like for
her to remain little while longer this
morning"
II am sorry she cannot do so, but
cannot wait. Goodbye Hays. / hope
you will come to the city again soon, and
that we shall be able to see more of you.
Come Kate"
"a fine looking fellow, Hays" remark
ed Conway, as they rode away.
His wife made no reply.
Yes" resumed Conway "he is fine
looking and good too. Strange to say,
ladies do not fancy men of his style as
much as they do dashing sort of fellows
like your humble servant. Odd isn't it?"
Very"
Did he tell you when his wedding is
to come OFF,
mo, Bertram."
Perhaps she jilted him; she was
great Airt"
"As great one as Victor p
"Victor firt?" repeated Conway.
How absurd! / don't suppose he ever
thought of such thing"
Indeed Your opinion of him seems