Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-24

ANo- oht hpRio hOe RNhShhPN
would quietly retire and send Mrs.
Champ to remove her-''playthings."
That word goaded her and setting her
lips firmly, she went onward with the
mixing of her colors. Was it true that
she was playing with art Was it not
true Did her painting serve any other
purpose than to occupy her idle time, and
procure fiattery for herself Still
tormenting herself with these questions,
she uncovered her picture. Indeed, there
were good points in the painting, and
she looked with satisfaction at certain
little bits of careful study and
conscientious work.
~ must trouble you to cover your
materials for time | am going to move
these boards, and the dust will n.y." said
the mason, turning about tn face Miss
Vana.
''oh, this is very provoking !"
exclaimed the young lady, losing at once
the little composure gained but the
moment before. "Cannot you shake
your boards when am gone '''
Certainly, if you will BIS good enough
to go now,' replied the man, with the
most annoying suavity.
'But cannot go now, and ! will not.
| have come on purpose to paint"
"And | have come on purpose to
repair this masonry. 1t is question
who can best afford to give up work for a
week or so, you, who paint for amuse-
ment, or I, who cut stone for my living
you are very rude !"
''No, | am rut--at least, not inten-
tionally. Come, we ara both losing time
L.. l,tt 10. n,snt.
discomfort. Let me tighten your
inconvenience as well as l can. | will
remove your traps (.'traps ~ echoed
Miss Vane to HERSELF land do all my
dirty work while you have walk in the
cloi.ters. One cannot walk there on
morning such as this without feeling
peace and goodwill toward all men.
When you hear me chipping away again
you may consider yourself free from
further inconvenience for at least an
hour
~ can move my utensils myself" said
Miss Vane, somewhat Modified by the
strangely familiar yet easy assurance of
the man.
You had better do as advise"
The mason had advanced to the easel,
and was looking at the work upon it as
he spoke. Miss Vane was annoyed now
by the equality asserted in the mans
behavior, and she said, with a touch of
sarcastic good nature in her tone
Does it strike you that you are
speaking to me with unwarrantable
freedom ~
at did not occur to me to give that
matter thought before but now look
at your work, | see no reason why |
should not speak to you with perfect
freedom. You are an artist"
He spoke these last words impressiyely,
as he carefully covered the picture, and
Miss Vane's face flushed with pleasure
She felt that the greatest compliment she
| had ever received had been offered to her
by this-mason' man. Her heart
throbbed quickly with delight. Her
citation was as inconsistent as her
| previous detection had been. To be
| placed on 4 level with q man little above
| an ordinary mechanic was not in itself
a compliment, but it was another thing
to be recognized as a fellow worker by
one whose quiet assertion proclaimed him
an artist, and conscious of the respect his
| position in 4 noble profession entitled
him to.
H. had implied his approval of her
| painting, and she thirsted to know all
that he thought of it. but he had set the
canvas aside. and the opportunity of
asking his opinion without betraying her
desire was gone. She said 'Thank you
quite graciously when he removed the
last of her traps .."
"Not such terrible undertaking after
all, is it :" he asked, with q mischievous
smile. And now go away the dust
will spoil that pretty dress
but he talks to me as though We're q
child, thought Miss Vane. In the
cloisters she regained all her usual
happiness of temperament whether by
the influence of the place itself, as th'
mason had suggested, or by the restored
confidence in herself and the newly
awakened interest, She could not deter
mine. But she listened impatiently fo
the chipping to begin again, and wa
sorely tempted to pass into the aisle ant
see ii he We're examining her work. A
the first blow of the rnllet she re-enterec
the building and walked to her work will
bright fara and expectant eyes. He
apparatus was restored TO its origina
place, the canvas was covered, and tn
mason was humming over his work, Il
though he had forgotten all about her
the romance was over, and serious bus
mess begun. Miss Vane was little dis
appointed by this turn, and did not &c
on halt so well with her work as She ha
anticipated. If he had praised onl
. slightly, she knew She could have worie
= better hut he Clipped ON and on, an
never t~rned from his work.
+ perhaps he thinks have done
| | playing-tor the day, and he does M
e know ! am here, she thought, and CAV
| alittle cough that lie might he undeceiveC
l He took no notice he did not cease hi
e nonotonous hnmming, his continue
; hammering, until the big bell struck Il
= then he laid down his chsel and MALE
: She now, kept her eyes upon her worl
= and would not permit her glance to tur
!. from the canvas in his direction. Probabl
z he would come and criticise her picture
: possibly he was now at her elbow lookir
d quietly at her This latter suggestion
e her imagination so confused her that h'
Il painting became reckless and bad tn
o he certainly would detect, and know 81
l. was only assuming Inconsistencies of h
Z proximity. Every moment this id,
intensified, and with it her brush gre
Il more and more unmanageable, until
~ length, unable TO keep up the pr~ten
p longer, she looked round, convinced 81
should find him behind her No one WI
Il at her elbow. She looked across to $
Is Ge0hrey monument there sat the mas,
l. eating his dinner. II was the workman
At dinner hour on a small napkin besi'
" him lay several very thick Sandwiche
r and these. with tone bottle constitute
IS his meal. He was drinking from Il
Dt stone bottle when Miss Vane looked, al
Al she ayerted her eyes with = spasm
" intense disgust. Nevertheless, she W
Y presently impellel TO look again IL
Is time she found him with ragged lit
ig book in one hand and pencil in the otlit
le sketching. This was more iIterestiI
IN and Miss Vane regarded him with curio
<, | eyes. lie shifted the pencil from
Z, right to his left hand, and taking up
as huge sandwich bit ont srmicircle til
id he laid down the hunk OF bread a
s. meat, transferred the pencil agai
I'd opened his book ard, still munchir
D. looked at her.
p lie is sketcling me, thought NJ
at Nane, and resumed her painting will
d. yet more uncertain hand.
no Thanks - mutter+d the mas
ed through his food, as ii he thought NJ
IT, Nanr had Resumed her position to :
,e. him.
ed well, | do call that impudence, "
We claimed Mrs. Champ, coming up two III
in utrs later and looking over the masol
lal shoulder,
m "Do you % said he. "Well, | cal
ed devotion. don't see any suggestion
1 a Il