The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-04-11


ion, nut-brown hair rippled back from
wide forhead, and formed a graceful coil
at the back Of her head; clear gray eyes
looked out with peculiarly straight-for-
ward gaze from under beautiful dark
brows; nose and mouth we're well shaped,
particularly the latter, .the lips being
beautifully colored. Elgin would not
have been the artist he was, had he fail
ed to note these points. After having
bu,ily sketched for quite while, he OBJ
served smilingly:
II see you do not take out that pocket
edition of some favorite poet, which is
the indispensable companion to a ram
bic in the woods. Do1s my presence
disturb you too much for reading, after
ALP
"No, indeed, my pocket does not har-
Dor the conventional poet. In fact, | do
not enjoy reading out of DOORS"
"Ah, may | ask why not?' inquired
Elgin, secretly hoping that her reasons
might be congenial with his, who never
wanted a book to disturb his commun-
ings with nature.
because | can not fix my attention
on book when thousand voices around
me are calling for it. think it the
most delightful sensation in the world to
sit entirely idle for an hour at a time,
exercising only the senses of sight and
hearing. You, of course, do not appre-
ciate my ideas of enjoying nature, being
an artist, and therefore diligent."
''Indeed lido, with the exception that
the hour to which you limit the blissful
state is extended into days and weeks in
my case"
There was silence again for some time,
during which Elgin kept ON working
rapidly, then holding up his sketch he
said
as it recognizablew
ooh, how natural" exclaimed Anne
with undisguised admiration. 81 am no
judge of art, but your sketch seems a
miracle to me"
AS otherwise it probably would not, "
said Elgin, laughing, but feeling strange
ly flattered. Then in the course of their
conversation he told her that he sketch
ed for the Monthly, and took
his card from his portfolio, offering il
with bow, to which she simply an.
swered:
MY name is Anne Horst, and teach
at the village High School" tall came
about in such a natural manner that
neither felt any improperly in this ex-
change of courtesies.
When Anne arose she pointed to the
gaudy red mallows that lined both sides
Of the river, saying:
Wouldn't those mallows and cat-tails
make pretty little pictures"
81 was just thinking myself if | draw
one; will you allow me to come and show
it to your"
She acquiesced with unaffected pleas
ure. Then tying ON broad hat trimmed
with punches of Marguerites, she started
down the path accompanied by Elgin
who unmoored her boat, and watching
the graceful and strong young rover a
moment, returned to his unfinished
work. That very evening found him at
| the gable-roofed cottage with his picture
OF a group of mallows and marsh gras-
ses. Anne's admiration was unaffected
and sincere, as was also that of her
mother--a white-haired, beautiful lady,
very much like Anne. During the four
weeks OF his stay, Pierce Elgin was a
frequent visitor at Mrs. Horst's. and
after his return to N, it seemed the
most natural thing in the world for him
to write to his Summer acquaintance,
Thus Anne gradually had become n
part OF the young mans existence, al.
though not a word of love or marriage
had been spoken, perhaps had not been
thought of even.
On his third annual visit to Westwood
he was accompanied by his friend. Ralph
Holm, q wealthy lawyer some wears older
than Elgin. Holm, who usually spent
the summers in Europe, had been seized
with an idle curiosity to behold the place
that was so attractive to the rising youno
artist. Ellgin had often spoken of the
Horst ladies to Ralph, in enthusiastic
terms, and sometimes even read extracts
from Anne's letters to him; but he had
remarked cynically:
"a typical Mary, worshipping at the
feet of art and learning. Beware of
these appreciative women, Elgin. They
VIII burh your pet Sunday roast, and
contriye to keep your house looking like
the world two days before the creation.
disorder in chaos. That is the secret Of
all the marital misery in the lives az
celebrated men. Their wives were either
all Mary, frowzy, and slipshod, but with
grand warnings, or they were all Mar.
tina, with no idea about the household.
A woman combining the excellent ouali.
ties OF the Biblical sisters is an impossi-
bility." ''1
Perhaps Anne is the embodimept Of
this impossibility," answered Flgin
laughing, and when, after their first call
had been made at Mrs Horst's. he asked
Holm: ~ ''''Ne'
We'll, what do you think Of the tvoi.
cal Mary That gentleman answered
enthusiastically. '"'ieO
"She is both Mary and Martha. The
man who is so fortunate as to win her
for wife need haveno misgiyings about
his happiness"
Elgin experienced another feeling he
sides qualification at his friends words
and secretly wondered why he had never
before remarked what a handsome fell.
low Holm was. Throughout the summer
days the friends We'd in their attentions
to Anne and her mother, and thew often
asked each Other vhv e,,cI, ,,.,.....s HI. -