Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-10-17

thing but the business before him, he calmly !
awaited the intruder.
She came, and for an instant stood, hesatat-
inely, framing herself as q picture in thedoor.
Mrs Hopkinson was right-sheh bad mo STYLE"
unless an original and half foreign qusintness
could be called 50. There was Q desperate at
tempt visible to combine an American shawl
with The habits of O mnntilla, and It was al
ways slipping from one shoulder, hat was %
supple and vivacious as to betray the dsfcien-
Ges of an education in stays There was Q
cluster of black curls around her low fore
head, fitting her 50 closely as to seem to be
part of the sealskin cap she wore. Once, from
the force of habit, she attempted to put her
shawl over her head and talk through the
folds gathered under her chin, but an aston
ished look from tho senator checked her.
Nevertheless he felt relieved, and, rising, mo-
toned her to q chair with q heartiness be
would have scarcely shown to a Partisan toll
leta. And when, with two or three quick,
long steps she reached his side and showed .
frank, innocent but strong and determined
little face. feminine only in its fash Of eye
and beauty of lip and chin curves, he put
down the pamphlet he had taken up some
what ostentatiously and gently begged to.
know her business
I think / have once before spoken OF her
voice-an organ more often cultivated by my
fair countrywomen for singing thar for
speaking, which, considering that much OF
our practical relations with the sex
are carried ON without the aid Of
IN opera score, seems q mistaken no
ton of theirs-and Of its sweetness,
gentle infexien, and musical emphasis. She
had the advantage Of having been trained in
q musical language, and camo Of q race with
whom catarrhs and sore threats were rare.
So that in a few brief phrases she sang tho
senator into acquiescence as she impaired
tho plain Ibretto Of her business-namely, o
sdesiro to SEQ som Of his rare engravingk"
Now the engravings In question were GER
tain etehings Of the early Great Apprentices
of tho art, and were, l am happy to believe,
extremely rare. From my unprofessional
view they were exceedingly bad-showing
tho mere genesis Of something since perfected,
but dear, Of course, TO the true collectors
soul: | don't believe that Carmen really ad-
mired them either. But the mink knew that
the senator pridea himself on having the
only pot hooks of the great A. or the first ar-
tistic efforts Of 81 leave the real names to
be filled ia by the connoiseur,- and the
senator became interested. For tho last
year. two or three of these denominations had
been hanging in his study, utterly ignored by
the casual visitor. But here was apprecia-
ton! "She was," she added, "only a poor
young artist, unable to purchase such treas
ures, but equally unable TO resist the oppor-
tunity afforded her, even at the risk OF seeming
bold, or of obtruding upon a great mans
privacy" etc, etc.
This flattery, which, IL offered In the usual
legal tender Of the country, would have been
looked upon as counterfeit, delivered hero in
a foreign accent, with q slightly tropical
warmth, was accepted by the senator as
genuine. These children Of tho sun are 50
impulsivel We, of course, feel u little pity
for the person who thus transcends our and
ard Of good taste and violates our conven-
tional canon-but they are always sincere.
The cold New Englander saw nothing wrong
in one or two direct and extravagant comph-
ments, that would havo insured his visitors
early dismissal il rendered in tho clipped mo
tal!ic phrases Of the commonwealth he rep
resented
Sc that in q few moments the black, curly
head Of tho little artist and the white, flowing
locks Of the senator We're close together bend
ing over tho rack that contained the engrav-
ings. 1t was then that Carmen, listening TO
a graphic description Of the carly rise OF art
in the Netherlands. forgot herself and put her
shawl around her head, holding its folds In
her little brown hand. In this situation they
were, at different times during tho ncxt two
hours, interrupted by five congressman three
senator's, o cabinet officer and n judge Of the
supreme bcnch-each Of whom was quickly
but courtcously dismissed. Popular Senti
ment, however, broke out In the hall.
"Well, I'm blanked, but this gets Inc" Tho
speaker was a territorial delegate.)
"At this timo o life, too, lcolin' over pic
lures with n gal young enough to he his
grandchld." This from u venerable official,
since suspected Of various erotic irregular
ities.)
"Shc don't handsome any" Che honorable
member from Dakota.)
This accounts for his ]protractcd silence
during the sessions" "a serious colleague
from tho senator's own statc.)
"Oh, blank it all!" (Omncs.)
Four went home to tell their wives. There
arc few things more touching In tho matri-
monial compact than the superb frankncss
with which each confides to each tho various
irregularities Of their friends. 1t Is upon
these sacred condolences that tho firm founda-
lions Of marriage rest mistaken.
or course the objects Of this comment, at
least ono OF them, wero quito oblivious. Il
trust, ~ said Carmen, timidly, when they had
for the fourth timo regarded in rapt admira-
ton an abominablo something by some Dutch
woodchopper, Il trust | am not keeping you
from your great friends"-her pretty eyelids
were cast down IN utInuIOuS UbuersS-
should never forgive myself. Perhaps 1t Is
important business Of tho stateIr
HOh, dear, mol They viii come again-it's
their business"
The senator meant 1t kindly. II was as near
tho perilous edge Of a compliment a. your
average cultivated Boston man ever ventures,
and Carmen picked 1t up, feminineiy, by its
sentimental end. ~And l suppose 1 shall not
trouble you againr
II shall always be proud to place the port
folio at your disposal. Command Inc at any
time" said the senator, with dignity.
@You me kind. You orc good" said Car
men, and IL an bullock y~ou-only q
poor girl from California, that you know
not"
Pardon me, I know your country well"
And indeed lie could have told her tho exact
number Of bushels Of wheat TO the acre In her
own county Of Monterey, its voting popula-
ton, its political bins. Yet OF the moro i'm.
portant product before him, after the manner