Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-11-19

luiiJs hdhho, ~ tuOuodhN llulNo
and l 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
sometimes to read his paper and
chat. Old David opposed" more
than once, after Mr.. Esterfeld had
made him comprehend thathe was to
come in his flsherman's suit instead
of his Sunday clothes, with a stiff
collar and a hat that came over the
bridge OF his nose.
Alice grew to like her fellow-ar-
fist, and she treated him with a
soft, gracious dignity that became
her well.
Everybody seems to admire
your pictures so much " said she,
with a sigh. 81 wish | could pant
as you do"
ats all in practice" said Mr.
Esterfeld, intent on bringing out
the scarlet touches in a cluster OF
autumn leaves in his foreground.
allow nice it would be- said
Alice, "if Mrs. Esterfield could
come here and look at you work"
"Dor't mention such a thing,
pray" said the artist, laughing
"Pve the greatest respect for her,
of course, and consideration, and
all that sort of thing; but between
ourselves, Miss Alice, we're a great
deal more peaceful here without
her than with her. She can't help
scolding aud fretting and finding
fault" he added, apolOgetically, as
Alice looked reproachfully at him.
OTIS her nature, l suppose"
'Poor fellow " thought Alice.
"But he ought not to speak so of
his wife,"
She begun to wonder what sort
of a person Mrs. Esterfeld was as
to looks. Was she prettyT Was
she youngs
Yet Alice was too proud to ask
questions Of anybody, and she was
delighted when there came an order
tor a painted coneh-shell from a
Cuban lady at the hotel, who de-
sired it for a souvenir.
II will take it there myself" she
thought, "aud l shall see Mr..
Esterfeld's wife. And then-then
1 think l had better accept Cousin
Betsey Prideaux's offer to go to
Nebraska City, to teach her little
girls"
For Alice had just begun to be
conscious that she was becoming
too much interested IN Gordon
Esterfeld. 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.
81 shall show it to La Donna
Esterfeld," she said. "Come with
me, signora. La Donna Is a critic
she knows all of agt,"
And Alice timidly followed the
fat Cuban lady into a shaded room
where, wrapped in shawls, apallid,
middIe.aged parsonage lay on a
sofa.
"Its pretty WE'LL" she said, dis
contentedly, surveying the SHE'LL
ats crude-all these things are
crude. What can a young girl
know of true art feeling? Nobody
understands-not even Gordon.
Where's the young woman? Let
her come around by the window,
where l can see her."
The tables were turned. Alice
had come to see Mrs. Esterfeld,
and Mrs. Esterfeld was determined
to see her. Blushing deeply, she
obeyed. The yellow-faced little
lady took a long stare at her.
"Well," said she, "you are pretty.
He said so, but | didn't believe
him. Sit down. Let me talk to
you"
"No, thanks" cried Alice, feeling
as if all her veins were filled with
fire. "I-I want to go back home
now; grandfather will be wanting
me-"
And she made her exit with
more vehemence than ceremony.
"Country.bred y said Mrs. Ester
field, lifting her tow-colored eye
brows. "That is plain enough
But pretty"
"How l pity him oh, how sorry
| feel for him." Alice kept repeat
ing to herself, as she hurried home.
Perhaps, also, she pitied herself
a little, for the tears kept tuckling
down her cheeks like the soft, slow
drops of summer rain.
"Alice Why, what is the mat
teri"
TWAS Gordon Esterfeld's voice.
H. ,roa oIooa hahind hpr i'm the
narrow lane, where the blackberry
vines we're turning scarlet, and the
path was carpeted with yellow
leaves.
She tried desperately to recover
herself.
"The matter? Nothing! Why
should anything be the matter ?"
retorted she.