The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-05-08

away five or six years ago"
! He bit his lips and smiled.
81 am that lazy, coed for nothing
fellow" he said, ''or at least, was.
l hope l have improved since then,
though l don't want to be a farmer
even now.
81 didn't know. I am sorry. / didn't
mean"
"Oh, never mind. dare say | was
lazy and good for nothing on farm:
used to NOPE and dream when l
should have been at work. They
didn't understand me and l don't
blame them; / didn't understand my
self ;; your f,ther was the only one
that 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 Kirke was born artist. As
farmers lad, living in the midst Of
natures beauties, his love for them
had been fostered, and developed into
passion that made him the vexation
of his good, prosaic father. 1t he
came certain that he would make the
worst of bad farmers.
AT the age of sixteen, therefore,
owing greatly to Mr.. Carriers ADVICE,
he had been sent away to school.
There he picked up the rudiments of
art from a fellow student, and in spare
moments applied them with such skill
and originality as to gain the atten-
ton of a wealthy gentleman, who
eventually became his patron.
1t must be confessed that he was
singularly fortunate. Up to the pres
ent, little of the bitter hardships ordi.
narily attendant on an artists fOrma-
tive period had fallen to his lot. With
the advantage of wealthy patron.
passionate love of beauty, and intelli-
gent skill, be had made rapid advance
meDt.
He had made during that time two
or three visits home; but, although
but mile distant from the Carter 6
farm, he had not seen Leila bef"Ie
since she was little freckle faced
urchin.
He was now at home for a month
or more. A prize had been offered
to young artists, ard he had resolved
to compete. 1t was for this purpose
that he was at work upon the beauti
full landscape scene in the neighbor-
hood of Leiia's home when interrupt
ed by her and Sport. He was quick
to appreciate her FRI sh and blooming
beauty, and as she bent over Sport
with her arms around his neck, and
her indignant glance directed toward
him, he promptly saw what an addi-
ton the scene would be to his contem-
plated picture
During the next few weeks Leila
saw much of the young painter. She
visited him daily at his work in the
field, and watched the progress of the
picture. in which she had nearly rs
great an interest as be himself, as
her own pretty face formed an impor-
tant feature. A less innocent minded
girl, or one more acquainted with the
world, might have objected to the
publicity thereby given her. Leila
did not. She felt proud of it and
grateful to the artist for the compli-
ment.
After their unconventional first
meeting it did not take long for them
to become the best of friends. Ivan
told her much Of his life in London,
his successes and hopes, the men and
women with whom he mingled, the
methods and customs of society, and
many ether things which Leila knew
only as she knew of fairy land
though books.
The more he saw of her the more
be admired her, and drew favorable
between her and certain
bedecked and powdered ball room
visions he had eeen. Owing to the |
difference in their ages he felt little
more hesitation in expressing his ad |
miration than if she had been q child |
prattling on his knee.
True love runs most appalling
smooth and rapid till it becomes be-
yond control, whatever it does after
ward. So it was with Leila. She
loved with her whole soul and did
not, even, suspect it, Consequently
when Ivan, with his picture complet-
ed, babe her farewell, and returned
to London, it was like rude awaken
ing, cruel shock, that seemed to
stun her at first. Life became a
weary waiting for what she dared not
hope. Her step lost it's bouyancy
and her cheek its roses. She seemed
TO have gone at step from girlhOOd