The sun., 1890-11-23

tfon OF my work inside" he eaid. with sur.
pressed triumph. Never had success tasted
90 sweet upon the tongue. You see the sort
OF things paint. D'you like ity"
Msisie looked At tho wild whrllng rush Of
a field battery roing Into action under fire.
Two artillsrymen stood behind her In the crowd
They've chucked OF lead 'orse" said Que
to tho other. "'E's tore up awful. but they're
making good time with the others. That lead
driver drivss better nor you. Tom. See 'ow
cunning 'e's nursin' is 'orse."
Number Three'll bs OF the timber. next
jolt" was the answer.
mo. . won't See 'ow is foot's bracsd
AGAINST the iron? 'E's all right"
Dick watched Maisis's face and swellsd with
joy-nne rank. vulgar triumph. She was more
interested In the little crowd than In the pie-
turs. That was something that she could uu.
ders,and.
And wanted II sol Oh / did want 1t sow
she said At last. under her breath.
Me-all mol" said Dick, placldly. Look at
their faces. 1t hits en-. They don't know
what makes their eyes and mouths open: but
Iknsw. And know my works right"
Yes. see Oh. what thing to have come
to one,"
Come to one. indeed! Ihad to 20 out and
look for 1t. What do you think?"
' call 1t success. Tell ne how you got It"
They returned to the Park. and Dick teliv-
cred himself Of the Saga OF his own doinRs.
with oil tho arrogance Of young man speak.
ing to woman From the beginning hs told
the tale, tho LILLE flashing through the rec
ords as telegraph poles ny past the traveller.
Maisie listened and nodded her head. The
histories OF strife and privstion did not move
her hairs breadth. At the end OF each canto
he would conclude. And that gave me some
notion OF handllne e color" or llRht, or whatever
it might be that he had set out to pursue and
understand. He led her breathless across half
the world, speaking as he had rever spoken In
hts life before. And In the food tide OF his ex-
alta.ion there came upon him great desire to
pick UP this maiden who nodded her head and
said. " l understand. Go Onto pick her mp
and carry her away with him. because she was
Maisie, and because she understood. and be-
cause she was his right. and q woman to be de-
sired above all women.
Then he checked himself abruptly. And 50
took all wanted" he said. "and had TO
fight for it. Now you tell"
Maisis's tale was almost IS gray a. her dress.
1t covered years Of patient toll backed By
savage pride that would not be broken though
dealers laughed and fogs delayed work. and
Kami was unkind and even sarcastic. and girls
= few bright spots-pictures accepted at pro-
yincial exhibitions-but 1t wound up with the
oft-repeated wall. And 80 you see. Dick.
had no success. though worked SO hard"
Then pity filed Dick. Even thus had Maisis
spoken when she could not hit the breakw stsr.
half an hour before she had kissed him. And
that had happened yesterday.
Never mind" said he. I'll tell you some
thing II you'll believe it." Tho words were
shaping themselves Of their own accord. The
whole thing. lock, stock. and barrel. isn't worth
one big yellow sea poppy below Fort Keeling"
Maisie flushed little. It's all very we'll for
you to talk. but you've had the success and
haven't"
Let mo talk, then. know you'll UNDER
stand. Msisie. dear. 1t sounds . bit absurd,
but those ton years never existed. and I've
come back again 1t really>i Is Just the same.
Can't you seer You're alone now and I'm
alone. What's the use Of worryingp Come 10
me instead. darling"
Maisie poksd tho gravel with her parasol.
They wore sitting on . bench. understand"
she said. slowly. But I've got my work to do.
and must do It."
DO it with me. then, dear. l won't inter-
rupt.'
mo. I couldn't. It's my work-mins-mins
mine I've been alone all my life In myself.
and I'm not going to belong to anybody except
myself remember things as well as you do.
but that doesn't count. We were babies then.
and We didn't know what was before US. Dick,
don't be selfish. think SEQ my way to q lit
tie success next year. Don't take 1t away from
me-"
"Ibcg your pardon. darling. It is my fault
for speaking idiotically. I can't expect you to
throw up sll your life just because I'm back
III 20 to my own place and wait little"
But, Dick. l don't want you to-Ro-out Of
my life. now that you've Just come back"
+ m at your orders. Forgive me." Dick
There was triumph In them. because hs could
not conceive how Maisis could refuse sooner
or later 20 love him. since he loved her.
'It's wrong Of me-" said Maisie. more slo WY
than before. " it's wrong and selfish: butch.
I've been 80 lonely No. you misunderstood.
Now I've seen you again-its absurd, but
want TO keep you In my liie."
Naturally. We belong"
I'VE don't: but you always understood mo-
and there Is 80 much in my work that you could
help ME in. You know things, and the ways Of
doing things You must"
lido. fancy, or elss l don't know myself.
Thsn suppose you won't care to lose sight OF
me altogether. aud you want me to help you in
your work. 2"
"Yes: but remember. Dick. nothing will ever
como OF It That's why feel 80 selfish. Let
things STAY as they sre. do want your help"
You shall have 1t. But let's consider.
must see your pics first and overhaul your
sketches, and and out about your tenden ncies
You should SEQ what tho papers say about my
tendencies. Then III give you good advice,
and you shall paint according. Isn't that 1t.
Msisie?"
Again there WAS unholy triumph in Dicks
eye.
It's too GOOD Of you-much 700 good. Pc
canso you ars consoling your self with what
will never harpen. and II know that. and yet
wish to keep YOU. Don't blame me later.
please"
Pm going into the matter with my eyes
opon. Moreover. Tho queen can do no wronR
II isn't your seldshusss that impressss me.
Its yonr audacty in proposing to make use
OF me-"
Pooh! You're only Dick-and . print shop"
Very good. That's all / Am. But, MAisis
you believe. don't you. that l love you2
An,t fala la, hz.,k