Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-08-07

tIue. wen, iooN heieJ III XIV
Y him n job. Would he come dowr
and stay at my place ?"
"Oh, yes, II you treat him well
: but, as l tell you, he's poor ant
! proud, and quite a gentleman
swell, I'm not" l said, testify
an give him enough to eat, and {
> good bed to sleep on; and he'll
have to pnt up with me dropping
my 'h's.' But" l added, slappins
my pocket. 81 can pay him like {
gentleman"
, sect out, You purse-proud, old
humbug - said my friend, as he
clapped me on the shoulder. "But
there, I'm obliged to you. Have
him down, and I'll thank you. He's
a gentleman, and man of honor
"Oh, I'm not afraid he'll steal the
spoons" l said. laughing.
NO." he said, dryly, "no fear OF
that. But you'll make good pic
ture."
Stuff I said. "Do you think
I'm going to be painted y
"Why, what are yon going to do,
then I" he said, in an astonished
way.
"Let him paint little Cobweb," I
said, chuckling, and rubbing my
hands.
My friend gave a long whistle,
and after few more words he left
1t did not strike him then, but |
remarked afterwards, that he SEEM
ed disposed to draw back from his
proposal but l was now so wrap
ped up in my plans that | could
think of nothing but the picture in
the wood, and l went home full of
it, meaning it for a surprise.
Two days latter one of my SER
wants announced q Mr.. GRAVITY on
business, and, on his being shown
in, ! found myself face to face with
handsome, grave-lookine man of
about thirty. lie was rather shah
billy dressed, and looking pale and
i'll as he bowed to Cobweb and N.Y.
self, ending by staring at my child,
as 1 thought, in rather a peculiar
way.
This annoyed me-a stout, chol-
eric, elderly man-for no one had a
right to look at my Cobweb but me,
and l spoke rather testify as /
said:
snow, sir, when yon please l am
at your service"
II beg your pardon" he said, in
a low, musical voice, "Nliss Bar
rows, / presume. One moment,
please-don't move"
Cobweb was sitting in the hay
window, and, to my utter as,onioh-
ment, he quickly drew one of the
curtains, and then half closed
another so that the light fell strong
ty on her hair.
/ could not speak for the passion
budding mp in my throat, and as |
stood gaspiDg, be came AMI tool
my arm, led me aside, and then,
pointed to where Cobwcb sat, as
astounded as myself, he said:
"That would be admirable, sir
We could not improve the natural
pose"
"What the dickens ARE you
mad, sir! What do You meant"
~ beg your pardon" he said,
flushing, and spcakingly hastily.
81 am so wrapped mp in my art.
1 thought you understood. Mr..
Elden said you wished me to paint
this young lady's portrait. Am l
mistaken :"
"Chut !" Evacuated, cooling on
the instant. 81 beg your pardon
Sit down. sir. Your hungry, Of
course. How stupid of me! Cob
web, my dear, order some lunch in
to the dining-room."
He smiled, returned the pressure
Of my hand in frank way that /
liked, and then looked after my
darling in way l did not like; for
this was not what l meant, and my
jealousy was aroused. / expected
some snufy-looking, old painter,
not grave, handsome, young fcl-
} low.
But / remembered Tom Elden's
words-"He is a gentleman, and q
man of honor"-and casting away
my suspicious thoughts, l entered
; Into the subject at once.
aid half forgotten it," l said.
, "She'll make good picture, ehp
Admirable, sir. The position