Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-22

ward. in the sun. He came at once to
mack ND the picture and carry it away.
MIR. Carey mean while feeling very CRATE
ful to that pretty little nurse went to say
so, and to tell her that now he would
gladly help her to get the boy over the
dunes.
"May look at your picture ?" che
asked shyly, just as the boy was laying
hands on it.
.Of course you may he replied.
"It's not by any means done, though.
Her evident admiration was very fiat
tering TO him, and she was prettior even
than he had thought.
If shall have to get one OF the village
girls to sit to finish the figure" he said
regretfully. "She won't SIT 80 well as
you, fear.
IL en- sorry" Nancy began, and
then stopped. for sho did not know what
to say. Again Jasper screamed out that
he was hungry, so they left the boy to
pack up the picture and easel and set out
hcmeward.
He was quite prepared, as in duty
bound, to help her home with Jasper,
but he was not prepared to hear her say,
as calmly as if she had been a visitor at
the castle. "Do all artists have people TO
carry their pictures homo for them ?"
81 am not real artist, he said; L
mean not an artist by profession. | only
paint when | have holiday. don't
think real artists often take the trouble
to have their things carried for them"
1t was not easy to talk, the way was so
rough. he carried the boy, for the
bents were sharp as spears and pricked
his poor little legs.
at was so stupid of us to come this
way" said Nancy with perfect ease and
carelessness. The way / came was
bad, but it was uphill, aud it wouldn't
have been uphill in going back any
how it was not half so long as this.
! He looked at this nurse in bewilder-
ment. There was nothing fast or
forward about her; she was perfectly
quiet in manner, but so incomparably
cool that his walk was one long amaze
ment. "Havc you been some time IN
service ?" he asked.
Her eyelids dropped, and long-curled
evelashes fell on cheeks which had sud
denly flushed crimson at his question :;
and then just as he was wondering
whether he bad perhaps made a most
miserable mistake, and this charming
girl was no nurse, but well-born COM
panion or governess, she took courage
and answered "I? Oh no, not long,
This is my first place" ,
"Oh, that's it !" he thought; and
then he came to a part of the dune
where the view was so fine that 1t vexed
him every time he saw il, for it was
much the same as that which he had
chosen, only he was beginning to be
afraid that it was finer. He always stood
awhile to look at it, and he forgot he
WAS not alone and stood now. lhls was
the view, artistically speaking: On the
left castle, warm-gray, rising into a
sky. clear blue-gray on the right blue
grav sea. dotted with shadowy islands the
foreground wide expsnse OF strangely
contorted sand hills and dusty gray-green
bents, threaded with beads of dew or
rain, which ouivered and sparkled with
each breath of air, and shot forth sill
very rays in the sunlight. He was so
occupied with this that he quite forgot
how long he was keeping that poor little
nurse waiting for him and the boys he
was carrying, but when he remembered
her he found that she was not waiting ut
all. but had used the time TO get little
nearer home. When he overlook her
she was singing the " Chanson de For
tunio, in a low, sweet voice. What an
odd girl this was but how tired she
was beginning to look. He felt ashamed
and sorry. for he had heard Mrs. Forces
ter say that her nurse had been i'll.
He now gave all bis mind to finding
easy WAYS between the sand bills,
and all in vain for him was the sky
blue. and the earth fair, for he had sud
denly become moro and more convinced
that he was walking side by side with
the prettiest girl he had ever seen, and
his mind was full Of regret that he was
not a figure painter The last pull up
the hill 10 the castle was the steepest
and most difficult of all. She was very
white now, and when she first came TO
him she had such perfect color. " lake
nv arm. be said, with much compunc-
ton, for she was right in thinking that
the way by the sands would have been
better. He always came this long, un-
even wav because of the view and the
opportunity of study it gave him.
"1ake my arm, he said, but he did not
suppose a nurse would like to accept that
offer.
Thank you." she said simply, 81
was almost wishing for it"
Again he felt ashamed of himself At
last they were at the top and very near
the outer gate of the castle. The banks
inst beneath the walls were as usual oc-
cupied by dozens Of little brown rab-
bits. Jasper on his high perch had for
once full view Of them.
"Look looki" he cried, and in a
moment they had kicked up their heels,
and with one fash of their white tails
they were gone
"Dear little rabbits !" he said.
carly, make Nancy bring me to see
them sometimes. She won't. She says
people are here. Nancy won't 60 where
people is"
Nancy was blushing furiously. All the
white which had excited his ompassion
had given way to one uniform rosy hush.
He affected not TO see 1t.
"If you should happen to be on the
sands with Jasper any time within the
next few days, and didn't mind sitting
for mo q few minutes, | should be so
much obliged. said he; and almost with
ont waiting for her doubtful little answer
lie turned into the gate-house to allow
Mrs. Forrester's nurse time TO get out Of
the way.
PART III.
After five weeks at Marlborough Lima
once more congratulated herself on the
success of her visit. The Prendergasts
l. l. 81 IL