The Portland daily press., 1879-03-17
THE PRESS.
A Queen of Spades.
NJ. W. HAZELTINE.
Concluded.


When they happen to possess cottage on
the cliff, the most inveterate nomads might
subdue, think, their rowing propensities,
and consent to soourn-say three months
at Newport. 1 was surprised, therefore, by
summons to Mr.. TyrrelPs bank, and my alb
rupt nomination to the command of an ex-
peditionary corps. ''Clara's not WE'LL" I
was informed; ''finds Newport much too
hot. Your aunt proposes the White noun
taiDs, and wants you to take them there"
This intelligence distressed me good deal;
but own that coming from the hot pave
ments OF a smoky town, 1 discovered all sorts
of tonic virtues in the breezes OF Narragansett
bay, and eyed Miss Ciara's lassitude With
wonder, until my aunt reminded me how
different, after all, the climate was to that of
Scarborough or Trouville-which, no doubt,
explained the phenomenon.
We were already familiar with the Franco
MIA region, and, being minded to try the
Conway side, were not disposed to quarrel
with the accident which transferred us from
a rather shabby hotel to absolute control of
an old-fashioned farmhouse. We promised
ourselves not little entertainment in the
naive discourse of onr primitive host, and my
own contentment was complete when pre-
posterous, hare Drained paiDter.fellow, whom
Squire Allen hit off in his catalogue of Curl
osiies, proved to be no other than my friend
Robin. must say, however, that aunt Tyr
rell seemed in no wise pleased with this dis
covery, having lately contracted, as / men
TONED, prejudice against my friend; but it
was absurd 10 suppose contretemps so trivi-
al would be suffered to derange her plans.
young man may have the goodness to finish
my girls picture"
1t is not likely many hours could pass be-
fore Bob and came together, and, of course,
I was speedily apprised of an impending in
teresting event, and presented to the BRIDE
elect, before whom and her young sister
when Robin sped away to pay his respects to
the Tyrrells-I pronounced eulogy upon
that artist. In the course Of that same after
noon the Misses Lyon came TO call ON my
kinswomen, and insisted we should drink tea
at the farm, where they set forth all the dain-
ties they could think OF, showed us the flower
garden, the bee-hives, and the chickens, and
treated us generally in most hospitable
fashion.
happened to be present at my Cousins
meeting with Bob's fancee, and thought I
had never seen Clara look so we'll. Perhaps
she may have been atrife pale, but her eyes
were very bright, and she talked with the
greatest spirit and vivacity. She watched Miss
Lyon rather narrowly, too, in swift, obser
want way, but no doubt her observations
.
soft and kind when she took Ruth's hand at
parting.
But, while clear.eyed, downright Ruth
conquered the hearts of her new acquaintan-
ces-persuading even my aunt Tyrrell, whose
attitude at first was slightly captious, to de-
clare her good, active little body-Robin's
behavior was less gratifying. No one GER
tainly could have predicted that the mans
native air would cloud his sunny temper, yet
something of the kind seemed to have oc.
Cured. l .ound him taciturn and moody,
and bis demeapor at times decidedly tart
For instance, when he was taken 10 task
good-humoredly by Mrs. Tyrrell about his
remissness in the matter of the picture, Bob
was almost surly, thought he must renounce
the undertaking altogether, and condemned
his rashness in meddllng with portraiture at
all. When we we're alone, however, be bore
himself more genially, and this Circumstance
led me to conclude that he had lost his relish
for ladies' society.
or course Bob's inclinations in this respect
were not abetted by me. had brought my
friends, as you know, to Conway 10 pursuit of
health and the exhilaratioD OF fine scenery,
and, since Ruth's household duties would not
suffer her 10 guide our rambles, Robins SER
vices were plainly indispensable. 1t hap
pened for the most part 10 be Miss TJrrefs
Fate to endure Sir Dsmals company In those
excursions, and, while what he voucbsafed
to say was crisp and bright enough (Bob's
tongue had pretty trick of interpreting his
eyej. bis fits of silence must, I know, have
depressed her, although cannot remember
that she made any complaint. I will avow
that on one occasion the young man seemed
to regain bis buoyant humor, and shone out
with bis old flash and fervor.
We had driven out that day to the Notch.
for, while we knew the Franconian pass, the
grandeur OF its southern namesake was yet
strange to US. It was afternoon when we
reached the middle of the gorge, and we Lin
gered there until sunset, held and mastered
by. the scene. Who that saw it forgets the
desolate ravine choked with powders and
bristliDg with dark pines, the giant walls
black and bare that seem to bulge and toppe
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 kindiing 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 in the twilight wrought me
up to so romantic mood that sat smoking
in the 'squire's porch until late hour, and,
even when Iretreated single candle was
Bull Sl6dmlUS tTOu DOUS SIuulO.
Why would he not stay and smoke cigar,
and what in the world could Robin find to do
alone in that grim and comfortless chamber
Was he going over, perhaps, the pleasant day,
and yielding anew to the sweet sorcery of an
emotional nature, which had quickened and
compelled his own? Or did he check those
thoughts sternly, and recognize with sad siu-
certify that such companonship was not for
him? Must his day., then, know no storm,
no torrid sunshine, but be always cool and
sober and calm? Could he call it living, the
pale, spiritless existence that stretched before
him and RuthP Poor Ruth! No, upright,
noble Ruth-who was he to pity that true
heart? Had he forgotten what her life had
been-the patient, cheerful self-surrender,
the long, meek sacrifice to duty? and was
the fault hers if her eyes, fixed on that mild
star, had missed the hectic splendors of the
west? Was he not man enough to love her
for what she was, and mock and stife the
mad thirst for sympathy? That holy, mystic
charm of sympathy, truly potent spell in
Paris salons; but such simple words as graft
tude and honor may out-conjure 1t amid
Yankee hills.
On the day following our drive TO the
Notch-it was just week, as remember,
over to the farm and found Miss Nellie
STUNNING the piano and Ruth busted about
10 any things.
''Where is Robin ?" inquired.
Nobody knows" said Nellie, laughing (;
che was prowling up and down his den all
night, and this morning he went out at day
break"
SIN that case" suggested, Suppose we
avail ourselves of the priests absence and
invade the sanctuary. There are many
tricks and devices familiar to the painters
art which shall be happy to expose. Like
wise, the business of an unfinished picture
seems to require investigation"
There is no doubt that Clara looked in
quisitive, and Ruth at once volunteered to
show the way.
"You would never know my trim store
room," said Ruth, as she led US into the
atelier, and indeed it was chaos of disorder.
Bob's easel was near the window. Nellie
ran to it and gave cry.
"Look!' she said, and stared in stuper at
the canvas.
We looked. My Cousins figure was still
there, but some studious stroke of the brush
had totally erased her features.
"Hullow cried, "what's the meaning of
tbis?"
Cara's face was very pale. She did not
speak.
SIT MEANS" said Ruth, with quivering