Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-11-03
THE ARTISTS STORY.

They had been engaged only n week,
and she had not yet lost the feeling Of
unreality about it all. 1t was so strange,
so wonderful, that he should have
chosen her-chosen her from her bril-
liant sisters to crown her life with his
love.
Was she dreaming still? Was it all a
dream, that must pass with the dawn
and leave the cold familiar light of real
life around her once again? And seat-
ed costly in the warm corner by the
summer house, with her big hat shad-
ing her face from the sun, jamie thought
it all over again.
He had come to stay in the village
six weeks ago. They were all having
tea on the lawn when he came in and
was introduced to the gay party
Dean, the great artist, the man whose
picture is the picture of the academy
this year"
Remarks about him buzzed round
while he drank his tea and talked to
Mrs. Archer Wiinot, and looked with
grave kindly eyes at the merry girls
round the table. And thcn--Janie re-
membered Il all so we'll he went to In
spect the gardens with two of her older
sisters; and she joined the lawn-tennis
party again, and played very badly, for
she could think of nothing but his sad
face, and the strange lingering glance
that she had caught from his eyes
when she had ventured once to look Mt
him.
He seemed TO be always at the Priory
after that. He was an old friend of
their fathers, the girls heard, and they
were told to give him warmest wei
come. None of them were lotn to do
that, for ne proved to be one of the
pleasantest of companions.
The girls leased Lottie, the eldest
girl, about him, and begged to be al
lowed to stay with her in her beautiful
home mt Richmond None of them
had any idea of the truth of the case.
jamie herself never thought it the
least possible that he could care for
her, though she dearly loved him-not
till that wonderful evening week ago,
when they had met accidentally in the
green lane 10y the church.
jamie had been on her weekly visit
to an old bedridden woman in the vii
lage, and was wandering slowly home,
with her dog beside her, feeling dis
consulate enough, poor child, and wish
ing that Mr.. Dean would go away and
leave them all at peace again. Then
he stepped out quite suddenly from
the lich-gate and smiled down Vt her
and took her little trembling hand.
Il have been waiting for YOU" he
gnt - .ln, all No. I'd
dering why you were so long
jamie said somethipg--a few iucoher-
ent words-for his manner and glance
startled her out of all composure He
stood Just beyond the shadow Of the
ancient gateway, holding her hand close
in his.
81 was waiting to speak to YOU" he
said, after "A moments silence, in which
jamie heard, rs in dream, the twitter
of the swallow in the blue air. Il have
your fathers permission to ask YOU
VIII you be my wife?'
That was week ago. Just so long
had JAMIE worn her pretty betrothal
ring, the blue stone of which she looked
Mt now with tender smile; and once
more she tried to think how he could
have cared for her She was the plain
est of the sisters, merely small, fresh
checked little maiden, with soft brown
eyes-not a fit bride for an artist whose
beautiful imaginings had won him SO
much fame. 1t was of no good endea-
voring to understand it; she could only
try to be more worthy of his choice. to
be tue and faithful to him, and, all, SC
loving"
Thinking thus, MS voice came to her
calling her. She sprang up and, with
the shy blush that came so easily, went
down the path.
"Little truant, have been searching
for you everywhere, My next steE