The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-11-22

Mr.. Charles Seabro0k was q painter.
but, having spent all his private means
! without having yet made name in the
artistic world, he was not, at the time
when this story opens, living in the lap
of luxury; in fact, he was, in vulgar
phraseology, ''hard up For the sup
port of himself aud his wife (Ior he had
been married for twelve months to kath-
crime Werner, an operate singer he was
doing what many another good man has
done-borrowing upon his works such
sums as certain accommodating but in-
tenseiy calculating gentlemen Of the
neghborhood of Greek Street, Soho, and
whereabouts, would consent to lend, hop
ing at some future time to redeem them
and secure that value for them which
he was confident the name Seabrooll in
scrbed in their corners would then in
vest them with. In the meantime al
TIL, ugh he often found himself in what
the Americans term d, tight place.
nothing would induce him to consent to
his wifc's reappearing upon the stage.
This was the existing state Of things
when Kate Seabrook paid her husband a
visit in his studio one afternoon. She
might be well described as dear little
woman, for although she had plenty Of
emJo"point blessing peculiar to singers
of both seXes-she was undoubtedly a
little woman. Not only was she slightly
below the average height, but everything
about Der was petite. Her face was
small, her hands We're tiny, and her feet
were, in proportion, almost smaller still.
She had sweet little nose. full curved
lips, which were always ready with either
p0ut or a smile, and wonderful round,
wideopeu, blue eyes, with a rim Of dark
er shade round the color. Her HAIR was
auburn, and was arranged in a waVy
fringe over the forehead, and at the back
drawn up to the top Of her head and
there secured in coil. Her figure was
a model Of symmetrical harmony, and i'll
concluding the picture we must not omit
to state that for the further distraction
of mankind, upon either cheek and upon
her chin Cupid had imprinted charm
ing dimple.
Charles Seabrook was bending over
his easel when his wife entered the room.
He was q tall spare man, with slight
stoop and long hair, not worn so, how
ever, from any artistic aitectation, but
because he was naturally rather neglect
full of his appearance and really too poor
to afford very frequent visits to the hair
dresser. Probably he would have worn
beard and moustache had his wife not
insisted upon his shaving every other
day, declaring that his features were
quite handsome enough to dispense with
those disguises. Altogether it was not
Seabrook' S fault that his tent ensemble
was not unlike that of several gentlemen
who may frequently be met with in the
Strand.
Before the artist was aware of his
wlfe's entrance, he found himself being
dragged round the room in sort Of inn
promptudance. This lie endured in pa
tient wonder for . few minutes, until he
was released and dropped into a chair,
when Kate began to fan him with an
open letter.
my darling, What is the meaning of
this outrage" he gasped, when he had
recovered sufficient breath.
1T MEANS" said Kate, that there is
someone good in the world besides you
and me, after all. That is there tras."
''You surprise me- said Seabrook
WHO can it be?''
My Aunt jane;
Your Aunt Jane. What of herr
'She's dead"'
I'm very sorry TO hear it, said the
artist, pathetieaily; but you seem
to bear up under your loss wonderfully"
Because, as this letter will tell you,
she's left us two hundred pounds year"
cried Kate, ecstatically. 1t was out at
last, and the 10y became mutual.
When aunt Jane-whom Kate had seen
once in her life, and Seabrouk never
had been blessed for the dearest, kindest
and most sensible OF old ladies, the ques-
ton was discussed as to what should be
done under the altered circumstances.
and it was eventually decided that they
should go to some pretty part of the
country for year, where Scabrook could
paint landscapes.
Accordingly, a month after wards, the
good folk of Edgefield, village in $
shire had plenty of food for gossip sup
piled them by seeing Mr.. and Mrs. Sea-
every day, the one burdened with the
usual parapheruilia of an artist and the
other with a book and parasol. \ more
beautiful neighborhood, or ore more suit
able for our painter eoald not have been
chosen than that surrounding Edgefield.
The scenery was delightful and various,
and as the weather was very fine Sea-
brook had neither excuse nor disposition
for dleness. One morning he was bus
lily painting scene which included the
turIetG of an old mansion which lowered
above the trees on the slope of neigh
boring hill. Kate had been lying on a
rug behind him reading, but finding this
monot nous she was now occasionally
lcli: g her husband s ear with long
taft of grass, and becoming crimson in
the face in her efforts to conceal her
laughter when he gently rubbed the irri-
tated spot. Both suspended their labors
upon hearing short bark and turning
round they saw young man approach
il, with a gun on his shoulder and a
pair Of fox terriers at his heels.
'GeYhry Wild!' exclaimed the artist
starting up when the stranger was with
i'll q few yards of him.
'sCAarlie Seabrook. The deuce and
the t-To mems hands met aud they stood
looking plcasurably at each other.
The new conner in appearance was very
unlike his friend. His active disposition
and i.&tits were evidenced by the mus
cEtag development of his figure ard
limbs, which were those Of all athlete,
and tLe hroRDness of his complexion.
His face Was decidedly a handsome one,
but Is 1c!i""sG was slightly mai red
D. -, yl&c-s = dissipation it bore and
tae extreme sarsl-.!ity Of the mouth.