The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-01-11
CADDY'S ROMANCE.
nY EVELYN THORPE.

A soft gray evening was closing down
over a low gray landscape. A hurrying,
scuduling mass of tumultuous leaden
clouds filled the sky. A high wind,
moist salty and mild, careened through
them, and spent itself in the sudden
piping sweeps below. The sparse blades
of coarse grass, and the stunted pine
trees, which alone drew a reluctant sus-
tenancc from the sandy soil bent to it,
leaning toward the land. There was
wonderful gamut of ethereal grays, of
evanescent silver dashed whites; sudden
vanishing shafts of light, delicious sub
dued "eiTects" without end, on the long
stretch of desolate beach, on the low,
restrained sea, in the agitated Autumn
sky. Courtland Scott was in delight.
He said so.
"Well, ef it suits you," said Mrs.
Parkhurst, as one who finds the ways of
mortals more and more past understand
ing. II suppose you'll be wantin' some
tea, won't you!" she continued, risking
the proposition obviously. "Cad'll come
and knock on your door when I've got
the table set out"
This "Cad" had already apparently
performed several Offices carried up
Scott's vanished sachcl and painting
traps to his apartment, etc. Scott con-
GUIDED that Mrs. Parkhurst had son.
He wondered in a casual way whether his
name was Cadmus. He felt that a son of
Mrs. Parkhurst's was capable of bearing
any sort of unforeseen appellation.
lie had put up prayer that this gray
sullen aspect of land and sea might hold
Il tNup ha la
found his supplication had met with
favor lie repaired to the beach with
easel, paint box and brushes. He was
immensely enthusiastic. He began to
wash in stretch of coast and sea with
much spirit. lie had a good deal of
talent, Yet these painting bouts were
only recreation with him. He was an
engincr 10y profession.
lie had been working and whistling
beneath his short gold beard little
while when slow step on the sand came
from behind him. He looked up and
saw a half. grown girl. She had now
stopped motionless before him. She was
habited in short skirt of dingy calico,
and white cotton undergarment was
bursting through at the elbows and the
abbreviated waist line of her stiff green
bodice. This young persons hair was OF
no definite color, neither were her eyes oil
eyesbrows. She had few freckles
across her nose. One thick braid hung
down her back.
"Geod morning" said Scott, pleasant
ly. A rapid survey had inclined him tc
the belief that this juvenile native wa,
probably so little advanced in her teens
that an approach of this sort would moi
be taken emiss. 1t met with no re-
sponse.
"Do you paint them things all the
time"
Scott had begun to think she was
deaf-mute, when she opened her mouth
and pointed finger at the canvas.
"Alwaysp He elevated his eye
brows. His new acquaintace promised
entertainment. "Alas, no! Have yor
ever, his tone assumed suspiciously def
erential accents, ''happened to NEE
many of the knights OF the palette and
brush, mar-ahem!" He had been going
to say ''marchioness. He felt vcry
much like Dick Swiveller himself. ~
may have struck you, if you have, tina
they are a somewhat impecunious gentry
l cannot afford to class myself with then
as perpetuity. Unfortunately, l car
only paint in my moments of COLDER
/ leisure"
He had leaned forward in friendl,
way. Whether she had caught tn
laughter behind the gravity in his eye
or not, she slowly turned on her heel.
''Are you comm home to dinnerl" sh
inquired, pausing.
''To dinner? Oh Are you-do yo
live at Mrs. Parkhurst's2 Excuse me
but what is your name, may askln
"Ermengard, was the dignified re
ply
Scott suggested low whistle by tn
motion of his lips.
"They call me Caddy, though sh
spoke without smile CT other change o
expression.
"Oh! Then you are Cad2
Miss Ermengard Parkhurst was oh
viously constitctionally chary of words
She took no notice of the explanation
But her eyes had reverted to the canvas
81 like that" she said abruptly.
'T.et me paint you in ~ cried Scott.
She ignored him afresh. She turne,
and walked away.
Scott threw himself BACK and laughed
"By Jove, Cabs character ! don
believe the supposititious Cadmus ooul
have been half as good. But, tn
deuce, though, the child wouldn't wor
into a sketch badly-ugly as she j,
She walks well;' he regarded the rC
treating figure iudicially. ~ shouldn
wonder if she'd take very charact"nsti
poses"
At dinner he said to Mrs. Parkhurst
~ met your little girl on the beac
this morning"
Mrs. Parkhurst Kept silent moment
"Well, Cad amt exactly little gi
no more She's near onto sixteen"
"You don't say so.
sits them dresses she will wear MAKE
her look so. She's always rampagil
round like as ii she was boy; alway
tell her, She seZ them short dresses