The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-01-22

deed she is not altogether an amateur.
| She has had two pictures at the Acad-
envy"
Mr.. HaIleck glanced half quizzically
at Milicent's fair face, which was Gov
cred with bushes at this praise. 1t
seemed to him that he would rather
like to be the pupil of such q percep-
treSs.
If Miss Leigh would only undertake
nv tuition" he said humbly; Il sup
pose a man can be a hunter and an art
list, tOO?"
You don't look as though you had a
very aesthetic temperament, she said,
looking up with q laugh, and then down
again as she remembered how he had
frightened her at first; but perhaps
can give you some idea of perspective.
I'm sure you can give me a great
many IDEAS" he said, taking off his hat
with so profound a reverence that
every one laughed.
1t rained all the afternoon, and we
couldn't 60 out again; but the next
morning we started out bright and ear
w and Mr.. Halleck went with us.
After that Milicent was not so free to
wander off by herself,
She had a pupil who seemed bent
on exacting her full time and atten-
ton.
1t was four weeks after we had had
this addition to our club, and Mr.. Hal
leck was now a familiar friend.
He was one of the brightest, moStcon-
| vival spirits 1 ever met; but alas! it seem-
ed quite impossible for him to draw a
straight line.
HIS trees seemed to be all topping
over. his bridges were bowed, and he
had no more perspective in his land
scapes than a born japanese.
I'm afraid YOU will lever be a
Raphael or a Titan, Mr.. Halleck,"
Milicent said one afternoon as she sat
looking over some of his recent distor-
tons.
He was lying full length On the grass,
apparently Indifferent to his future, eX-
cept as it was connected with the fate Of
the girl before him.
Obviously if he was not learning
to draw, he was learning something
else.
Milicent fluttered the leaves of the
sketch book, and glanced r~uefully at its
contents. AS she did so a piece of paper
fell out on the grass.
Mr.. Halleck reached out his hand
for it; but Milicent had picked it up
and was looking at it in establishment.
1t was a leaf of water-color tablet,
and contained an exquisite little sketch
of herself.
did you do it?" she asked in sur
prise.
'Yes-no!" he answered hastily. LET
me see it?"
mo, you can't have itr' she cried,
holding it high above her head. It
doesn't belong to you, l I'M sure.
You never could have done it. 1t is
perfect in its way; but it is entirely too
tattering. Who painted it Mr.. Hal
leck?"
II did," he said, snatching the hand
that held it. II painted it under an in
spiration. You know such things hap
pen occasionally. Give it to me, Mill
cent; l waut both the sketch and the
"You can't have it." she said saucily,
but looking away to hid what shone in
her eyes,.
81 must" he said, in a low tone.
Il cannot live without you. OAR
ling"
But then Jules voice was heard near
calling:
Miss Milicent, Miss Milicent! Here
mother said you were to read this right
away"
He came up with a letter in his hand,
but like a sensible fellow he graspedthe
situation and left as soon as he had exc
cuted his commission.
Nh. Halleck was naturally provoked
at the interruption to his wooing.
He looked away with a vexed ex-
preston while Milicent glanced over
the letter Mrs. Pointdexter had sent
her.
1t was signed, your son, Anthem
and began:
MY DEAR MoTHEI-I have just re-
turned to Boston after a three weeks
absence at Mount Desert Hence my
delay in answering yours from Scalr
Level. am delighted to learn that you
have met Halleck. He is ono of thu
best fellows / know, and is considered
by the Boston Society of Artists one d
the rising stars of this country. ! He has
exhibited in Paris and London, and car
ried off a medal in the latter place. The
: AMeneum says he he is destined tt
found a distinct school of art in Amer
lea. He is only a beginner as yet, bui
his first attempts have been uniforml,
brilliant" and SC on over several pages
!, of eulogy.
The letter dropped from Milicent'j
/ hand.
"You-you deceived usr" she cried ii
1 a choking voice. you allowed me {.
r Ito attempt to teach you. Oh, what
4 fool I've made of myself
She burst into tears of vexation, an,
covered her face with her hands.
D Don't be angry, darling" he whis
nnrad gathering her In his Arms ST III