New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-07
A HEATHER.

hard sand line in frctting Impatlencc. 10 the
left, Cypress Point stretched away long. dark
promOntOry, crowned with Stornl-bcatcn, wind
twisted cypress trees, who's" dark greens in the
vague distance merged into PUPPIES. The sea wind
her easel more firmly in the yielding sand by the
aid of iron spikes. Helen Acton was an artist
at least. for the time hcing-and; OF course. with
Monterey than she selected one of the finest. us
we'll as the most difficult, bits of rock-bound
coast for her first field of operation Helen
courted solitude. Inspiration came from solitude
and biting the ends OF pa nt-brushes she dcvontly
beevsd; 50. when the last Of her companion" Mons
Beach. she settled herself for n morning alone.
II was a weird place, surrounded by white sand
dunes, whose only covering was stuntcd growth
of grayisg green sage interspersed with occasional
bushes of yellow and white lupine. and here and
there down i'm the hollows sand-verbcnas Of pink
or deep gold twistin. their snuollS arms in and ont
ness with the signing of the winds. the moaning OF
the and the echo of the pines She liked to
choose her nature To srit her mood She believed III
preserving the laws of harmony, and chose her
painting. the place and her mood as carefully as
She selected ribbons for her costumes Sh" had
taken to painting because it was the fashion,
though she would have scOrncd such charge
She pridcd herself on being unconventional. hut
somehow her unconvcntionality always took pop
ular turn. go
Her natnrc complex and many -hncd. She
aS>imilatcd the dominant characteristics OF whom
readiness TO receive united with natural quick
ness of comprehension, an appreclatIVe look.
responsive smile, had combined 10 earn fOr hcr
cheap reputation for learning, She dipped into
science art and literature, and recovered herself
with the supple ease of practsed intellectual
aymnast and when the cooking mania seized
the fashionable world she gained 10 small reputc
through neatly turned pudding. For the rest.
Helen Acton was consccnti ous young woman
of twenty three. wcll-cdncatcd as the world goes,
intensely well-bred and possessed with suprrme
confidence in her own abilities. She severely, dis
Under a hushci-rathrr advocated the raising of
;hc highest electric towers. whereby the gllmmer
Of the slightest spark should not lie lost to the
multitude.
She was cood-looking with the usual American
freshness of complexion. Her head was unusually
well shaped and finely. poised above graceful
ing bronze. and her coiffur was always arranged
with Clytie inclination. \ certain young man
at e" emp once tod mrr 1ha' her n piHhf
on that resemblance. and the ehrc, WIS classical
as we'll becoming. Modern fashion d"crc"d n
renaissance of classic hahiments. so She could
we'll conciliatc both centuries Her profile was
charminG-a thing rare in nineteenth century
wonderland her face was lighted up by n pair
of battling "ray eyes, which We're both bright AMI
restless, changing in tone so often that II puz2cl
one to discover whether there was any depth
in thcm or whether they but represented the
shifting moods of her nature.
She sat li>tlessly testing the points Of her new
sable brushes for awhile Not soul was IN
sight Then she fell to painting spasmodically
Of her attempt, and spreading her warm. scarlet
shawl on the sand. drew ont volume Of Rossrttls
forably To read Rosse,tl and the SEA harmonized'
too
As she lay there; halfdrraming and half-readng.
she saw two figures the beach, and, as she
langudy raised her head. she saw them wad"
down into the water The tide was on the erhh,
and she noticed that they carried long rakcS
One of the figures was pctures4ucly clah IN n
loose fitting, darkblue jersey, with hright-rrh
handkerchief knotted at his throat and pair
Of old brown ovcraS rolled mp TO his knees.
Even from her distance She could see that h: was
young and possessed sturdy wcll.knlt fianr"
Her interest began TO be aroused. She mentally
voted Ros>ctti bore and strollrd down 10 the
edge Of the beach with apparent carelcssncSS
She stood there for some time, unnOticed by the
men: who were standing wast-decp in the water '.,
raknG in piles of kelp. which were interaced with
choice rea-mOss from off the rocks;
The young fellow simply turned his head and
panion said something in Spanish and nodded in
her direction. but he never looked up, going on
with his work.
herself An inspiration flashed into her mind.
"IIcres a mission. cvizing nj AntinonS.
She had tried her hand at missionary work ana
had once taught in charity kindergarten. al!rr
talking one evening with n handsome Young min;
lister: and she had succeeded by dint of liberal
donations in dressing some Of the prettiest young
sters. with the curlicst locks. IN Grceaway gown>.
and there her interest ceased. She spent one
morning in hanging their hair; and felt that she
had done her duty in ccvatinG their tastes
Every woman is a reformer at heart in her MI"
way Whether from conviction OF 'dty or from
frivolous impulse. the SEX Is welded to regenera',
ing therefore. Helen having settled IN mer nIi
concluded that il was her mission 10 convert hih'
She would I've patron lladrian to tins moss
After some time he waded TO the shore with
an old willow basket filed with the ea-noss"s
strapped on his shoulders. Helen stepped Tor
ward and said: -
will YOU please let me examine your moss ?
"Certanly. madam.
lie took on his battered straw bat politely ana
set the dripping ha>kc, down on tine sand Wllie
his companion lighted pipe and walked on
toward the hills. Helen bent oyer the moss WIT,
apparent interest although an hour ago she had
dubbed it Shiny stun, and refused 10 proceed
with the party in search of ii. The yonnG; fellow
selected some of his finest specimens and asked
oh: no. she answered. "Yon have too much
trouble TO collect it, | cannot take them, but II
yon will permit me 10 buy sOrnc--
He drew himself mp proudly; No. madam. ]
never allow my gifts 10 he bought
ts "en for sSe prdca herself upon cr We're de
We're rcposc on all occasions. and 10 bc put
fusion BY "a heather was unprecedented.
The young fellow fingered while She adroitly
plied him with questions about his pursuits, and
She in0eniously extracted a great deal Of nforma.
ton from him in one way or another She found
Together with an old fisherman. followed moss
Gathering when the fishing no, good.
In the winter" he said his dark eyes fash
ing. while the color roS, in his bronze checks
We 90 after whales. That is grand. That is life
Now it is only play; a time for sicsas and cigar
Are yon SPANISH" Helen asked.
No." he Smiled. My mother was. but nv
father was an American. They are both dead ="
liz added, after pause am quite alone in
the world, and ! have lived with Spanish people
ever since was child
lie spoke with the liquid Spanish accent. ard
Helen became very much interested i'm the h.sith
en- hut he lifted his basket 10 his shoulders again.
and saying. "Adios. walkd after his companion.
with a firm swinging gait
Hello. IIclcn," small boy shouted. "whos
your friend?
She looked around. and saw her party near at
hand with the small boy planted almost Direct ~
in front Of her. asking the question
don't know. she shrugged her shoulders :
ono Of the natives ! suppose. lie was showing
me some sca-mOss. Aunt Carrie. she turned to
an elderly lady" have found place where you
tn take a collection East with Won. have found
a moss-gathcIef with the manners Of a Chester
GcII Imooi, him TAX ing oil EiS hat He COM