The Penn's Grove record., 1884-07-19
IHE ARTISTS STORY.

They had been engaged only a week,
and she had not yet lost the feeling OF
~unreality about 1t all. 1t was so strange,
SO wonderful, that he should have
chosen her-chosen her from her bril-
liant sisters to cTOWn her life with his
love.
Was she dreaming still Was it all
a dream that must pass with the dawn
and leave the cold familiar light of real
life around her once again2 And,
seated costly in the warm corner by the
Hummer-house, with her big hat shad-
ing her face from the sun, jamie thought
it all OveT again.
He had come to stay in the village
six weeks ago. They were all having
tea on TIA. lawn when he came ia and
was introduced to the gay party-"Mr.
Dean, the great artist, the mar whose
picture is the picture at the Academy
this year"
Remarks about him buzzed round
while he drank his tea and talked to
Mrs. Archer Wilmot and looked with
grave kindly eyes at the merry girls
round the table. And then-Janie re-
membeTed It all SO well-he went to In
spect the gardens with two OF her elder
sisters and she joined the lawn-tennis
party again, and played very badly, for
she could think Of nothing but hisdark,
sad face, and the strange lingering
glance that she had caught from his
eyes when she ventured once to look at
him.
He seemed to I've always at the Priory
after that. He was an old friend Of
their fathers, the girls heard, and they
were told TO give him warmest welcome.
None Of them We're loath to do that,
for he proved 10 be one Of the pleasant
est Of companions.
The girls leased Lottie. the eldest
girl, about him, and begged to lie al
lowed to stay with her IN her beautiful
home at Richmond. None of them had
any idea of the truth of the case jamie
herself never thought il in the least
possible that he could care for her.
though she dearly loved hIm-not till
that wonderful evening a week ago,
when they had met accidentally in the
green lane by the church.
jamie had been on her weekly visit to
an old bedrldden woman in the village,
and vas wandering slowly home, with
her dog beside her, feeling dlscOnsolate
enough, poor child, and wishing that
Mr.. Dean would go away and leave
them all at peace again. Then he step
ped out quite suddenly from the hch-
gate and smiled down at her and took
her little trembling hand.
II have been waiting for YOU" he
said-''sitting on the wall here and Won
dering why you were so long,
jamie said something-a few incoher-
ent words-for his n and glance
startled her out of all compOsure. He
stood just beyond the shadow of the
ancient gateway, holding her hand close
in his.
81 was waiting to speak to you," he
said, after a moments silence, in which
jane heard as in a dream the twitter
of the swallows in the blue air. 81
have your fathers permission to ask
YOU. win you be my wife 2"
That was a week ago. just SO long
had jamie Wort her pretty betrothal
ring, the blue stone of which she looked
at now with a tender smile and once
more she tried to think how he could
have cared for her. She was the plain
est of the sisters, merely a small, fresh
Cutehtu lllltt uldllEl Will NplL DIONu
eyes-not a fit bride for an artist whose
beautiful imaginings had won him SO
much fame. 1t was of no good endeav-
oring to understand it she could only
try to be more worthy Of his choice, to
be true and faithful to him, and, alb, SO
loving
Thinking thus, his voice came to her.
calling her. She sprang up and, with
the Shy blush that came SO easily, went
down the path,
"Little truart, l have been searching
for you everywhere My next step
would have been to drag the pond
Where have you been ?"
"By the summer.hOuse. | thought
you were going with papa ?n
81 begged off. I6new you would be
miserable without me SO | was self,
denying, and came to look after YOU
'Indeed l was very happyw jamie
returned.
son, Janiel You know how dreary
the afternoon seemed, how long the
hours were. Why, believe you have
been crying ]"
jamie raised her eyes for inspection