Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-12-07
TAKEN By siege.

q Now you are joking again; but I be-
a..eve you will miss me. We have had
.51ne pleasant times together, Mr.. Hurl-
stone. and although have only known
you few short months you are Like
an old friend, or perhaps should say an
old young friend. You seem to like me
for myself and not for my profession.
With most people feel that it is Helen
Knowlton, the prima donna, rather than
Helen Knowlton, the woman, whom
they care for Am not right? If l had
nothing to do with the stage l really
think that you would like me better"
THAT would be impossible, Miss
Knowlton, replied Rush.
"Still chafiing thought better of
you. Give me your arm; let us go to
the drawing room. see they have all
left the conservatory. l want you to
be my guardian angel this evening and
keep me out of the clutches of that man
O'Hara. | cannot endure him. He
looks like Russian Nihilist and smells
like an Irish stew. He wants to paint
my portrait for the spring exhibition.
Shall let him?'
LET himp should say not. Does he
think the young ladies of New York have
nothing to do but to sit to him? The
minute he sees pretty face he asks its
owner to let him paint her portrait. !
like his conceit, indeedr"
THANK you for the implied compli-
ment; but you need not get so excited;
haven't the slightest idea Of allowing Mr..
OHara any such privilege"
II am glad to have your assurance in
the matter; otherwise should have my
fears, foc O'Hara seems to have irresist-
ible attractions The fact that he was
able to get three Of the bellies of New
York society to pose to him as the three
Graces shows his power"
You are not a woman, Mr.. Hurlstone,
or you would understand how hard it is
to resist a request put in so compliment
tary form. Could you refuse if Mr..
O'Hara asked you to sit to him for
Apollo? I'm sure you couldn't"
THAT might be a temptation" said
Rush. smiling, "but if it came from
UHara should be able to Withstand it.
his arm. Let us get over to that far cor
ner before they see us, )" said Helen. But
she was too late; O'Hara and Bessie bore
down upon them and there was no es-
cape.
Helen DEAR" said Bessie, "Mr. O'Hara
is so anxious to paint you in your Helen
of Troy costume. He has asked me to
intercede for him. Won't you sit to
him? He would make delightful pic
ture."
He could not help it with such sit
ter" said O'Hara, slowly distending his
eyes at her
"Mr. O'Hara is very kind and more
than complimentary" answered Helen,
but | am too busy woman to sit for
my portrait.
"Were you not quite as busy when
said O'Hara, with smile, but in an I'M
mistakable tone.
"Yes," answered Helen, with an
equally unmistakable manner; 81 fancy
| was: but one can always find time to
give to ones friends. and Mr.. Fessenden
is an old and valued friend" Then, to
Bessie. "Mr, Hurlstone and l were jus.
going over to that pretty corner of your
drawing room to examine that new bit
of Japanese bronze" And she moved
oil in the opposite direction with Rush.
II don't think OHara will ask you
again to sit to him. The cadl l wanted
to choke him. said Rush.
Don't you believe it; he is not SO cas-
lily crushed. But he will never accom-
plish his object.
Charming person Miss Knowlton is"
said O'Hara to Bessie; but to himself he
said, "The prig! | owe her one for that
snub."
Indeed she is charming" answered
Bessie; "but she is very set in her ways,
and she will make up her mind to
thing without any apparent reason and
stick to it.
The Japanese bronze furnished Helen
and Rush with a subject of interesting
conversation. She admired the patience
and the devotion the Japanese display in
accomplishing an end, even if that end
be only the adjusting of the scales of a
bronze serpent.
Il am glad that you admire patience
and devotion" said Rush.
And why, prays"
"On general principles-.they are such
admirable qualities; but they are not al
ways appreciated"
While Helen was wondering Just how
to parry this remark, the servant at the
door announced Miss Sandford, and in a
moment Aunt Rebecca was with them.
She had come to take Helen home; so
the pleasant evening was done. Rush
had to go down to The Dawn office, and
Archie walked as far as Canal street
with him. and aired his opinion of
O'Hara.
"You needn't tell me that that banged
haired Buddhist has any right in decent
society" said Archie.
II don't believe in him at ALL" an
swered Rush; land shall take pains to