Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-04-30

II dldn know. L am sorry.
didn' t mean"
S'Oh, never mind. ! dare say |
was lazy and good-for-nothing on a
farm. / used to NOPE and dream
when I should have been at work.
They didn't understand me, and I
don't blame them; | didn't under
stand myself Your father was
about the only one that sympathized
with my fancies. By the way, [
shonld like to see him, if he is at
home.''
| "He is at home. Come along,
and Sport and L will show you the
way"
Ivan Kirke was born artist. AS
a 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 beaame certain that he would make
the worst of bad farmers.
At the age of sixteen, therefore,
owing greatly to Mr.. Carter's advice,
he had been sent away to school.
There he picked up the rudiments of
art from student, and in
spare moments applied them with
such skill and originality as to gain
the attention of a wealthy gentleman
who eventually became his patron.
1t must be confessed that he was
singularly fortunate. Up to the
present, little of the bitter hardships
ordinarily attendant on an artists
formative period had fallen to his
lot. With the advantage of a wealthy
patron, passionate love of beauty,
and intelligent skill, he had made
rapid advancement.
He had made during that time two
or three visits home but, although
but mile distant from the Carriers
farm, he had not seen Leila before
since she was little-faced urchin.
He was now at home for a month
or more. A prize had been offered
to young artists, and he resolved to
compete. 1t was for this purpose
that he was at work upon the beauti
full landscape scene in the neighbor-
hood of Lelia's home when interrupt
ed by her and Sport. He was quick
to appreciate her fresh and blooming
beauty; and as she bent over Sport
with her arms around his neck, and
her indignant glance directed at him,
he promptly saw what an addition
the scene would be to his contempla-
ted 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
as great an interest as he himself,
as her own pretty face formed an
important 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
compliment.
!, After their unconventional frst
meeting, it did not take long fol
them to become the best of friends
) Ivan told her much of his life il
London, his successes and hopes, the
r men and women with whom he min
] gled, the methods and customs O
< society, and many other things whicl
Leila knew only as she knew o
t fairyland-through books.
4 The more he saw of her, the NOR
he admired her, and drew favorable
: comparisons between her and certain
bedecked and powdered ballroom
e visitors he had seen. Owing to th
t difference in their ages, he felt littl
more hesitation in expressing his ad
It miration than if she had been a chill,
e prattling on his knee.
True love runs most appalling
n smooth and rapid till it becomes be
yond control, whatever it does after
wards. So it was with Leila. Sh
e loved with her whole soul, and di
d not even suspect it. Consequent
when Ivan, with his picture compile
le ted, bade her farewell, and returne
G. to London, it was like rude avail
ening, cruel shock, that seemed
ot stun her at first. Life became
er weary waiting for what she dare
SIS not hope. Her step lost its buoyal
IN cy and her cheek its roses. 81
y seemed to have gone at a step fro
ok girlhood to womanhood and, instes
h. of playing with Sport and other pet
I'd she busted herself about househo
matters, or sat and dreamed abo
d. the past.
a? With the coming spring she I
lis gained much of her old spirit, al
her laugh echoed among the hi
a again, not so loud and careless
IN formerly, but still merry and spar
ow ling.
lat 1t was one afternoon in June,
1 wandering along the roadside, s
lid met Ivan's little brother Johnny.
ssIvan's coming home tomorrow
said Johnny, with startling suddt
MT ness.
ick $50 soon?" exclaimed Leila; a
ly, her heart began to futter painfully
eg- Eyes; and he's been marie
too"