Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-24
Galts arb Skttfkts.
WELDED 70 ART.
An ENGLISH STORY.

An old-fashioned farmhouse. large and
hospitable-looking; lowing-cattle and
bleating sheep; undulating hills, clad in
autumnal verdure; in front, across the
winding country road. an orchard wealthy
in rnsset and golden fruit; in the rear, a
brook that goes prattling and cleaning
past the capacious barn, from whose win
dows peep golden sheaves, and under
whose caves cling the bulky swallows
nests.
Such were the features of a pleasant
rural scene to beenjoyed by the wayfarer
along a certain road in the autumn time.
The door of the farm house opens. and
with laugh and bound, Leila Carter. a
maiden of about sixteen, comes racing out,
with shepherd dog leaping and bounding
by her side.
Very charming indeed she looked, with
her lovely face and sparkling eyes half
hidden beneath the wide straw hat, as she
ran gaily along the roadside or in the fields,
now stopping to caress some half-grown
lamb, now wild with excitement as stray
rabbit bounded from covert, and proceed
ed rapidly to leave out of sight the fat
shepherd dog.
Here. Sport. fetch it," she cries, as she
losses stick far over clump OF thick
underground.
On the other side Of the clump, hidden
from view. sat a young man. busily sketch
ing. The stick fell upon his easel. and
striking his pencil, knocked it from his
fingers.
Hang it," he growled. Who threw
that?" looking up just as Leila and Sport
came racing into sight.
Leila stopped short as she saw the
stranger. but Sport, nothing abashed, ran
on, picked up the stick, upset the easel in
doing SO, and with quick bound escaping
the full force of the kick aimed at him,
came wagginR back to his mistress.
Haven't you anything better to do,
miss, than running over the country spoil
ing fellows work." queried the vexed
stranger, as he picked up the easel and
brushed off the rotten wood adhering to
the canvas.
He was a handsome, rk-looking
young fellow of about twenty-five, with
features indicative of strength and sef-re-
lance. As he glanced again at Leila, and
obtained full view of her for the first
time, his expression softened into one of
admiration.
She was STOPPING over Sport tenderly.
~
towards the young man.
"How dare you kick my dog?" she de-
manded.
He was about to speak more civilly than
before, when sudden idea entered his
head, and he began again to sketch rapid
ly.
That's all he's good for, dare say
TO be kicked" he answered, carelessly, at
length.
a. You don't know anything about it.
He's the best dog in the world, and you're
brute for kicking him. said fearless six
teen.
He sketched away as though his life de-
pended on it.
"Oh. WELL" he replied. after another
pause. ~ didn't hurt him much, after all.
lie was too quick for me-"
"You meant to. though, and it was just
rs mean as though you did,
"Well, you see, | was angry because
he upset my work"
IL don't care" said Leila, she was
only trying to please me, wasn't you
r He looked at her again. then at the can
vas. then added few more strokes.
Really, | don't see how he can be
blamed for that"
And he glanced admirngly ut her.
Either the look or the words (she wasn't
used to compliments) Modified her some
what.
"Besidcs, I'll make amends" he add
ed. How would you like a picture of
SportP"
She came forward, and saw not only
Sport but herself bending over him, with
n mixture of tenderness and indignation
in her expression that had been very clev-
erly portrayed. He drew ont his sketch
book in the meantime. ard hastily sketch
ing Sport on a leaf. tore it OF and handed
it to her with bow.
isn't that lovelyr' she exclaimed.
"How could you do it so soon? What are
you going to do with this large picture ?"
81 have some hopes of winning a prize
next spring with it. Five minutes ago
felt like giving il up now | feel rather
confident of it. That was the reason
spoke to you as | did at first. Twas afraid
you would go away, so made you angry"
II was angry, and | called you a brute.
too, didn't Ip Well. l don't care you had
prettily, whereat he laughed and humbly
begged Sports pardon.
''1sn't your name Miss Carter ." he in
quired, abruptly.
Eyes, sir, it is
Ibid you ever hear OF fellow by the
name of Ivan Kirke ?"
"Why, of course. have. That is old
Kirke's son. the one that was n lazy good
for-nothing fellow. and didn't want to be
farmer. and went away five or six years
ago."
He bit his lips and smiled.
II am that lazy good-for nothing fell
low" he said; 'or. at least. was.
hope have improved since then, though
i don't want to be n farmer even now"
Il didn't know. am sorry. didn't
mean"
''Oh, never mind l dare say was
lazy and good-for-nothing on farm. II
used to NOPE end dream when | should
have been at work. They didn't under
stand me and don't blame them didn't
understand myself; your father was about
the only one who sympathized with my
fancies. BY the way, should like to see
him If he is at home"
He is at home. Come along and Sport
and will show you the way"
Ivan Kirk was a horn artist Az a