Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-06-10
IN A STUDIO.


better than | do, and yet sometimes |
have fancied that | saw a look in your
eyes that has made me forget every
thing. Oh, Francia, it is true that am
penniless painter, a man with nothing
but aspirations; but"
But people cannot live on aspira-
tions," answered the young girl, in a
clear, composed voice, singularly cold
and calm.
She stood III the soft spring sunshine,
the embodiment of the day, as it were,
lovely, full Of promise and budding
beauty, a little chilly out of the sunshine
of her favor, with warmth that was
not to be trusted, as it was liable to
cloud over and die away into stormy
coldness at any time. She was young,
slender, yet softly rounded as to form,
with a proud head, crowned by soft
masses Of blonde hair very low on the
brow, very light and fluffy and curling
in sunshiny tendrils about her face
The eyes were bluish-gray, like cold
morning sky, but the face was full
enough of warmth and rOse-tints She
wore dress of some soft clinging mate
rial, a dark blue III color, that pleased
Herbert Wayne's artistic fancy we'll
She had indeed a natural artistic taste in
dress that had first touched him, and he
had painted eagerly and by stealth a
picture of her in that very costume,
over which he was wont to gloat in the
hours, the long hours, when he could
not see her.
81 know it" he said, simply, but with
Il sort of heartbreak in his voice
"Hou said, the young girl went on,
that you had sometimes fancied you
saw Il look in my eyes that made you
forget everything. What did you
mcan?"
The young man hesitated. GAS if
mind | say [ fancied-as if you cared
for me-"
at was fancy" Francia said, looking
down. 81 do care for you, but not in
the way you want care for other
things more"
you are frank" said the other, in a
panied voice.
1T is best. l would not mislead
YOU"
The mans face-a handsome face,
tender but not strOng-with dark, pas
sionate eyes, changed and quivered with
intense emotion. He would not charge
this girl with leading him on; he had
too much nobility to recall her wileS,
her sweet eyes, her low replies" or the
hundred subtle nOthings that had forged
his chains. 1t was not in his nature to
say harsh word to her now, when he
stood there madly longing to touch one
of the slender girlish hands, feeling that
he could give his life for one moments
happincss-if she loved him. Yet he
had never really hoped. He knew what
things Francia cared for more than any
mans lOve-pretty toilets, flashing Jew
els, praise and flattery, and Il whirl of
eXcitement-and yet it was true that
the vain little heart had been more flut-
tered by his love than ever before 1t
was an uncomfortable sensation, and
Francia FASTENED to get rid of it, as she
always did with unpleasant things; and
the knowledge that he might have real
ly read the heart tumult in her eyes
made her more cold and decisive
Well, my dream is over" he said,
with sudden effort. Spring, you
know, Is a time when, as TennysOn
says:
young mans fancy lightly turns to thoughts of
love-
So, let the season excuse me. Every
thing looks so promising, thought the
year might have something for me, but
it's all over now. | will get used to it,
| suppose, and learn content. GOod-by,
Miss Francia."
Are you going?' she said, looking
into his changed face with an uncom-
Portable twinge.
Yes; | must 90 and work" he said,
in an absent way, his glowing eyes fixed
upon the young girls face with de-
vouring glance, as if taking farewell of
it.
She held out her hand with an i'm
pulse of kindness. He seized it, half
raised it to his lips, then dropped it. He
could not trust himself, but turned swift
ly and went away along the road under
the fresh green branches that made a
verdant arch over it. Francia stood
Watching him with absent eyes.
If he were rich" she said, with a
little sigh; and then she began to dream
of lover who could give her all she
longed fora man who had lately
singled her out for marked attention
Her fancy rioted in a succession of
WOrth's toilets, pillows of cleaning
satin with foam of lace, ropes of pearls
and the glitter of diamonds and the red
span of rubies, turned before her vision
like the confused figures of kaleido-
scope; and yet, after all, she found her
self walking somewhat slowly and sadly
home, seeing only quivering face,
pale rs ashes, a pair of dark, eloquent
eyes full of passionate pain, and her
heart seemed to be stirred with a dull
pain that would not be stilled.
4 believe | love the man." she said,
with petulant laugh.
The sunshine struck athwart the
trees and kindled the vivid green's of
some, the dark-red buds of others, into
new brightness, the next afternoon, as
two people strayed in lingering and
lover like way beneath them. Francia
paused suddenly, with the prick of
memory at her heart, and said:
Let us go home; | am tired"
The gentleman laughed
you are frank, at least Suppose
we go into Wayne's studio He has
wanted me to look at his pictures. I
thinkit would encourage him to buy
one, poor fellow! | am afraid he has
hard time of it. VIII you go with me?
| should like to have your taste in Sc
Letting"
Francia hesitated moment. If she