Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1880-09-01

Vapie, tnen sal0, Ia the tones OF Quietest
unconcern, "The doctor, sir, said he'd
wait and see you down stairs"
After which, this singular butler came
into the back drewing-room, dropped
the dividing c~uftaits, sank into a c6air
and rocked himself to and ITO. half
laughing, half crying, gasped through
the handkerchief he was forcing into his
mouth, ooh, dear! oh, dear! Who
would have thought it? Oh, my master.
what q day for him! To think to-mor.
row she might have gone, and it nd
have been too late!"
"In the name Of allthat Is wise. cried
the artist, shaking him roughly, "tell
me what this means, you old idiot? /
came here to take the likeness Of a Sleep
ing girl, l fancied. Instead of sleep 1t is
"That's it, sir-that's it!'' broke in
the butler; chats what poor master
and all Of ms thought-even the doctor.
Poor Miss Mabel went of cold and stiff,
quite sudden, and every one said she
was dead. So my master, who hadn't
got no likeness Of his darling, except
them brown, colorless things, thought
before the ground took her away from
him forever But here, sir, is master
himself"
Mr.. Kestevcn came hurriedly between
the curtains.
"Clark," he said, "send Miss Gros to
Miss Mabel at once. Tell her her
mistress believes she has had a long
~fainting fit. Bid her hide both day and
date from my child. That was a wise
hint Of yours, Clark, about the doctor.
Thank yOu."
Then, with a face full of contrition,
yet quivering with the undercurrent OF
that great joy, Mr.. Kestevcn turned to
the artist.
"Mr. Hartley, of course you have
guessed the truth. How can ask-how
can l eve hope you will forgive the
cruel deception l put upon you to carry
out the living wish of a supposed. dead
daughter? l feel you will never ex-
perience but anger towards me, though
no man in this world do l respect and
love more than your
"Mr. Kesteven p calculated the artist,
surprised, also moved, by the old gentle
mans earnest manner and apology.
Eyes, Mr.. Hartley-love; for to you /
owe my daughter life. There is an in
cision in her arm from which the blood
is running freely. It was not there to-
day. You alone could have made ibid
you not ?"
81 did; in a moment of impulse, or
indignation |" answered the artist, color
ing to the temples. "After 1 had done
it l regretted the act; but the result has
been SO happy"
"Mr. Hartley" cried MI. Kesteyen,
seizing his hand, "Heavcn inspired you !
Tell me, l pray, what occurred after I
left the ROOM"
1t was nearly an hour later when the
artist returned home, with the conscious
ness of a strange ~eiation, caused p-oba.
bly, by Mr.. Kesteven's praise and graft
tude.
The first thing he did was to take a
brush full of sepia and obliterate the en-
tire portrait of the supposed dead.
"No," he reflected: "if l paint that
lovely face, it must be afresh, and from
a living model. This would always give
me the horrors, from the idea of what
might have been but for my fear"
He did paint Mabel Kesteven from her
own bright, happy self, for the sittings
were arranged during the Christmas dim
ner at which Mr.. Kesteven insisted the
artist should make one.
The professional visits led to those of
friendship, and the result was probably
what has been guessed, that Leonard
Hartley wooed and won the lovely girl
whom, by accident, he had rescued from
the tomb