The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-14
rather out OF my line. The fact Ii, my hearts
not In It'll And then he began to talk about

When Aunt Tyrrell, next morning, after
wishing the young painter godspeed, went to
dressed and WEEPING. OF course she had the
CIR! I'D her arms IN 8 moment
my child, my own, what was / thinking
OF! y. my love, my darling" But who can
paint the paintings and soft means Of the
and soothing it2
I cannot tell what tender story was whis-
pered In that rapt car, but som ethng it GER
tainly was which made mamma rui1le her
plumage fiercely.
cried: Il wish we had never seen him" And
feeling Of resentment, akin to hatred,
against that poor, harmless Robin began to
stir In the maternal bosom.
While was Illuminating on Aunt Tyrrelrs
equivocal demeanor, Mr.. Lyon was rapidly
nearing the natal village, which proved to be
In fact no other than the township OF Conway,
In the county of Carroll. lit YVES late at
night when he reached the quiet station
which lay nearest the farm, and leaving bis
traps on the secure platform, set out cheerily
To walk home.
How well he knew the road! There was the
red school-house and the Baptist Church. the
clump OF naples at the -Four corners. That
was the Saco humming on his left, threading
the meadows and feeding the pool above
Squire Aliens mill; and here were sheep on
the upland Ruth's sheep, perhaps asleep IN
the dry June weather. West and north rose
familiar hills, clothed to the peak with pines
and hemloek, kneelng, It seemed. before the
mountain lords that reared above them their
bare heads, gaunt and weird enough In the
moonlight, and hid somewhere In their
shadow the wonders Of the haunted Notch.
He spied the CLEAN of a candle-in the Keep
ing-room, no dOubt-as he swung open n little
gate and strobe up the graveled walk flanked
with sunhowers and hollyhocks;; That Il
Ruth darning and meHding- faithful sou'l
he thought, letting the ciapper fall against
the door, and Ruth, indeed, IT was, VINO
trotted forward in gr at amaze, thrust back
a bolt nervousy, stared q second dOubtfully
into his eyes, then caught him In a warm en-
brace. ~,
is it you, Bob-really you?' cried The
your facet" She led him to the low-ceiled
room, where all looked spruce and prim, and
neat as wax. "Why, how you've grown!
she said, scanning her cousin with admlring
eyes. You've got bearu. t1oha g great an
eign parts? What haven't you seen and
done! And is 1t true, Bob-do they give you
heaps OF money for bits OF canvas like that
you sent us from France How much now e
come
.How are you all :" said bewildered Robin.
FLOWS little Nell !"
"Little-why she's woman, Bob! Where
liz she Nellie r. And excited Ruth ran into
the passage to bid her sister dress quickly,
and come down speedily. and welcome some
body who had come home to his frlends al
last.
And then modest Robin was again inspected,
and marveled over and catechised, and pres
emily In bounced heterogeneous sprlght-
ly iassie-and flung two plump arms about
his neck; and Ruth made tea, and woke up
Reuben the hind (hired help she called HIM
and dispatched him to fetch the great mans
luggage, and Nellie filled Bob's pipe, and gave
ftrftrA
Joy and festivity that night Ia the Lyon
homestead.
dare say 1t incommoded Ruth to sacrifice
her capaeions store-rpom, which, happening
to open from Bob q bedchamber aud to possess
skylight, was at once promoted to the func-
ton III atelier; but she proceeded cheerfuliy
to transfer her household stuff. slowing II
away in hooks and pigeon-holes, merely
craving permission to leave some strings OF
dried apples which depended from the rafters
She could not find 1t in her heart, however. TO
rebuke the kitchen maid, whobewailed Justify
the confiscation Of her clothes horse $50 she
termed her drying France, and probably Ruth
condemned in secret the perversion OF that
machine to art purposes. But j., sn q, esteemed .a
forestall them If she co1lds SO when he had
rugged a toerable easel and got fairly to
work, Ruth enjoned the utmost quiet On her
subjects, and Sbrove to compass the deathiike
silence which she presumed congenlal 10
1t was shock, therefore, to the weIl-mean-
ing girl, when she stole in on tip toe TO an
nounce the midday meal, to find Nellie at
Bob's elbow, ,gggling and prattling right
noiaiiy, and daubing strip Of canvas with
enthusiasm. Ruth disliked to scold, but
some reprimand seemed necessary.
"Why will you be SO thoughtless, Nell?,
she said. .'Look at all that fine paint wasted
10, let her stay" said the artist. Talking
don't tease me. rather helps this sort Of
work." 5
sDoes it?" said Ruth, astounded, and be-
ginning e find small difference between such
Baptist minister. locks himself up for days
when he writes sermons"
"Thats what makes them 50 musty," said
profane Bob. 'But come here, Ruth; what
DO YOU think of this?" and he pointed to Miss
TyrfelPs portrait.
II 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-I wish
IA comely face, but dreamy looking" said
wide-awake Ruth.
"Look, Ruth, what a site for q painters
home!' cried Bob. on one occasion, when
they had walked out along the Bartlett road
to point where Mount Washington itself
looms grandIy against the northern verge,
shouldering way between Mount Franklin
and Mount Monroe.
You can't mean,' said practical Ruth,
'you would exchange the old farm for such
worthless ground2 The view Is very h pretty
here, and | know our house lies In a hollow,
but the soil is ten tunes richer down the
valley. Why, the country hereabouts, is
scarce tit to Craze over, and even buckwheat
would starve In land like that" And she
pointed to O field where the stones We're, no
doubt, dscouragingly numerous.
"But we don't intend to go on farming" ex-
" t.,tt In
thinking OF the summer months, and what =
paradise we might make Of this quiet bill !,
side ringed with forest and river and set In
tie eve 81 that glorious scene. We need
know nothing of It's bleak winter, for then we
should be in New York. ! thought you IN
derstood, dear Rath. Didn't tell you 1 had
taken a studio Ia town.
New York;. cried Ruth, almost broken
hearted by this disclosure. Give up the
farm. take me away from homer And the
poor girl though unused to the melting
mood, gave way to most unreasonable tears;
Why should Squire Allen, who regarded
art rnIlch as Bob regarded TOP dressing, Sc