The Van Buren press., 1873-09-23

lather VIII DO nothing Out read OLD Dook
with heathsnish names, and paints pic
lures of mountains, and rickcty, half
tumble down churches and the child i
as full Of ridiculous inventions as a pat
ent office. There; ii that scarlet tidy il
dry I'd better bring it in; if he shouls
conclude to be robin next, he'd tie i
on for red-brsast suppose, and G.
hopping around the yard with his moutl
full Of straws. I"
In the light, pleasant upper room hal
studio, half library, the artist droppe,
into an easy chair, and surveyed the pic
ture on his easel, the other pictures oil
the wall and the books in their cases, will
. glance that saw aone Of them. and will
the smile slowly fadsrs Tween Nj. face
Poor little Paul! this wss not just th
sort OF life fer one like him. Cousin Mar
tha loved him--her nursing Of bis Group
and colds, her care OF his wardrobe, ans
even her frequent seedlings proved that
but it was an outside love that never 60
near the soul Of the child. Sic was ;
serupulously nice house wife; the house
was beautifully kept, but it was no home
Paul Rivers the elder sighed a little IS h'
reached this thought that camo often now
Only body OF rooms with no home
heart in them! 1t was different at tha
sszy, sunny little mock over tho way, anc
the musing eyes wandered in that direc
tion, as they frequently did of late, to
catch now and then the fluttering of Q
delicate dress through the vine leaves, OF
the glimpse Of graceful figure in the
garden.
Little Paul had first established friend
ship with this nsisbbor over the way
His small hands, pushed through tns
tcnca for flowers, were generously filed.
His wise remarks and scientific investiga-
,iens, cautiously vcntured between the
paling., received due attention. and he
soon found his way in at the gate. The
father followed--to bring Paul home, al
first afterward TO stop and talk for a lit.
Tie Of the child, Of hswers, and the books
and pictsres that Mildred Gray slse Low.
I'd. Gradually the talks grew longer.
There was = charm in the soutle woman
~ presence; the face, past its first flush
Of girlhood, had gained in noblsness and
sweetness more than it had lest in bloom,
aad the fraak, true eyes, with the shad
ows Of some things accompl shed and
suffered lying little way back in them,
we're more winxomc than giilhood's
sparkling briliancy.
Little Paul's visits were finally unre.
,traiqed. He came and went as suited
, s own eapriciols will, and N SIS Grey
became the sympathizing confidante of
many Of his grave pcndsrlngs and mar
selous researches. OAs day the treaeh.
,rous wind r~apt L"-h t"o -""S'~e
from tho opposite porilco, and revealed
he boys golden head pillswed for its
afternoon nap on somebody's arm The
artist father, unseen at his window.
,ketchsd the white.robed figure and the
'lecping child; but into the first moment
If satisfaction at his success, flashed a
sudden thong swift pain and long
na-t that had never wholly left him since
lie taaeied that same figure sitting near
lin in his studio, pictured it on his own
noonlt piazza in the evenings. and the
whole house had seemed to grow sweeter
md brighter for the mere dream. 1t
,ame to him now ALI il it might be,
low tho wsrk and the life would grow
'sal, and blessed, and bright once more
Paper and pencils were scattered over
he table beside him, hs drew fair white
,age n. arer and wrote few hurried lines
-aot with any definite intention cen.
.erning them, but only following out a
,agus impulse born Of that haunting fan
y.
!" Mildred Grey, dear Mildred must |
watch YOU forever across the way Just
beyond reach of MY life and home and
lssrti Will you net come nearsr9 1t
s love l have given yoA, dearest, not
l have learned to love my
,eighbor better than myself; want hor
or my own--my aif4. +"
There the namoless dream was fairly
n words; but he smiled little sadly nt
laving so clothed it, and suddenly clos
ID his portfolio upon the unfinished note
"No, ne shall never write or speak
such words TO her! Her life hslds fairer
than can ofier. 1t is little
Paul she loves, not his father, and ] must
lot mistake her kindness nor risk the
50 invaluable to him, and so
,ret ious to me, for tho faint hope Of
gaining something dearer "
He sighed softly--a sigh that ended
ia another faint smilc--walked over to
he easel. ss...a s.aa took up his brushes, and
then, though !. vus not in the least n
sentimental or disconsolSts thing to do,
he began to whistle" Away dull care y
Mrs. Martha caught the sound below
stairs, and accepted it as evidence that
The master Of the establishment was en-
Iirely unconeerned about the loss Of her
brush apd her various other tribulations,
pursed 0p her mouth still more grimly as
She went about looking after all the
wheels, pulloys, and shafts Of her uni
verse. A knock on the open deor start.
I'd her. A tall, thin, green.spsctaclsd
with large portfolio Under
his arm, stood bo~ing in the doorway
ike a heavy topped weed in the wind.
Madam, / have here some beautiful
cngravinss to which ! desire to oall yoar
attention. "
1t was an lnauspicious moment Mrs.
Martha Was in no amiable humor toward
of that ik, and frowned as the
ease was opened.
81 don't want any," she announced
shortly.
"But, madam. l wish to exhibit to
YOU some highly beautiful and interest
wnrka of n ri Hkich--O