Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-07-06


been mistaken about not having had
your picture painted in It"
He stopped short. Miss Sevellon
had risen to her feet with motion Of
resentful anger, and. without giving
him time for another word. had joined
some people who were passing on to
the ballroom, and left HIM alone. hui
inflated and full of self-reproacll. Aud
he could scarcely wonder at her being
resentful at having her word doubted
again in this bold way; but how could
he help itp What was he to do? He
wandered away. feeling restless and
miserable. and took no special note OF
his surroundings until he found hm-
self near Mrs. SevellOn, who. seated
in a doorway. was looking on at the
dancers. among whom Temple now
saw the young lady from whom he had
Just been so rulhlessly parted. To his
delight Mrs. Sevellon received him
more kindly than she had ever done
before, for her manner also revealed
the fact that she shared her daughter
just indignat on. 1t seemed now, how
ever that she had shared also in her
daughters spirit of forgiveness. for
she looked at Mr. Temple as If She.
too. were willing 10 forget the past
Perhaps mother and daughter had en-
tered INTO an agreement to this effect.
1t looked so.
Mr. Temple approached her with
some hearty words of commentator
of the tableaux. to which she repl Ell.
as If deliberately: Yes, they were
pretty tableauX, | thought-the last eS-
especially. Ii did carry me back To see
Gertrude in that dress. 1t was an old
to let she used to wear when we were
in italy, one idle Summer when we
spent our whole time in doice FIR
niente. and Gertrude was half the
dav in the hammock which hung in our
garden. used to Try TO get her 10
devote n little time TO her painting.
for she really has talent but she was
so lazy, and the old Italian whose
services | was so fortunate as to secure
for few lessons found her incorrigi.
bic. The lessons usually consist
ed of a morning chat, while Gertrude
lounged in a hammock, and he made
little sketches OF trees and An old foun =
tain near by. which never seemed to
come 10 ANYTHING, for he always thrust
them out of sight and said they We're
ia lures when | tried 10 look at them.
He was always urging me to let him
paint Gertrude. but she objected to
having her portrait painted. and posi-
lively refused TO pose for him. So
the lessons came TO nothing. and the
courteous old man advised me not to
constrain my daughters reluctant art
and wouldn't allow me to pay h IA =
cent, though he had come sever al
times. and really given up good deal
of his time TO us. "
She was decidedly voluble pet
sonagc. Mrs. Sevellon. and she
poured forth this stream of talk half
automatically, giving a large part of
her attention to the dancers all the
time. Temple saw that she had act
ually been too preoccupied TO seem TO
notice that she had been treading On
ground that TO him would be forbiddeR.
He was Indebted TO the same preoccg-
! patton for the fact that the startled
look on Ia face. rs the food Of light
was unconsciously shed upon the Oh
ject that had puzzled him SO long, was
unnotced.
What was the old artists name?'
/ he asked.
Quiz. Carlo Guizi," said Mrs. Se-
Weldon. innocently. keeping time with
/ her fan to the motion of the dancers
| fying feet The cha of evidence was
now complete. The old fellow might
well afford TO decline pay for those
| hours spent 10y Gertrude's hammock
under the palms and ilexes. lie had
made good use of them
What can | do to atone for my
! shameful treatment Of youP" said Ger
trude with bewitchng humility. when
Horace had e ven his explanation and
made his peace
You can DO this said Horace
You can consent to my becoming the
purchaser of the picture. thing my
mind is bent on.
81 don't know about that" said
Gertrude. doubtingly. Il have never
! given my picture TO any one, and al.
ways said ! never would except to"
| she flushed aud hestated. and then
went on. "but | would have no power
! 20 prevent ii now. that wretched Ital
ian has stolen It il is his. to do as he
! chooses W tn. | suppose.
Never mind the Italian for the pres
! ent. said the young man eagerly.
What were you going TO sag? Who
was TO be the exception in the case ?"
Miss SeveIlon's reply was so embar-
raised and incoherent that its signiii-
canoe can only be guessed at it IS
| possible. however. that Mr.. Temple
! found it satisfactory. for the next day
he bought the picture. and the next
Autumn the original of the picture be-
came his wife.
Gertrude always declared that she
was jealous of that picture. to whic h
Horace would reply that as the picture
was his first love. she consequently
could only be his second. aud that she
would have to be satisfied with that
cond ton of affa r..
A Playful Bullet.