Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-07-23
THE ARTISTS STORY.

They had been engaged only a week,
and ,La had not vet lost the feeling OF
rureai-tv about It all. 1t was so strange,
;, wonderful, that he should have
chosen her-choSen her from her bril-
liant sisters to crown her life with his
love. -,
Was she dreaming still? Was it all
= dream that must pass with the dawn
and leave the cold familiar light of real
life around her once again ! And,
seated costly in the warm corner by the
Suumel-louse. with her big hat shad-
ing her lace from the sun, jamie thought
i all over AGAIN.
He had come to stay in the village
six weeks ago. They were all having
tea on the lawn when he came in and
was introduced to the gay party-''Mr.
Dean. the great artist, the man whose
picture Is the picture at the Academy
tbs 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
TUund the table. And then-Janie re-
meubeTed it all so well-he went to IN
siect 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 his dark,
sad face. and the strange lingering
glance that she had caught from his
ewes when she yentuTed once to look at
him.
lie seemed TO be always At the Priory
after that. lie was an old friend OF
their fathers, tie girls heard, and they
were tod 20 give him warmest welcome.
None Of them were loath to do that,
for proved To be one Of the pleasant
est of companions.
TIE girls leased LOttie, the eldest
giIl. about him, and begged TO be 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 it in the least
possible that he cOuld care for her,
though She dearly loved hIm-not til
that wonderful evening a week ago,
when they had met accidentally IN the
q IN lane by the church.
JAMIE had been on her weekly visit to
an old bedridden woman in the village,
and was wandering slowly home, with
Ler 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 tooB
her little trembling hand.
81 have been waiting for you," ht
said-"Sitting on the wall here and won
derng why you were so long"
JAMIE said sOmething-a few incoher
ent wOrds-for his manner and glance
startled her out of all composure. HI
stood just beyond the shadow of tht
ancient gateway, holding her hand clos
In his.
Il was waiting to speak to you," h
sad, after a moments silence, in which
JAMIE heard as in a dream the twitte1
OF the swallows in the blue air. -.
lave your fathers permission to asl
You. VIII you be my wife ?''
That was a week ago. Just so Ions
had JAMIE worn her pretty betrotha
rlng, the blue stone of which she looket
at now with tender smile; and orc
mere she tried to think how he coult
have cared for her. She was the plain
est OF the sisters, merely a small, fresh
checked little maiden with soft brown
eyeS-not fit bride for an artist who's
Leautiful imaginings had won him S
much fame. Itwas of no good endeav
oring to understand it; she could onl
try to be more worthy of his choice, +
be true and faithful to him, and, ah, s
loving!
Thinking thus, his voice came to her
calling her. She sprang up and, wit
Ihe Shy blush that came so easily, wen
down the path.
Little truart, have been searchin
Ior you eYerywherel My next ste
would have been to drag the pond
Nhere have you been ?''
by the summer-hOuSe. l though
you were going with papa ?''
Il begged off. Iknew you would b
miserable without me; so l was sell
uenylng, and came to look after you.
Indeed l was very happyl'' JAM
returned.
"Oh, jamie! You know how drear
Ihe afternoon seemed. how long I'll
hourS We're. Why, L believe you hay
been crying -
jamie raised her eyes for inspection
DuV they dropped again instantly, an
she drew a little nearer, tracing I'll
threads on his gray sleeve with tren
bling little fingers.
Arthur, l wish you would tell N
{uS1 how you thought of me first. L hay
2een thinking of it all the Afternoon
~ Is 50 strange that you should care ft
eucn foolish child as l am"
=. low do You know / do, Miss Val
Al! Come-sit down here; il is Coz
anu shady and out of the way Of thos