Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-08-14

An Artists Love Of Easo Bnghts
His Manhood.

The evening was warm the sort of
evening that makes one think of green
fields and placid meadows and the moon
rising over towering hedges.
Bell, watching by the window from
! whence sho could soonest hear a step
which came not, smothered sigh She
| Has not much addicted to sighing, sure
", lieE days were too busy But this
part'cutiNs day had been so long and
trying and&thc children had been 50
troublesome Aunt Bells hands had
been more than full; not large hands,
either Rather vcfy small and delicate,
thoagh the fingers wGea little rough-
ened by c2ntaat with this and lhah
Vane Stephenson had re. euted
amount of helpfuness volan,
those small hands moro than enc6.
"Why do you drudge SOP" he hsd
said, angriIy.
Then Bell, patiently, would explain
Jessie % delicate, and poor Tom ont
OF position, and the children what
else could She do? Nane would be ST.
lanc3d
"Yoa'rc q little SAINT, Bell"
This. or any other word of endear-
ment from HIM, was almost enough TO
bring the roses to her cheeks, even
though the charming face IN ght have
looked triile pale and wan before. The
color came now with a sudden rush, as
the well-known form turned the corner
at last!
Nane was absent minded tonight. He
took no notice of the pretty dress, made
by her own deft fingers, in colors his
artists eye approved. II had cost her
many deprivation, that dress, cheap
and simple as it was; and it had been
male only that she might be pretty in
his sight Poor little Bells eyes sank
But she sat down by his side in the small,
shabby parlor in silence,
whats made you late, Nane, doar9"
she said, softly, at lcngth, 1t was rare
~ She even questioned him thus far. !
ller reserve and rct'eence amazed and |
licensed her sister. it was not that |
Jessie was unkind wilmlly, only she did
not believe in these long engagements,
ooh, I've been harrassed in a hum
dred ways" replied Stephenson, ir-
ritably. "The whole thing is a baastly |
grind. My Francesca da Rimni has |
been sent back from san Francisco. /
Eely thought he could sell il SO easily! |
We'll, this is the result And oh, well, |
the usual troubles. No us, retailing |
them over TO you, Bell. We ought to
talk of something else BESIDE filthy lucre |
or the want of it. y
He laughed. though tritle harshly.
IL am very sorry" murmured Bell.
"By the way he continued, chang
ing to lighter tone, in VIII ch there was
rassmcnt, not unnoticcd by Bells gentle I
ears, 81 am gong OFF TO leave YOU for a
few days-out of town. My brains
(wmt there is Of them) are fairly dry |
ing up. Unless give them n soaking |
into some refreshing fluid by change of /
scene and atmosphere that great picture /
which il TO make one person immortal |
and two etcrnally happy will never get |
itself done. DO You mind my goingp |
al think it will do you good and be
better for your work, too. An artist |
car not drudge in one groove forever.
IA, | do not mind And ii Is getting |
50 hot now also in the city,
Il wish you could have a change, /
little girl y said Nane, taking her slim
hand in his. Don't you think you'll |
get away for few days?n
"No, said Bell, softly Poor Tom,
yol know"
Nane could not master movement of /
impalcnce. "Poor Tomr' If ever there /
was n shiftless individual.
He stayed quite lat, and was more |
tonder than he had been for some time. /
A. he was going away he took her deli !
caie lace III iOokcd "a Iilie drawn, and /
there were rings about the dark eyes lin
both his palms.
Don't forget me while I'm away"
he "a d. smiling down at her. And |
take good care of yourself Don't |
sacrifice yourself too much, child. DO /
yo1 hear?"
She managed 10 smile in return.
~ shant forget you. she said very |
iow..
lie stood thus n moment longer |
They made picture such n Millais |
brush would have loved. The far, pale I
rirl with th dark eyes. aud tle tall, /
handsome fellow; for Vane Stephenson /