The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-11-28

At the nearest door, and equally natural
that the widow should ask HMM. Kit
~ Law sound asleep. with her curly head
on the kitchen table, all the yellow tam
Gle Of Il tumbled carelessly about theex-
auisitc line Of her brow and curve Of
her rounded cheek. Her brown lashes
lust merged into the flush upon her face,
and her red lips were parted, showing
the white even teeth within. Mr.. Nor
ton was suddenly seized with a color
lists enthusiasm. The low-ceiled room,
with its wooden rafters smoke-seasoned
richly. the quaint primitive fur
niture about him, the ruddy face
and rustic attire Of the widow as she
held the candle so that it shone full.upon
the sleeping girl-all these impressed
Mr.. Morfonfs mind, entirely, as he be-
lieved, from an ideal point Of view. He
wished an artist friend Of his might be
there at the moment; he might make =
pretty little penny by the inspra-
ton !. the whole thing was one OF those
happy little effects that Greuze could
make masterpiece Of
Laws mercy" said the widow,
with kindly curiosity, there amt no
body hurt, hope?"
"Only the wagon Wheel" said Nor
ton.
.sAnd you want to git to town? Well,
now, reckon Joe Comstock must be
up and about yet. saw light at the
farm bit ago. II Joe's up, he'll take
YOU down TO the railroad.
Does every body 60 To bed here AZ
nightfall?" said Mr.. Morton, taking out
his watch, but finding il hard to with
draw his eyes long enough from that
picture in the candle-light TO look at the
time. ssIt cant be s o'clock
Il well. you see, the young folks
went chestnutting to-day. and they're
about tuckered out; but II you'll wait
minute, III get lantern, SOS you can
pick your way down the back lane.
That's shortcut to the Comstock farm:
and If Joe's up, he'll take YOU down
reasonable. He can I be done his chores
VET
II hope he'll bungle long enough
about his chores 10 be up when get
there said Mr.. Morton.
He had not taken his eyes from the
sleeping beauty, and was suddenly sur
prised to see her lift her head from her
arm and open wide her eyes upon him,
while the flush deepened in her face,
and even stole down upon her throat
and the white bit of her neck that was
visible.
.sJoe never bungles about any thing"
she said.
Is he friend Of yours?" said MIR.
Morton modulating his voice to a won
derfully gentle tone.
q Never mind what he is" replied
Kitty, holly; - but he's no bungler-of
that you may be sure"
! Here she slipped away and vanished
up dark little staircase, and suddenly
all the charm went out Of the picture
1.-THE central figure taken away =
said Mr.. Morton TO himself, rs he picked
his way 20 the Comstock farm, "of
course the whole effect is marred; but
il was fine interior-very fine.
That central figure" followed Mr..
Morton to the farm, and all the way
down to the railroad. He found Joe
Comstock up and ready to accommodate
him, and he had 10 concede. with Kitty
that Joe was no bungler; there was a
quick capacity about the sturdy hands
that handled the reins, and natural
grace and vigor in all his movements
the little that he had said was terse and
TO the point, but Mr.. Morton found him
taciturn and reserved after the first mile
or two. He had ventnred to speak Of
the Inmates Of the cottage
81 think ii probable the young girl
was one Of the nutting party Of to-day, =
said Mr.. Morton.
"More'n likely said Joe.
Isn't her name Benson?-Kitty Ben
son?-
~ shouldn't wonder IL twas" said
Joe, and relapsed into gruf monosylla-
and the drive was exceedingly disagree
able. Mr.. Morton was glad to fall back
upon his memory and Imagination for
amusement. The bit of interior he
could recall wildly enough to repro
duce 70 his friend Sydney that night, il
he should happen to meet him at the re-
ception. There was every shade Of
brown in the sketch, from the ochrc in
the rafters TO the lighter tints in the
girls hair. Kitty had been asleep for
three hours ut least, and Joe Comstock
was dreaming Of her under his patch
work quilt, when Mr.. Morton reached
the city. 1t was long after midnight
when he got to the reception, and Al
least one young heart there had lost all
zest in the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES hearts,
for an old one in the vicinity had grown
exceedingly heavy as the hours wore
away.
"It's strange Mr.. Morton don't come,
Madeline Mrs Van vleet said to heI
daughter.
\; Eyes, mamma" said poor Madeline
"Didn't he say he wopld be be here,
Madelincr"
"Oh yes, mamma; please don't say
any more about Il" and then the elder