The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-14

I'll have to accommodate EN-
From Boston," Ruth presumed.
"Wal no-they amt Boston folks" the
squire thought. "TeireIl-Tyrrell! Sounds
Ruth good morning and walked homeWard.
When they happen to possess cottage on
the cliff the most inveterats nOmad5 might
subdue, / think, their rowing propensities,
aud consent to sojourn-say three months
summons to Mr. Tyrrell's bank and my alb
rupt nominations to the command OF all expe-
dictionary corps. t'Clara's not well, / was in
formed; "finds Newport much too hot. Your
aunt proposes the White mountains, and
wants you to take them there.
This intelligence distressed me good
deal: but | own that, coming from the hot
pavements of a smoky town, l discovered all
sorts of tonic virtues In the breezeS OF Maria
gansett bay, and eyed Miss tClara's lassi-
me how different. after oil, the climate was to
that Of Scarborough or Trouville-W which, no
doubt, explained the phenomenon.
We were already familiar with the Franco
Mia region, and being minded to try the Con-
WAYS side were not disposed to quarrel with
the accident which transferred US from q
rather shabby hotel to absolute control OF al
ld-faShioned farmhouse. We promised our
selves not d little entertainment in the native
discourse of our primitive host, and my own
~
Gus, hair brained painter fellow, whom Squire
Allen hit off in his catalogue OF curiosities,
proved to be no other than my friend Robln.
/ must say, however, that Aunt Tyreli seemed
in no wise pleased with this discovery, having
lately contracted, as l mentioned, "a prejudic
against my friend but it WAS absurd TO sup
pose a contretempts 50 trivial would be suf-
ferpd to derange her plans. "Now, at least
she said, "that singular young man may nav
the goodness to finish my girls picture
ID, r,r,tl lrnIt NV hniI
Bob and came together, and, OF course, i
was speedily apprised OF an impending inter-
esting event, and presented TO the pride eject,
before whom and her young slSter-When
Robin sped away to pay his respects to the
Tyrrells-I pronounced a eulogy upon that ar
list In the course Of the same afternoon the
Misses Lyon came to call on my kinswoman,
and insisted we should drink tea at the farm,
where they set forth all the dainties they
couldrhink Of showed us the flower guarden,
the bee hives and the chickens and treated us
generally ia most hospitable fashion.
happened to be present at my cousin 8
meeting with Bob's .fancee, and thought had
never seen Clara look SO we'll. Perhaps she
may have been trille pale but her eyes were
very bright, and she talked with the greatest
spirit and vivacty. She watched Miss Lyon
rather narrowly, too, in swift. observant
way, but no doubt her observations were sat
isfactory, for her manner was quite soft ana
kind when she took Ruth's hand ut parting
But while clear-eyed, downright Ruth COLI
ulerad the hearts Of her new acquaintance
pers,lading even my Aunt TyrIell, whose at
titude at first was slightly captious, to declare
her u good, active little body-Robin's be-
havior was less gratifying. No one certainly
could have predicted that his native air would
cloud the mans sunny temper, yet something
Of the kind seemed to have occurred. found
him taciturn and moody, and his demeanor
at times decidedly tart. For instance, when
he was taken to task good-humoredIy by Mrs
Tyrrell about his remissnrss In the matter OF
the picture Bob was almost surly, thought
he must renounce the Undertaking altogether,
and condemned his harshncSS In Modelling
with pOrtraiture at all.
We had driven out one day to the Notch,
for, while We knew the Franconian pass, the
grandeur of It's southern namesake was yet
strange to us. 1t was afternoon when We
we reached the middle OF the gorge, and we
fingered there until sunset, held and mastered
by the scene. Who that saw 1t forgets the
desolate ravine, chOked with powders and
bristling with dark pines, the giant walls
black and bare that seem to bulge and top
pie and hide the sky, and the puny, shivering
river flung headlong down the Jagged steep?
There Is, you know, contagion in strong
feeling, and / am sure the glow on Clara s
cheek warmed us all. No wonder Bob then,
watching the girls kindiiug eyes, shook off
the weight upon his spirits and gave himself
to the empire of the hour. The Notch, and
the eager talk Of my companions, and the
drive homeward Ia the twilight, wrought me
Up to So romantic a mood that sat smoking
III the 'Squre's porch until late hour, aud,
even when | rctreated, 2 single candle was
still cleaning from Bobs studio.
On the day following our drive to the
Notch-it was just week, as | remember,
before BobS wedding-Clara and | strolled
over to the farm and found Miss Nellie
stunning the plano and Ruth busted about
manv things.
where's Robin2" inquired.
ssNobodv knows" said Nellie, laughing, The
was providing up and down his den all night.
and this morning he went out ut daybreak."
avail ourselves OF the priests absence aud
invade his sanctuary. There are many tricks
and devices familiar to the painters art
which / shall be- happy to expose. Likewise
the business of an unfinished picture seems
to require investigation"
There ~ no doubt that Clara looked inquisi-
tive, and Ruth at once volunteered to show
the way s
ssYon would never know my trim store
ROOM" said Ruth, us she let us into the atelier,
and indeed it was a chaos OF disorder.
Bob's easel was near the window. Nellie
ran to it and gave a cry.
Look 7" she said, and stared In stupor at
the canvas.
We looked. My cousins figure was still
there but some StudiOuS stroke OF the brush
had totally erased her features.
stHullo!" [ cried, whats the meaning of
this?" @...=.
Clara's face was very pale. she dld not
speak.
ut MEANS" said Ruth, with quivering
lip, lit means we had no right to come here"
And she led US silently from the room.
I had strolled into the garden, having OBJ
served that the ladies were drifting toward
feminine topics, and was Illuminating over q
cigar, when Miss Nellie, equipped with a bas-
ket, intent on blackberries, came running out
aglow with mischief and hilarity
''Such tunW she exclaimed between peals OF
laughter Eve were In the parlor just now,
Clara and I-she was teaching me a waltz
when Bob came in, gIum as a ghost. So, OF
course, began to tease him about spelling
that lovely picture, and said he just wanted
an excuse to putter over it, and then he grew
white and Clara was In a hntter, so left him
to detend himself Wont sh pos seold rod HIM.
ment afforded her infinite delight.
was not quite heartless enough to be car
ried away by the damseLs merriment, and
opining that the presence Of a third person
might be grateful under the circumstances,
set forth to break the tete-a-tete But d
veranda skirted that side OF the house, and a
window of the keeping room, which adjoined