Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-04-04
CHATTER VI.
ALSO CONCLUDES WITH A KISS.


When Matt awoke, the next morning,
the first thing she did was TO look
around for ler Sunday clothes, which
on retiring 10 rest she had carefully
placed beside her bed. They were gone,
and in their place lay the habiliments
she was accustomed to wear on her er-
ratic pilgrimage every day.
Her face grew cloudy; she hunted all
round the chamber, but, finding Moth
ing that she sought, she was compelled
to array herself as she best could.
William Jones" she said, when she
Ear With In ..,&thy at hermit's
breakfast o ,Aread aud whey,
where's my wams1 ksiothess"
William Jones iidgeted bit, then he
said:
They're put where you won't find
'em. Look We now, Matt, you'd best be
after doin' summat useful than runnin'
about after painter chap. / was down
on the shore this morning, and seen
heaps o. wood-you'd best get some of
1t afore night"
Matt gave snort, but said nothing.
A few minutes later her benign pro-
tector left the cottage, and little after
he had disappeared Matt issued forth;
but instead of beating the shore for fire.
wood, as she had been told to do, she
ran across the fields to the painter.
She found him already established at
his work. The fact was he had been for
some time strolling about with his
hands in his pockets, and scanning the
prospect on every side for sight Of
her. Having got tired of this character
istic occupation, he at length sat down
and began to put a few touches TO the
portrait. Seeing that he was uncon-
scious of her approach, Matt crept up
quietly behind him and took peep at
the picture.
Her black eyes dilated with pleasure.
"Oh, amt it beautiful" she exclaimed.
$50 you have come at last" said
Brinkley quietly, going on with his
painting.
She made no movement and no fur
ther SQUAD; so he continued:
Perhaps, now you hare come, you'll
be good enough to step round that
may continue my work. am longing
to refresh my memory with sight of
your face, Matt!"
"Well, you can't" said Matt; "they're
locked up!'
@Eh--what's locked up-my memory
or your face?"
It was clear Matt could not appreci-
ate banter. She saw him smile, and
guessed that he was laughing ut her,
and her face grew black and mutinous.
She would have skunk off, but his voice
stopped her.
@Come here, Matt" he said. Don't
be silly, child; tell mewhat's the matter,
and-why, what has become of your re-
splendent raiment-your gorgeous Sun
day clothes% -
Didn't tell youG-they'rc locked
up"
"Indeed?"
"Yes, William Jones done 1t cause he
told him. lie don't want me to come
here and be took"
aOh! Tell you what il Is. Matt, we
will have our own way, In spite Of them.
For the present this picture shall be put
aside. II in day or SO you can, again
don your Sunday raiment, and sit to
me again in them--if not, dare say l
shall be able to finish the dress from
memory. That portrait ] shall give to
you. In the meantime, as | want one
for myself, ! will paint you as you are.
Do you approveY"
Matt nodded her head vigorously.
very well" said Brinkley. "Thcn we
will get on."
He removed from his easel and care
fully covered the portrait upon which
be had been working. Then he put up
a fresh cardboard, and sat down, invit-
ing Matt to do the same.
With the disappearance Of the Sun
day clothes the girls stiffness seemed
to have disappeared also. and she be-
came again veritable child OF Nature.
She looked like = shaggy young pony
fresh from race on the inountain-side,
as she threw herself on the ground In
an attitude which was all picturesque
ness and beauty. Then, with her plump.
sun-surned hand. she began to careless
~ pull up the grass, while her black
eyes searched alternately the prospect
and the painters face.
Presently she spoke: I.