South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-11-21

But have lost it, fa'tered poor
Nan, pale and trembling with gen
uine terror and distress; or else some
oIe has stolen It from me-my parse
with five dollars in it,
Curtis Van Tsssels had heard every
word. He looked at Nan critically.
and at the same tine sympathetically
The tronbled look 10 the brown eyes
was so painfully apparent that he did
not for moment share the WATERS
suspicion.
A brilliant idea came to him.
STOPPING down, quick as thought. be
distracted Eve dollar bill from his
own wallet.
Nan had not seen the action. but
the qnick-wilted waiter bad.
i beg your pardon Curtis said
quickly aud courteously, but / think
this must be the missing bill.
found 1t beside your chair Just now.
Doubtless you have taken it cut OF
your own purse, laid it beside your
plate aud then forgotten IL. Very
luckily CHANGED to look down.
How can l ever thank you, sir ?
Nan exclaimed; while the servant
gave Curtis slight wink and discreet
ly kept all knowledge Of the little
ruse to himself. SO long Is he was
paid il vas no business of his from
whose pocket the money came.
But diligent search on Mans par,
aided by the waiter aud Curtis Van
Tassels, brought no purse to light, and
she was compelled to 60 home with
out 1t. How the money could be
there and not the purse Was q mys-
terry che WAS unable to solve.
Only aday or two later Curtis was
passing Harrison's book store, when q
painting in the window attracted bis
attention. It's execution was grace.
full and vigorous, but it was the CEN
trsl figure that he noticed. Il, wai
tue very girl whom he had met a
tue cafe.
i am fool / he thought. as he en-
tered aud asked the price OF the pic
ture. But for all thai hs bought II
! paying hundred dollars FORT, though
MIR. Harrison declared that the arts
would consider seventy five d munifi.
cent SUM. o,
Very fne indeed Mr. Harrison
said volubly, glad OF q chance {,
make bargain, even il il brought nt
money into bis own pocket, 'and
perfect likeness of the artist, Mis
Kendall. sir. II che wasn't poor as
church mouse the world would hav
heard OF her long ago, I'll be bound.
| Curtis thought so too, and wantet
very much to know Miss Kendall
address tut lie did not say so.
My mother bas long wished t.
have her portrait painted he said
artfully, but she wants it to be th,
work of lady's brush. Do you
think il sent Miss Kendall her pho
tcgraph she would copy an oil paint
ing from it p
She would be only too glad / guess
Mr. Vac Tassels,' said Mr.. Harrison
~fusively. and you couldn't gel
laiy better fitted for the work thar
she.'
And Nan worked diligently an,
happily on her first order, neye
dreaming by what cbaia of circum
stances the loss OF her shabby purse
had brought al this good fortune.
/ She knew nothing about Mr. Val
Tassels, except that he had purch aseC
i Under the Lilacs,' and was so pleas,
ed with it that he wanted his mother
Portraitfrom the same brush.
Il hope he will like IT, she said OF
the vety afternoon when Curtis Wax
Tassels was cunning for the flashed
picture. i have certainly done ny
best.
Mr. Van Tassels did like it, aud hC
liked the little artis', too, 50 we'll thai
he came again on one pretext or an
other.
Aud before many months be had
asked Nan Kendall TO marry bin, and
she bad answered, Yea =
Man, said Crrtis, quizzicaily
one day did you ever lose Eve dol
lars p
Nan started and laughed.
What do you mean, Curtls9' she
said. No. bat l thou sht 1 did last
SPRING
Thought you didP Curtis OK.
claimed. Why, didn't you really
lose II /
'ourlis, yO.'re not the gentleman
WHO
Nan stopped.
Yes, nodded Curtis Van Tassals,
with smiling lips.
i have sometimes wondered where
/ have seen yoa tefors. Oh it was
monslrous Of you TO deceive me as
sou did I don't think 1 Gao ever
forgive your
oh yes you can = said Curtis,
confidently. Bot bow do you know
| ever deceived you 2
Mr.. Harrison sent me my purse
the very next day With the FIVE dol
lars intact. had left 1t on one Of
bis counters. felt very angry Witb
you then, and II | had known yOu,
would have sent the money you gave
me right back,
And nov that you DO know me,
you are going TO give yourself 10 me
instead y exclaimed Curtis triumphant
~. 'It vas only loan, you seg.'
Or all the ignominious failures Of
tails administration, that Of Census
Superintendent Porter is the most
q.