Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-04

ure, his disappointment at BeSSleS deiec
ton. The Doctor had seen in Ralph's
great idea only the possibility of his fall
ing in love with the village girl whose
face he was to paint-the hope of his
marrying and settling down in Willow
Creek to the life of a country doctor
Ralph felt swift resentment against his
kind-hearted father, which vanished as
quickly as it came. He laughed vexedly
al wish / was out of the stupid little
place. he said; 81 shall never do any
thing here"
| A voice seemed to whisper in his ear
"Althea Ramsay"
"Althea Ramsay! Oh, no, she wouldn't
do" he said aloud as if in reply. She
has brown hair and dark eyes; besides, l
hardly know her."
He sat staring for long time at the
empty canvas until he saw grow on the
smooth, inviting surface pair of great
dark eyes, a straight nose and a grave, ten
| der mouth. The dark, glowing cheeks
paled to a baby fairness as he looked, and
the brown locks took on warmer hue
until they were more blonde than his own
yellow hair. The eyes looking up into his
had timid, appealing expression. "The
eyes should not touch" he murmured
softly; it is Grecian face, and more
beautiful than Bessie's." Then he rose
and left the room. Five minutes later he
was astride his horse and on the road to
Judge Ramsey's house. 1t was little
way in the country, about two miles from
| Willow Creek.
"What will she say?" unused Ralph, as
he walked his horse up the avenue of elm
trees which led to the house. "She will
be sure to know that asked Bessie first
she may be angry"
| He drew his horse irresolutely, when
Judge Ramsey appeared at the door and
came down the steps to meet him.
Ralph took the Judges outstretched
hand, and after responding to his cordial
greeting, asked somewhat awkwardly il
his niece was at home.
Eyes, she is:.in the garden step in, my
boy, and FL call her." replied the Judge
and then he walked around the house to
where tall figure was bending over rose
bush.
"Althea," he called.
"What is it, uncle?" deep, musical
voice made answer, as the girl stood up
She came toward him and gayly held out
a rich, red rose.
keep it for yourself" he said, "there's
"a young man, who?"
Ralph Houston"
Her cheeks were in an instant the color
of the rose she held. "What does he want
uncle?" she said, looking into the heart
of the flower.
"How should / know" laughed the
Judge. az didn't ask him. Go in and
likely he will tell you"
"Poor girl" he soliloquized, looking
after her vanishing figure, 81 think some
times she is not very happy here; it must
be lonely for her. l am glad that hand
some boy has come to see her-pity there
are not more like him about here. didn't
know she knew him, but it was very evil
dent she'd seen him before"
When Althea entered the parlor were
Ralph sat there was no unwonted color in
her cheeks to betray the fiuttering of her
heart. She had quickly changed her gar
den dress for white cashmere gown which
chung about her in soft folds, and the rose
was fastened at her throat. She smilingly
greeted her caller. and as Ralph rose, ex-
tended her hand to him after the Southern
fashion. She was beautiful-more beauti.
full than Ralph had thought; he felt that
he had been rash in coming and bungled
his first speech.
"Miss Ramsay, hope you will excuse
the liberty take in coming to see you. ]
met you at Mrs. Anderson's once, but il
was after dark-in her garden you remem-
Der, and"
81 remember" said Althea, as he paused
/ Ill II i Al
would, or that / was warranted in calling
on you and-asking something of you"
"Ask something-of me?'
eyes, something very important to me-
as it is to determine my future-and ii
seems so presumptuous hardly know how
to ask you"
| A strange work was wrought by Nature
when she gave this boy face SO sensitive
and poetic that every passing emotion was
reflected there so vividly that its intensity
was exaggerated. AS he fixed his earnest
gray eyes upon Althea, thinking only Of
the picture which was to make his future
toward which she could help him, hi:
cheeks flushed with the embarrassment O
making his request, he seemed to look al
her with his whole soul in his eyes
Althea's own dropped before the strange
intensity of his gaze. Then she turned
away from the unknown subject and sud
denly asked, "Have you lived always il
Willow Creek ?"
Yes, always, except the two years
was away at school, and you-do you Xix,
} it here as well as in the South ?"
"Yes-no.d | shall like it better wher
have been here longer and know tn,
people better"
"Tell me something about your home
} in the South. 1t was in Louisiana, wa
it not? Is it very different from here ?"
Then Althea told him about the planta
tion in Louisiana, the flower, the magno
} has and the orange trees. Her eyes fllet
with tender light as she described in de
tail her Southern home, the old MANN,
who had been slave in her grandfather
family before her father was born, he
father himself, who had been through tn
} war and had died of the fever last year
Then the plantation was sold and Althe
in the spring was sent North to her uncle's
1t seemed so cold when / first came" sh
said, i shivered all the time, but l Low
the summer and am happy now"
Ralph listened eagerly to all she said
The PARKWAY look in her eyes when sh
! spoke of her home lent new beauty to he
face. When she had finished she said
Now won't you tell me about yourself
you are an artist, know"
"No-I don't call myself an artist yet
| have painted though"
81 saw your picture at the drug store
"You did?' asked Ralph, longing t
know if she liked it.
;. Althea on the previous day had stopped
for few moments to see what was attract
ing the public eye in McGregor's window
She noticed the name of the artist an,
secretly admired the picture very much
As she turned to go she heard chance re
mark, and the rest of the day, withou
knowing why, she had felt vague sor
row.
az hear it said you may go across tn
sea to study /; is it true ?" she asked.
Ralph felt that his request could n,
longer be delayed 81 do not know" h
said, looking at her with smiling eyes, T" i
depends-it depends upon you"
: Althea's heart gave one great bound ant
then seemed to stand STILL
"Yes, if you will consent to do some
thing-to be something for me, to be m,
Hebe. Do not mind because | ask some
body else first. have known Bessie Fol
lard always, and she seemed at first all tina
| wanted, but since have thought of 20,
especially since / have sat talking t
II l.. n