Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-11-06

little amazed when old David announced
the appearance of this new artist on the
field OF action.
But if he has an invalid wife TO sup
port, ! can't so much blame him, she
thought. Poor fellowl Every one
has trials in this world, 80 far as I can
keeln
When she came out of the lighthouse
aJ nUon--sne woulu ilke to nave prose.
cuted. her work little longer by this
glorious midday glow, if it had not been
for getting her grandiather's dinner, at
the old farmhouse under the cliff-she
saw young man sitting on the keel of
David NeilPs upturned boat, and talking
with this sturdy toiler of the sea. -
'Here's the gentleman was teIlin We
bout, Miss Alice" said David. with a
simple ceremony of introduction. "Mr.
Esterfield, this is our Miss Alice"
"Mr Ester6eld took off his broad
brimmed hat and bowed courteously.
II am told that your family owns this
picturesque old ruin," said he, inclining
his head toward the lighthouse.
eyes" said Alice.
81 should like to rent it for a studio.
81 already occupy it as a studio, said
Alice, stitfy.
"Indeedl Thcn," said he, "you are
the young lady who paints those little
conch-shells and smooth stones. They
are very pretty, indeed'
Al ce bowed with conscious pride.
'Ti.at room up there would be glo-
rious studio!n said Mr.. Esterfield, long
ingly. Couldn't you give me easel
room therel think the sight of the
sea and the sound of the breakers would
inspire me-"
II have no more space than myself
need to occupy, said Alice, more frIgid-
ly than before.
Was it not bad enough for this patron
.zing artist to come here at all, poaching
so to speak, OH her manor, but he must
even want to crowd her out of her soli-
tary tower of refuge2 This was certain
" the height of presumption
But as Alice fried the fish and sliced
ap the juicy, crimson tomatoes for her
yrandfathers meal, softer sentiment
stirred in her bosom.
Perhaps the young man was poor and
fricndless, struggling to make his way
in the world; and that invalid wife Of
his, W o could not stir without crutches.
and who was universally reported to be
so very uncertain in temper-was not
that trial enough for anybody2
Alice was sorry that she had spoken
so sharply.
When she came back across the glis-
tening sands, where the low tide had left
its deposit of feathcry seaweed and deli
cately. y.tinged shells, Mr.. Esterfeld sat
sketching by the old boat.
II have changed my mind" said Alice,
walking up TO him. 'There is space for
your easel, as well as mine, in The Ian
tern room"
"May we share the studio together"
said the young man, ioyfully. Thanks,
a thousand times and I will try to take
up as little room as possible"
So there were two artists now in the
round room of the lighthouse
Grandfather Aylmer came there some
times to read his paper and chat. Old
David posed" more than once, after
Mr.. Esterfield had made him compre
hend that he was to come in his fisher
mans suit instead of his Sunday clothes,
with stiff collar and hat that came
down over the bridge of his nose.
Alice grew to like her fellow-artist,
and she Il eated him with soft, gracious
dignity that became her we'll.
Everybody seems to admire your pic
lures so muchl" said she, W tn sigh.
~ wish could paint as you do"
ats all in practice" said Mr.. Ester,
field, intent on bringing out the scarlet
touches in a cluster of autumn leaves
in his foreground.
"How nice it would be-" said Alice,
''if Mrs. Esterfield could come here and
look at you work"
Don't mention such thing, pray"
said the artist, laughing. 81 We the
greatest respect for her, of course, and
consideration, and all that sort of thing;
nut between ourselves. MISS Allce, we re
a great deal more peaceful here without
her than with her. She can't help
scolding and fretting and finding fault, :"
he added, apologetically, as Alice looked
reproachfully at him. Its her nature,
suppose"
"Poor fellow." thought Alice. ''But
he ought not to speak so of his wife"
She began to wonder what sort of
pcrsOH MIS-. GhIeTuelQ WAS rs W lOOhS
Was she prettys Was she youngl
Yet Alice was too proud to ask ques
tions of anybody, and she was delighted
when there came an order for painted
conch-shell from Cuban lady at the
hotel, who desired it for souvenir.
Il will take it there myself" she
thought, land / shall see Mr.. Esterfeld's s
wife. And then--then l think l had
better accept Cousin Betsey Prdeaux's
offer to go to Nebraska City, to teach
her little girls"
For Alice had just begun to be con-
scious that she was becoming too much
interested in Gordon Esterheld. He was
so young, SO handsome, so enthusiastic
in his art--and even the fact of that
great trial Of his existence. the crippled
wife, lent an additional glamour to his
Surroundings.
The Cuban lady was charmed with the
painted conch shell.
II shall show it to La Donna Ester
field" she said. "Come with me, sig
nora. La donna is a critic-she knows
all Of art.