The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-07-12

by him with such persever-
ance that, in spite of myself, | was
forced TO yield to his desire,
1t was certainly pleasant at Dale
hurst. All that wealth could procure
was to be found there, for its owner
was rich, and allowed Genoviovo, his
daughter, c0rtc blanche in the exercise
OF her cultivated and refined tastes.
His daughter-ah! how can | describe
her? Beautiful, intellectual, gracious,
and an enthusiast about art, was it
wonderful that | lost my heart long
before l knew it? When | did discov-
or it-but / must speak Of the happy |
days that preceded tho shock of that
discovery, .
AS | had supposed, Mr.. Brownes.in-
jury proved to be nothing more dan
gerous than severe sprain, but it
kept him prisoner for several days,
and as ! was always out at work till
dinner-time, he grew to look forward
to my presence i'll The evening in quite
II ridiculous manner.
He was very much interested in my
pictures, although he knew nothing
about art, but ne thought he did, and
his daughters sympathetic apprccia-
ton atoned for bis incomprehensible
criticisms, and was dangerously de-
lightful to me.
OF course, was mad, foolish, culpa-
bile, not to understand that it was
something more than intellectual sym
pathy which made our intercourse
such a happiness to us both; but /
suppose was feeling too intensely to
analyze and define my feelings.
| think, too, that az he. knew my po-
stion, Mr.. Browne acted in most
thoughtful way, for he insisted that
Geneyieve should take lessons of me /;
and what could he expect when two
young people, with so many sympa-
thies and tastes in common, were SO
constantly thrown together? | can
conscientiously declare that, had re-
allied my danger, / should have fled
long before did, for believed at that
time that Genevieve was her fathers
heiress, while | was poor, struggling
artist.
When one morning my host an
nounced that he expected his nephew,
Reginald Vane, and some friends
down for the shooting, felt vague
presentiment that something unpleas-
ant was in store for me, and insisted
on taking up my quarters at the inn,
for | knew that with a house full OF
young people whose sole idea was
amusement, while mine was work,
should be out of place and at disad-
vantage. Genevieve, however, would
not hear of giving up her lessons, and
whenever they took place it was inva-
riably insisted upon that should re-
: main to dine at Dalehurst
The moment | saw Reginald Vane
: conceived an intense aversion to him.
5 and he took no pains to hide the fact
that the feeling was mutual.
The first evening | spent in his so
=. ciety he treated me with a supercili
I Gus anectation Of superiority which
! made my blood boil. The fact that ht
was in love with. his cousin, and mad
0 ly jealous OF every man that fount
r the slightest favor in her eyes, restrain
3 ed me from openly resenting his many
impertinences but there is limit Il
forbearance, and when one evening
after l had been singing with Gene
We've, he made some insulting allu
$ sion to fortune-hunters, pointing hi
3, remark with a look at me that no ont
could mistake, we came to an opel
o quarrel.
l. The next morning / sought an in
e terview with Mr.. Browne, to bid hin
farewell.
e "Tut, tut, MANI" he answered col
IS daily. $50 that jealous idiot has beer
q showing his airs to you, Ell? H
L spoke to me last night, but | told hin
d / knew you and could trust you"
d But / knew that / could not trus
t, myself, SO begging him to make m,
1t excuses and adieux to Genevieve,
departed, with the intention Of seein
70 her no more.
d The old gentleman must have be
,e gun to suspect the truth during thi
n interview, for despite my own agit'
ton, noticed how worried and an,
ot ious he was looking.
s. was at the time at work OH a land
scape, which would keep me, us
n reckoned, about week longer in til
n neighborhood, but for the next day {
or two my picture made little Or no pros
reSs work seemed an impossibility.
id Then a feverish energy seized me
ut / was prescriptions enough to believ
t. that Genevieve returned my love;
thousand significant trihes helpe
n me to this conclusion. With such a
is incentive to spur me on, | told myse
that must quickly win the woalt
and position which would give me
l right to speak. With rapidit
ne which surprised even myself, fnisl
at ed my picture, and began another
y, pair with it.
Day after day worked, exposed
wl The sun, and scarcely stopping viii
or the light lasted even to take necessal
food,
t" About three o'clock one afternoon
he had finished, and started to return
the inn. was feeling triumphant
ny excited-heart and brain were full
ng fGeneyieve. "If / could only see h
once morew l thought, as poundC
he through the wood with down-be
his head.
i'm As if in answer to my longing, {
nd looking up suddenly | saw her. 81
was at some little distance from N
1T. and as with eager steps hurried fc
ward, | perceived that she was II
cd alone. | stopped, dizzy and contour
IN ed for her companion was my riv
tn Vanel Her hands lay passivelywit
in his grasp, she seemed to be liste
lnr inv willingly to to his nnrnr word