The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1891-02-13

who that ''solneholy" w;as He went to
the door, which he opened little way. His
room M, all in shadow, sb Ill could stand
near it aud see her pass by without being
seen himself But the brisk pit-&-pat Of
her little feet ceased on the floor below and
there was = lnurnuring Of voices Miss
Meringuc hn, Intercepted her again,
y only wanted to show YOU some photo
graphs of myself that came home to-day"
she gurgled in ear splitting tones What
do you say Of the pose? ! think it's quite
Bernhartltcsque, the lines Of the figure 50
1.-the. SO untrammeied. SO unconven-
tonal.n
VERY original came softly to Jacks
ears in No. ASS adorable voice. "How |
wish | had a picture of mothcrl often
think | would not feel 50 awfully lonely
photograph Of her. y 'A'''
YES, of course. But don't worry-per
haps she'll be better when spring comes,
I'll give You one of these with my auto
graph OH it when I run up tonight Oh,
by the way and Miss Meringut,s voice
sank to II penetrating whisper, haven't
you got acquainted with that artist yet,"
NO inhiifercntly.
well, now, if lived on the same floor
with him rs you do I'd have managed to
know him before this. He's awful!y hand
somc--a regular darlngi" came III such
an ecstatic Sush from Miss Mcrngue that
Jack sworc under his breath. Don't you
think he's too lovely for anythncfn
No. IS gavc;, soft, scornful little laugh.
''1Ic looks conceitel y picturesque dill,
ett;nte, that's all. Good-by. I mustn't
keep mother waiting" d..
The picturesque dilettante' closed the
door, lit his little lamp and then, with an
expression Of utter misery on his face, sub
sided into a chair. This busy little woman,
who worked through the long days, lie,
spite the burden Of her heart, dcspised him
as a triilcr She did not know how he
burned with ambition--how he struggled
toward the attainment Of his ideal in art
through many II slccplcss night. He must
know her. Al sorts of impossible schemes
for gaining her friendship flew through his
brain. Useless. He gave his long legs n
shake and threw back his head, then rs
suddenly brought it forward, and remain.
ed with his eyes fastened on an illnminat-
ed almanac beside the window, 1t was the
sth day of February. and on the line OF
figures below the date he saw the l4th
marked by Il Cupid with IL poised bow.
''St. Valentines tlayl Tho good sain,
will surely be on my side, I'll send her a
valentine, by Jove! But what? 1t must
me-"
He sat for II few moments longer in
thought, then started up with a low,
jublant whistle.
s'IIere goes he said decidedly, as he
pulled his easel forward, displaced the
half finished figure of Il grimy street ur
chin and prepared n new canvas.
Any one entering few moments later
might have thought Jack Flvier had
taken leave of his senses. He turned his
light very low, mounted stepladder and
noiselcssly drew the nails from Il corner o
the piece of !lowered Madras which GOV
cred the transom, and which overlooked
No. ASS little sitting room. Naturally he
felt some gcntlemanly qualms Mt this sur
reptitious invasion of another's privacy
But he wisely reflected that almost any
thing is pnrdone,l in Il lover
For twenty minutes he sat there taking
occasional peeps, his sketchbook on his
knee, his pencil moving slowly and accu
rately
The 18th of February came ut last, s;iow5
and bright. AT 5 o'clock in the afternoon,
after five days careful work, Jack S couE
d'etat was completed. III the interval he
had learned from the postman that his
neighbours name was Marian Forrest, and
the Something which he nailed in Il
square wooden box he addressed to her, car
ried it to Il messenger office and then hur
rietl back again. He wanted No. As to re
ceiyc it when she reached home that night