Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-05-16


harmonized we'll with her clear COM
plexlon. nut brown hair rippled back
from a wide forehead, and formed
graceful coil at the back OF her head;
clear gray eyes looked out with a pecu'
liarly straightforward gaze from under
beautiful dark brows; nose aud mouth
were we'll shaped, particularly the latter,
the lips beng beautifully colored.-
Elgln would Dot have been the artist he
was. had he failed TO note these points.
After having buslly sketched for quite
a while, he observed smiiingly:
Il see you do not take out that pocket
edition OF some favorite poet, which Is
the indispensable companion to
rambler in the woods. Does my
presence disturb you too much for read
ing after alp
No, indeed, my pocket does not har-
Dor the conventional poet. In fact, L
do uot enjoy reading out OF DOORS
And, may 1 ask why nol?' inquired
Elpin, secretly hoping that her reasons
might be congenial with his, who meyer
wanted book TO disturb his COM
munlngs with nature.
Because | cannot fix my attention
q hook when thousand voices around
me are calling for it. L think 1t the
most delightful sensation in the worid
to sit entirely idle for an hour at
time. exercising only the senses oil sight
and hearing, You, OF course, DO mol
appreciate my ideas ofenjoying nature
being an artist, and;theretore dlllgent.'
'Ineeed, do, with the exception 'na'
the hour to which you limit the bllssiul
state IS extended into days aud weeks
10 my case.'
There was silence again for some
time, during which Elgin kept on work
ing rapidly; then holding up his ske'cl
be said:
Is 1t recognizable?
.Ob. how natural y exclaimed Anne
with undisguised admiration. L am
no Judge OF art, but your sketch seems q
miracle 10 me-
AS otherwise it probably would not
SAID Elgin laughing, but feeling strange
" flattered. Then in the course OF their
conversation he told her that he sketch
cd TO, the-Monthly, and took his
card from his portfolio, offering it with
bow. to which she simply answered:
NV name IS Anne Horst, and
teach at the village high school, 1t all
came about in such natural manner
that neither felt any improperly II
thise xchauge 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 ca
tails make a pretty little picture"
Il was Just thinking so myself IL dra"
one. will you allow me to come and
show it to you?'
She acquiesced with unaffected pleas
ure. Then trying on a broad tina
trimmed with punches Of Marguerltes'
sbe started down the path accompanied
hv Elgin. who unmoored her boat, ant
watching the graceful and slroni
vonno rover a moment, returned to bis
unfinished work: That very evening
found him at the gable-rooied cottage
with his picture of group Of mallow'
and marsh grasses. Anne's admiration
was unaffected and sincere, as was also
that of her mother-a white-hairet
beautiful lady, very much like Anne
Durino the four weeks Of his stay
Pierce Elgln was frequent visitor al
Mrs. Horst,s, aud after his return tC
N, it seemed the most natural
thing in the world FOR him to write tt
his summer acquaintance. Thus Anne
gradually had become a part oil The
Young mans existence, although nota
word of love or marriage had been
spoken, perhaps not been thought oil
even.
On his third annual visit 10 West
wood he was accompanied by his lrlent
Ralph Holm, a wealthy lawyer older
than Elgin. Holm, who usually spent
his summers in Europe, had been
seized with an idle curiosity to beholt
the place that was so attracliee 10 The
rising young artist. Elgin had often
spoken of the Horst ladies to Ralph, in
enthusiastic terms, and sometimes ever
read extracts from Anne's letters Ia
HIM. but he had remarked cynically:
|IlA' typical Mary, worshipplng at th'
feet of art and learning. Beware o
| these appreciative women. They vii
burn your yet Sunday roast, and con
trive to keep your house looking lik
the world two days before the creation
disorder in chaos. That is the secre
of all the marital misery in the lives o
celebrated men. Their wives were
either all Mary, frowzy aud slipshoe
but with grand yearnings, or they wer
all Martha, with no idea above thei
household. A woman combining th
excellent qualities Of the Biblical sis
| ters is an imposslbillty.'
perhaps Anne Ia the embodiment
this impossibility,' answered Elgin
laughing, aud when, after their llrs
| call had been made at Mrs. Horst's, HI
asked Holm:
well, what do you think of th
typical Mary?' that gentleman an
swered enthusiastically:
She is both Mary and Martha. Th'
man who is so fortunate as to win he
for a wife need. have no misgiving
about his happiness
4 II =: u..;orooJ ouoibar f,aline hn