The daily gazette., 1876-09-28
Did She Love Him?
By HAZEL WOOD.

swell, l think l can survive a few
days stay in this hum-drum country
home of yours, WILL" and Eric Clifford
stretched himself at full length upon
the grass, in the cool shade OF the
trees. "Ha! what have we here?"
said Eric. noticing profusion of draw
ing materials, sketch book, and sever
al loose pieces scattered on the grass
near him.
"Oh, that's some of LUIS handi.
work." laughed Will Lancing.
"And who is Luz"
"Have you forgotten that have
little sister? Don't you remember
seeing her when we made that flying
trip from school?"
"I'm not cue to remember anything
, too much trouble, you know; but
somehow it runs in my head, now,
that l did see little girl here at that
time"
1.-The little girl has grown to be a
tall young lady of seventeen. You'd
scarcely know her. She'll be along
presen ly-she must have gone some-
where for walk"
"Whatever part of the globe enc
turns to, ones sure to find young
lady. Confound it all! fellow can
find peace nowhere" thought Eric, as
he slowly turned the leaves of the
| sketch-book.
Alone under the trees Eric sal, pencil
and sketch-book in hand. For nearly
an hour he had been working hard
without knowing it.
"Why, you bave touched up my
picture so that scarcely know it mys
self" exclaimed fresh young voice
from behind him.
Eric Clifford raised his eyes and en-
countered pretty, ,piquant face, framed
in wavy brown hail, and pair of clear
gray eyes,
To evinces any surprise would have
been an exertion Mr.. Clifford was
wholly incapable of, so he gazed at
the young girl after his lazy fashion.
Her lips parted in smile, showing
two rows of pearly teeth.
II suppose you do not recollect me, !"
she said. IL am Willis sister," and
she extended her hand with the utmost
frankness.
81 had forgotted you quite, until
| Wi, brushed up my memory" he said,
taking the extended hand in his.
She sat down beside him as if they
had been lifelong friends. No one
would accuse Lu Lancing of boldness
or presumption, yet she had way of
placing herself on most familiar terms
in the shortest time possible.
ooh this is beautiful" she cried,
enthusiastically" as she examined the
picture. ''The trees, the cattle, the
water, all are so true! I cannot see
how you made them so perfect in so
limited space. But you are painter.
Will never told ME, but that piece of
work tells the story. / should dearly
love to visit your studio in town, for I
could spend a life time, l think. cxs
rnining pictures.
'"Miss Lancing, you are laboring
) Until to-day | havn't had a pencil or
brush in my hand since Will and
were in school together. used. to
amuse myself with that sort of work
in those days to pass the time away"
''Mr. Clifford, you surprise me. You
are born artist, Why do you not
cultivate your talent ?"
'It would take too much time and
: trouble ?" and Eric stretched himself
once more upon the grass. and looked
the picture of laziness.
"Ah, then you have some other pro-
fession, or perhaps your business cares
are too numerous ?" said Lu, inter.
rogatively.
"Never had profession, don't know
the meaning of business care. don't
. care about creating noise in the
: world. While Pm in it. I'll take
all the pleasure l can get without
exerting myself, and when my turr
: comes want to slip away as quietly
as possible"
"Poor fellow % said Lu, as she fixet
her clear gray eyes, with her look O
intense pity, on the face of the hand.
some young man lying at her feet
"Oh, Mr.. Clifford, how can you leat
such life ?" -
"Well, by Jove this is what l cal
cool. Elic Clifford, you over feasted
/. muchly petted youth: yon have conn
down here to find your level"
This is what Eric thought, but h,
smiled as he watched the expression
of intense pity, and he answered.
"How can lead such life I? Easy
enough, you dear little innocent chi
of seventeeni When one is born wltt
silver spoon in his mouth, or rather
when ones father had done enough
work to make millions, we find it very
easy to slide along in this world with
out solling ones hands"
D "But Mr.. Clifford"
"1he bank may break, the factory burn
A hra 4, I,,,,aN h,Fc q cl,a,