The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-06-11


day, and that my friends, MIR. Drum
mond and Mr.. Frobisher, form part of
the oompanyPh
His voice was very pleasant one,
and so was his smile, as Elma had an
opportunity of proving little later on.
Despite the strangers homely looks
and somewhat shabby attire, something
whispered to Miss Deene that she was
in the presence of no ordinary man.
There has certainly been picnic
here to-day" she replied, sat which
both Mr.. Frobisher and Mr.. Drummond
were present. They will neither of
them be very long before they arc back.
Perhaps if you wish to see them you
will not mind waiting" She spoke
with somewhat heightened color, and
the strangers dark eyes rested on her
face with look of undisguised admira-
ton.
THANK you very much" he said.
elf you will allow me, will await
their return. lam staying tonight at
an inn in the village, and it was my in-
tention to walk over to Waylands--as l
think Mr.. Frobishers house is called
in the course of tomorrow. Hearing,
however, that my friends were so near
me to-day, l could not resist the oppor-
tunity of coming in search of them"
81 have no doubt that they will be
pleased to see you," answered Elma,
not knowing what else to say.
"By-the-by, ought to apologize for
not introducing myself before. My
name is Bence Leyland."
''Mr. Leyland!'' calculated Elma,
with start Of surprise, 81 have heard
both Mr.. Frobisher and Mr. Drummond
speak of you many times"
"Ah! Then they have not forgotten
me. am glad Of that"
"Did you think, Mr.. Leyland, that
either Of them was likely to forget
youp"
"Well, no-they are hardly the sort
OF men to do that" he answered, with
little laugh. "But may l ask TO
whom have the pleasure Of speakingW
"My name is Elma Deene. Mr.. Frob-
isher and are cousins"
Mr.. Ieyland bowed.
At this moment n light cart with two
servants from Waylands drove up.
They had come to fetch away the ham,
pers and other et-caeras pertaining to
the picnic.
'Would you not like some refresh
ments, Mr. Leyland?n asked Elma.
Thank you. i should like bottle
of lemonade, If il is not too much
trouble" answered the painter.
He sat down on fallen tree, and
famed himself with his hat while one
of the servants opened the lemonade.
with what lovely bits of genuine
| English scenery this neighborhood
abounds,n said Leyland, a few moments
later. "They are at once q joy and n
despair TO man like myself. We
painters 90 on daubing canvas after
! canvas from youth till age; and the
older we grow, the more We feel how
futile are our efforts, and how few of
her secrets nature has deigned to reveal
to MS"
"There was one landscape in the
Academy this year." answered Elma,
fixing her eyes gravely on him, "that
to my mind seemed instinct with some
of natures sweetest secrets. The breeze
that stirred the tops of the larches on
the hill seemed to fan my check rs |
looked. Those cloud-shadows that
chased each other across the corn-felds
in the valley were the very shadows
that have watched hundred times rs
n child. Those scarlet poppies in the
foreground were the same that | gath
cred long years ago. And yet, Mr..
Leyland, you know none of natures
secretsm
Bence Leyland rose abruptly. "Let
us walk little way, Miss Deene," he
said, "and find something else to talk
about"
Elma picked up her sun-shade, and
the two strolled slowly away side by
side down one OF the pleasant woodland
ways.
"Can you guess, Miss Deene, asked
Leyland, presently, "why | am more
glad to-day than 1 have been for long
timer"
Elma shook her head. ut Is inn
possible for me to guess, Mr.. Leyland. "
II am glad because am the bearer
of good news for my dear friend, Dick
Drummond."
"Oh!"
Not word could she say. Her heart
fluttered; her color rose; the painter
regarded her with curious eyes.
''Dear old Dick!" he went on present.
ly, almost as il speaking TO himself.
"How pleased l shall be to see him
againl And Frobisher, too. Noble
hearted fellows, both. What smokes
we have had together; what talks VIC
have had together; how we have ar.
gued and disputed, and in the end
agreed TO differ! oh. golden hours
that never can return No. Jdndis,
janais." He spoke the last words in
, whisper. The two walked on in ST.
lence.
Like certain noble poet, Bence 10y.
land awoke one morning and found
/ himself famous. He had been a strug.
, CLING man for twenty years, trying his
, hardest 10 win fame and fortune, bul
not succeeding in his pursuit of either.
! Now and then he sold picture; but In
, order to make ends meet, he was com
) PEELED to pawn more than he could sell.
Now and then note Of praise would
, be sounded by some critic more dis
; corning than the rest Of his tribe; but
i such notes were too few and far be-
, tween to materially affect the fortunes
of the artist. One day, however, q