Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-24
Gales aud SketGhes.
A QUEEN OF SPADES.
I'M. W. Hazeton in the Overland for November. !

IN. W. Hazelton in the Overland for November /
CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.1
dare say it incommoded Ruth to sacri.
fice her capacious store-room, which, hap
pening to open from Bob's bed-chamber
and to possess skylight, was at once pro.
NOTED to the function of atelier; but she
proceeded cheerfully to transfer her house,
hold stuff, slowing it away in hooks and
pigeon-holes, merely craving permission
to lea7e some strings of dried apples
which depended from the rafters. She
could not find it in her heart, however. to
rebuke lthe kitchen-maid. who bewailed
Justify the confiscation of her clothes-horse
$50 she termed drying-frame.) } and prob
ably Ruth condemned In secret the per
version of that machine to art purposes
But she esteemed it her plain duty to fur
ther Bob's wishes, and forestall them If
she could, so when he had rugged toler-
able easel and got fairly to work, Ruth en-
joined the utmost quiet on her subjects,
| and strove to compass the death-like 81
lence which she presumed congenial to
&c sthetic toll.
1t was a shock. therefore, to the we'll
meaning girl. when she stole in on tip-toe
to announce the midday meal, to find
Nellie at BOb's elbow, giggling and pratt
| Ting right noisilv, and daubing q strip OF
canvas with enthusiasm. Ruth disliked to
scold, but some reprimand seemed neces.
| sary.
"Wby..will you be so thoughtless, Nell?n
she said. Look at all that fine paint
wasted How can Bob keep his wits with
such dinp''
80, let her stay" said the artist. Talk
ing don't tease ME .; rather helps this sort
of work.
docs it ?" said Ruth, astounded, and
beginning to find small difference between
such work and play. why, Mr.. Great
head, the Baptist minister, locks himself
up for days when he writes sermons"
That's what makes them 80 musty,'
said profane Rob. but come here, Ruth
what do you think of this ?"-and he point
ed to Miss Tyrrelrs portrait.
Il think she's lovely" protested Nellie,
who had bestowed close attention on the
young lady's toilet. "See how she does
up her hair and the ruff round her neck
Il wish had one !"
"A comeiy face, but dreamy looking
said wide-awake Ruth, and picks up a
landscape with more interest.
That's view in the Morena,' ex-
plains Robin. ''the region you're always
hearing of in Don QuiXote.'
II don't remember said his betrothed.
obviously. at seems hill country.
What breed OF sheep is that 9-such curly
wool and twisted horns. Mine are com.
mon stock, but clipped two hundred
pounds last shearing.'
"We'll go and inspect them, dear, after
tea, said Bob, who was looking forward
eagerly to the evening walk.
80, come here y shouted Nell, and
made her syster look at some junketings
in the Tyrol--a pretty scene enough
where the bright costumes of the women
had caught the damsel's eye. ats too
sweet she murmured tenderly; "how |
should love to go there
But Rnth opined they were harbarens
creatures, of thriftless habits, and proba-
bly, Roman Catholics. II guess there's
more dancing than plowing over there
she said, and marshaled Bob and Nell
down to dinner.
| In the busiest households the evening is
y season of leisure and refreshment; but
after sundown. Squire Allen must needs
stroll over from the mill and Shake Bob's
hand. and take Ruth aside to disclose II
notable project for supplying the Notch
house with eggs and butter. The saga
cious housewife discerned much promise
in that scheme. forthwith got out pens and
paper, and was presently deep in figures
renouncing utterly for that occasion such
lrivolities as moonlight walks.
Nellie will GO she said and accord
ingly Robin would have preferred. per-
haps, to drink in solitude the spirit of the
hills, was attended by that vivacious young
person, and regaled with divers histories
of sewing-bees. spelling. matches, maple
scrapes and sleigh-rides which had signal
lied the previous winter.
| Nor am | sure when the times were
more auspicious, and no graver cares
baked the communion OF lovers, that Ruth
and Robin were often betrayed into the
rhapsodies of strong emotion. or developed
a very fervent sympathy. You see their
attachment was no giddy impulse, or brief
heyday of the blood; it had withstood the
test OF years, and approached Zone side,
at least the calm beattude of that we'd
ded iondness which invariably las you
know, madam), gains depth and volume
from close acquaintance with the dear OBJ
ject. You might have discovered many
tokens of that serene affection, if you had
followed them in their rambles and marked
drifted away from the dreamland of senti-
ment to the homely topics of domestic life.
Look. Ruth. what site for painters
| home :" cried bob. ON one occasion, when
they had walked out along the Bartlett
road to point where Mount Washington
itself looms grandly against the northern
verge. shoulderng a way between Mount
franklin and Mount Monroe.
'*You can't mean." said practical Ruth
''you would exchange the old farm for
such worthless ground? The view is pret-
ty here, and know our house lies in a
hollow, but the soil is ten times richer
down the valley. Why. the country here
abonts is scarce fit to Craze over, and even
buckwheat would starye in land like that r
And she pointed to field where the stones
were, no doubt, discouragingly numerous.
"But we don't intend to go on farming
explained Robin plaintiyely. II was only
thinking OF the summer months, and what
= paradise we might make of this quiet
hillside. ringed with forest and river and
set in the eye of that glorious scene. We
mead Eunu uothioy of ifs hlnaE wiufaP Cor