Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-31
THE ARTISTS SECRET.
BY J. v. l..


outside the cathedral door in the agreeable
shade, knitting.
"Yes. shall walk home, and | will
send for my things
81 am afeard that young fellows been
annoying you, miss you look quite down
hearted like"
"No, he has not annoyed me in the
least, and my picture is finished. Good
morning"
On her way home the reflection that
she should see this strange man no more
was uppermost in her thought, and all time
looked blank and miserable before her.
What should she do tomorrow, and the
next day, and the next How destitute
of hope was her life. Oh, now indeed she
could paint her picture, and put into
1t all that pathos he spoke OF, and prove
to him how deep her feelings We're. Poor
little goose she had imagined all that
feeling due to her sympathy with the
mas0n,s unknown disappointment: =
Nevertheless his influence upon her
was lasting, and it seemed as though he
had created in her that deeper sentiment
which he prognosticated. She began to
think, and perceptibly altered. She did
not grow particularly wise in fortnight
but the desire to be true in everything
that she did was constantly hers. With
this idea of truth she associated him-the
mason--the man whose name even was
unknown to her. And SO he dwelt con-
tinually in her mind. She idealized him,
making him her standard of excellence,
and controlling her actions in the direc-
ton she thought he would counsel. She
did not get through much work, but what
she effected was conscientiously done.
She wished to be a child no more, and
behave childishly no longer. A favorite
brush was missing from her box, and
probably it had been left in the cathedral /;
but she would not go there to find it, lest
he should suspect the dearer object of her
search, and laugh at her weakness. Still.
she hoped he would lind it, and bring it
to her. He did find it but Mrs. Champ
was the medium OF its restoration. This
brush-for to show this impulsive.
natural girl as she was her follies must
be confessed-she laid aside in her most
sacred of sacred corners, in company with
single glove for the right hand, care
fully folded, black, almost new, but
marked in white dust with the pressure
OF hand. She insisted on Mrs. Champ
taking some refreshments, and among
other casual questions asked if the mason
still worked at the cathedral, and whether
he had been more or less annoying of late.
"He's finished the job and gone, miss
ended the work last night. He was more
quieter after your going, and spoke very
pleasant to my sister, who's got the govt.
going out to the chemists himself to get
prescription made up for her as he'd
got wrote down in that very sketch book
he drawed your face in, and wouldn't
take farthing. However, thought Id
give him turn, seeing he was a good
workman, though saucy-and | never
knew good workman yet as wasn't
faulty sometimes $50 | told him ht
might come and repair my sink in hi.
spare time, and I'd pay him a fair price
for the job ; so he came and did it, anG
charged me a shilling for il, which
think was very reasonable, considering
he took two hours over it, and swept tn,
place up clean after him"
Poor Miss Vane felt little shuddel
run through her, hearing of her idea
artist mending sink and taking
shilling for his work and then was vexeC
with herself for her repugnance to tn,
mans doing honest work. Mendins
sinks is mason's work, and he had neve
pretended. to be more than mason. TIL,
higher estimate of him was of her owl
working she must get to think of him a
a mason he could never be more to her
She sighed and asked no further questions
nor did she press Mrs. Champ to stal
when she had taken her refreshments.
Miss Vane had aristocratic friends, ant
was not above the weakness of reverenoin.
title, and when she was pressed b,
Lady Emily Upton to take a place in he
carriage and accompany her party to
picnic in the Upton woods. she consented
but in preparing her necessary toilet TO
the occasion, she was afflicted with certain
conscientious pangs, which grew as tn
day approached. In her heart She di
not wish TO go to the picnic, only her fea
Of displeasing Lady Upton prevented he
declining the invitation. Appealing to he
imaginary counselor, she heard him sa
she was wrong in accepting a pleasur
she had no sincere wish for. However
these graver thoughts We're banishe
when she sat in Lady Tipton's barouche
with an agreeable Sir Somebody at he
side and everything around her gay an
bright. Lady Upton had compliments
her on her bonnet the agreeable 81
Somebody had complimented her bonnt
on her and not somber thought touche
the heart of Miss Vane. The guic
movement of the horse excited her h.
eyes sparkled with pleasure She locke
the prettiest picture of happiness. The
were driving along lane, narrow lam
where the horses We're forced to slacke
their pace to pass a fOot-passeng-r. Il
stood back as the carriage approached
and Miss Vane, looking that way, sa
that the pedestrian was her friend I'll
mason, with basket of tools in one han
and a stone bottle in the other. She wa
utterly confused, and turned her ey,
away as the carriage passed hin
Shame filed her heart the very neg
moment, and she said quickly:
"Oh, Lady Upton, will you allow IL
carriage to be stopped wish to g
out; we just passed a friend OF mine,
'my dear, we passed no one hut
workman in white blouse"
''That is he, my friend"
"0h, you know, We really cannot spa
you on his account, =" said the agreeab
Sir Somebody.
"That is as Miss vane pleases, 1" sa
Lady Upton, coldly.
al do wish it," Miss vane cri,
energetically, her face flushing III
blanching alternately,
''Be good enough to tell the driver
once" said Lady Upton to the agreeab
Sir Somebody, in tone of undisguis,
disgust.
II is not far to Upton woods. VI
follow quite soon, and shall be able
explain my reason
Lady Upton bowed very eoldly, al
presently Miss Vane found herself in Il
road alone. There was not sign Of Il
mason. Probably he had trudged on az
Was half mile distant by this time.
Miss Vane was faint with exctemer
and regretted the course she had take
Her second mistake was only less pardo
able than the first. She tried to run al
catch = glimpse of the felt hat, 81
reached the stile in the hedge whore
had stood, and still saw nothing of hir
Her boots were not made for runnii
purposes, they hurt her feet terribly, al
this pain and her distress fairly owe
coming her she sat upon the step Of d
stile, and putting her hands upon the t,
bar and her face in them she burst in
tears. No one was likely to hear he
and 8he INDUCED her grief to the fu
sobbing bitterly.
"Whst is the matter, my child '' sa
soft, soothing voice at her ear.
She looked up hastily on the gra
before her we're a felt hat, basket