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

less of the sunny corn fields she had |
longed to enjoy but short time before. |
She was glad he had not asked to look at |
her mornings work, it was 80 bad. And |
vet she wished he had shown further in
terest in her picture. That he thought
highly of 1t she had no doubt, for had he
not, looking at it, acknowledged she was
an artist She exulted in the thought.
that her work had undeceived him, and
felt sure he would not allude to 1t as
play, or to her tools as playthings again.
She was almost ashamed of the place he
took in her thoughts, and tried once and
again to dismiss his tall figure, his hand
some face, his free speech, now pleasing,
then annoying, from her memory; but
they would recur, and she thought over
and over again the trihing incidents of
the morning, as though they had been
of vital importance to her. She wondered
if he thought of her-clearly he had
been struck with her beauty-and this
speculation was followed by woman's
thirst for conquest. Certain passages in
Boccacio's story of "Cymon and Ephi-
genian came to her mind, and she blushed
with the pleasurable anticipation of sub
DUNG this man to absolute admiration of
herself and all she did. Then again she
was ashamed of herself; of thinking of
herself in conjunction with him--she an
independent young lady, with e20, 900;
he with nothing, perhaps, besides his
tools. But surely he could not be mere
artisan; he might-well he was an anom-
ally, and it was impossible to think any
thing more definitely of him. Nothing
was certain-except that she was impa-
tient for tomorrow.
The next morning she did not keep her
phaeton at the door momrnt-she was
on the steps as it drove up, and her man
servant opened his round eyes in
establishment. She herself took the
reins, and also the whip, as the ponies
found to their costa lady holding the
whip uses 1t, remark which applies not
alone to the management ofponies. Like
other anxious people, she expected to be
disappointed probably she should find
another man at work upon the masonry
and it was no qualification to think he
would be as respectful and humble as
men in his station should be-p0ssibly,
the work was finished, and no one in the
cathedral to interfere with her. That
suggestion failed to afford her pleasure /;
so contrary and changesble are the moods
of young ladies at the age of twenty. 1t
was an unacknowledged relief to her
mind when, the wheels ceasing to deaden
lesser sounds, she detected the sharp
''clink, clip, clink" of the chisel upon
Sir Geotfrey's tomb.
as that man here again !" she asked
of Mrs. Champ, raising her pretty eye
brows and trying to look respondent
"Oh lor', yes, Miss Vane, and worse
than ever. What do you think he says
now 20
81 can't tell /" Miss Vane only hoped
he had said nothing disparagng of
herself.
He says he shall tell my husband if 1
get talking to him. There's for you-an
imperdent vagabond."
Miss Vane laughed, and the smile had
not quite died out from her eyes when
she approached the ason but she
| composed her features, and made him the
most formal and distant bend in return
ing his salute.
He did not speak, fact that Mrs.
Champ felt it her pleasure to comment
upon as she arranged Miss Vanes things.
Some people can hold their tongues
in the presence OF third parties, said
she, loudly.
Its pity all people cant-isn't it,
madre :"
my names not Marjery, Sir. wa,
christened Martha, I'll let you know"
well, | don't mind calling yor
Martha, if you prefer it. and Mr.. Champ
doesn't object"
Miss Vane did not quite like that h,
should put himself on a level with til,
verger's wife, bantering her thus. She
was glad when the old woman went away
She broke the subsequent silence.
''You have no boards to shake thi
morning."
81 was careful to do that before you
came. You see | am not rude thi,
morning, and would not like to spoi
yesterdays work
$50 you think my amusement deserve
so much consideration ~
al would not willingly spoil even YOU
amusement. But spoke OF your work. >
"And that"
"You want me to tell you what thinl
of it 20 he asked, drawing near.
MY work yesterday was eXecrable.'
my presence distracted you.
II think it did. But the rest of tn
work ~ She stood aside, that he nigh
look at it,
YES" he said slowly, looking at sew
eral points carefully 81 saw all thi
yesterday"
Can you suggest any improvements ?
NO 1t is impossible to imprOv
this work,
She almost regretted that he had No
pointed out some small defect She wishe
lin to he the artist She had hoped Il
was. Still she felt fiattered, and said
"Then you think it is-is-all right :
she questioned.
"No, do not
Here was an unexpected reverse. Mi
t Vane said, with a little tinge of sarcasm
. Perhaps you may be able to point OF
the defects 20
5 Eyes. The drawing is wrong, and IL
| coloring is not right; and there is no id,
; in it at ALL"
Miss Vane held her breath in astonisl
ment for moment, and then said
a ITO begin with, where is the drawn
= faulty :"
f: Here" he replied, indicating a pa
& with his chisel. 'This part has be,
Il drawn two or three yards from the poi
r Of view taken in the rest OF the-thing
5 "This column came in the way"
e at doesn't look locomotive in
3 habits. | never saw pillar come in
a any ones way yet awhile. You mel
v that you began work in the wrol
i place"
e She suggested that the defect would
g unnoticeable to ordinary perceptions.
; "If you paint down to ordinary perez
r tons, you ust.always be defective"
IL "And the coloring ~ said Miss Var
S with respondent sigh.
g lyon painted these lights in u clou
/, morning, and these with clear sky"
d "Not that am conscious of-and
= tried to make the colors match"
4 "But they would not be matched. y
Of are not making bOnnets when you
ls down in the sacred name of Art to dep
is Nature
lp Miss Vane WINGED. She could not ,
r, fend herself She saw her weakne
e. Yet she was conscious OF having do
Is good work, and she felt that the cri
is had unjustly passed all that over in
a eagerness to find fault. He might he I
IN best artist iii the world, but he was l
ID feeling and uncharitable, and she wol
a, ask his opinion never again. THESE w
9. the thoughts of the moment, that ms
her silent and detected. The mason cC
IS tinued
a 'These errors arise fiom your want
education, from your youth" (she
IN membered his speaking of her as oil
is child,) perhaps from your happiness
lit MY happiness What has that to
with it '''
X Much. Sorrow makes poets, and o.