The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-23
A "MODEL FATHER. :"
Story Of Scheming Tragedian
and His Pretty Daughter.
Low Cunning and Selfish Ambition on
the One Hand, and Innocent Purity
and Dutiful Devotion
the Other.
BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.
BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.
CHAPTER !.

over her work with an undeceptive pre-
tense of interest. A handsome young
man was looking on, apparently more
interested in the girl than in the pat
terms.
My last picture sold for twenty
pounds" said the young man, land |
painted it in a fortnight, That's at the
rate of five hundred year. We could
live on that, surely.
The pretty girl went on tracing pat
terms in the dust, and answered moth
inc.
"Idon't mean to say make as much
as that at present" said the young fel-
low. ''but that's an average. If you'd
only say Yes, I'd work like a niger
She murmurcd that he worked too
hard already, still with her face bent
over that futile labor in the dust.
Not half 80 hard" he answered.
''as | can wOrk-as l will wOrk-if
only You'll say Yes"
The girl studied her patterns with
her head on one side, so a to give her
lover a view of the top of her cOquettish
little hat. while she smiled The young
u
little nearer still. Next he put an arm
about her waist, and drew her to him
very gently. She, still more gently,
made "A movement as if to unwind his
arm, and perhaps at first she meant it.
but. finding him too strong or too de-
termined, she submitted, and allowed
it to rest there.
Say Yes. murmured the Young
man, bending downward and sidew:se
to get past the obstructive cOquettish
little hat. But its crown was so obsti-
nately presented to him that he had to
throw away the cane he carried, and
seize her hand with the hand thus set
at liberty, before he could turn her
round. Matters were 50 far mended
then that he could see the extremely
neat parting of her glossy brown hair,
with a loose escaping curl on either
side the forehead. Grown insolent by
this time, he set a finger under her chin
and raised her face slowly, though her
eyes were still fixed on those foolish
patterns at her feet, and the point of
the parasol still went tracing about
among them, guided by the disengaged
hand. She felt no temptation to smile
now, but was, on the contrary, wonder
fully serious.
Say Yes, murmured the young
man again. His persistence could
scarcely have frightened or distressed
her, it was so gentle, yet a tear rolled
down each flushed cheek and dropped,
Star-shaped. among the dusty lines
The young man did what most young
men would have done under the cir
cum>tance,. He kissed the traces of
closer. Say Yes, he murmurcd
again.
Shakespeare (who was not wholly
ignorant of the cycle of experience on
which these two Young people We're en-
tering) has written that Ito hear with
eyes belongs to Loves line wit" And
at this, the third time OF asking, the
lover saw the maids lips shape the
word. though II came so family it failed
10 reach hrs ears, near * he was To her.
She escaped in awhile with the glossy
brown hair somewhat diSordered. and
the cOqueltish hat Il triile on one side
The young man took up the walking
cane he had thrown down a minute or
two before: the girl shyly accepted his
proflered arm, and they walked away
together. The two star-shaped tear
drops lay in the dust amid the tangled
lines.
Dear eyes, ;" said the happy lover
'they shall never shed another tear if l
can help it"
Jack" said the girl, ''you must be
Quiet-you must, really. | shall be
quite a fright" Her little gloved hands
arranged the coquettish hat and the
escaping curlS again, and what with
that action (Which, though simple, was
remarkably pretty and engaging to look
att. and what with the pride and shy
ness and tenderness in her eyes, she
looked altogether SO bewitching that
the hat was somehow disarrangcd again.
and the curls peeped out more wau-
tonly than ever. But after this the
young man called Jack consented to
keep watch upon himself, the more
easily, perhaps. because a near curve in
the lane brought several cottages in
hit.
For perhaps two minutes after the
lovers had rounded this curve the lane
kept its summer evening stiffness. The
sun was setting in a clear glory of
amber, and the birds, for the most part,
were going to bed and were silent.
Only, here and there, a cornwall finch
which was inclined to late hours chanted
rollicking Stave or two; but even
these roiSterers were sleepy. and deep
tranquility was settling on the fields.
A face rose over the hedge which
bounded the lake on the sunset side-a
face on which the signs of many con-
fiicting emotions were plainly inscribed.
A voice, deep, rich and husky broke
upon the evening stiffness.
Cassie, said the voice, 81 love thee.
But never more be officer of mine"
Cassie be hanged" said another
voice; who is the fellow?"
"A brother of Apelles," answered the
man with the rich bass voice.
"And who is hep
81 would Indicate said the bass
voiced man, THAT the fellow is a
painter. His name is Cameron. and
- The poor soul would fain deny, but dares
nv daughter called him Jack"
With this the speaker came upon the
road, and was Immediately followed BIZ
his companion. The man with the bass
voice was tall and inclined to be portlv.
He was dressed with an air of rigid pro-
priety in well-fitting, glossy black
broadcloth. He displayed a good deal
of stiff high collar, and a good deal of
stiff white shirt-cuff His boots and his
hat shone splendidly, and his black kid
gloves and black satin stock were so
new that they also beamed, though with
a milder luster. He had square, pale