Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-25

them, and that humanity which in the I'M
cultured poor Il as real az, mere real than, in
| those capable of analytical introspection, as
serted itself unresisted.
| "Do yer now?' said Charlie Sprigget again,
but this time he fingered on the words. ~ tell
/ You what" he added with a burst of gallantry.
vi shall draw something special for yer every
day in the hopes Of you comm by. "Dut, I"
| fuInbling in his trousers pocket, 'I'd rather
you see the show gratis free, yer know"
| She nodded her thanks, smiled again. show
ing the whitest Of teeth, and walked rapidly
away.
Nf. Sprigget went back to his seat against the
wall, but now he was reckless as TO which
| troQser was most evident. He felt very con-
| tented, very peaceful, with that peculiar con-
\ sciousness Of completion which is only vouch-
safed to those who meet their twin soul. A
| quarter of an hour ago he master of him.
| self but now he was in love. He was quite
sure that he had been in love directly Belind9 s
| eyes had looked at him for the first time.
| That was the beginning Of romance which
giorltied his life, and his art became to him
more sacred than before because it had been
the means of drawing Belinda TO him. Not that
he gave her at once TO understand the nature of
his feelings; Charlie had had some acquaintance
with the sex already and he knew tine deceit
fnlness of mere externa.s: only he found him
self constantly thinking of Belinda, and when
he set about his daily work it was always with
| the notion of doing thai which should be pleas
ing in her sight Never more than two or
three DAYS elapsed before she CHANGED to pass
by, and she invarisbly stopped and had con-
versation with him, and as this conversation
| was all about himself and his pictures it Ia no
wonder he found her more and moro charming.
At last one day he drew something special for
her of . different nature from any subject he
had hitherto attempted. 1t was like the ace of
hearts (red), and It was dissected transversely
by what was apparently a herring bone,
but which represented the weapon of
Cupid. When this artistic production was COM
pleted he sat and watc bed it with sentimental
satisfaction, but, as i'll luck would have it, no
Belinda passed that morning, and the afternoon
dragged by reason Of her absence. That night
it rained, and the heart looked unpleasant the
next day. Charlie erased 1t altogether with the
piece Of rag with which he usually undid his
handiwork of an evening, but he had, contrary
TO his usual custom, left the symbol from o su-
perstitious aversion to destroy 1t. He took
studio q few feet further up the street and
drew another ace, fatter than the last and
pierced by larger and fiercer herring bone.
He was still engaged in touching 1t up when
| a voice, the voice quite close to him, inquired:
''And what might you be DRAWN this
mernin'?'
Mr.. Sprigget assumed the perpendicular with
promptitude and held out his hand. He blushed
o little at the contact with hers, and perhaps
because of the explanation which was required
| of him Things in anticipation ideal seem in
contamination foolish.
''Lor'," said Belinda, looking down at the
pavement, 'it's like q valentine. Is that
heart. Mr.. Spriggetf"
Introductions had taken place at the second
interview.
"A heart it is," said Charlie, whose own organ
was beating with violence at the present mo-
ment. And whose do you think. now?''
Belinda shook her head; but she, too, became
conscious of the existence of her own organ of
circulation, which seemed to be mounting
toward her throat.
mime" said Charlie quaveringly. as she did
not come to his assistance, land" he added,
seeing from her rosy half-averted face that she
was not as far from understanding him as her
silence might have suggested, you it Is as have
pierced it, Belinda, loves you
Belinda might have taken exception to being
portrayed as a fish bone, bat perhaps she gave
Mr.. Sprigget credit for being slightly confused
by reason Of his emotions. At any rate che
manifested no displeasure, but being practical
little person, laid her hand ON his arm and
said:
''And 1 don't dislike you, neither, Charlie"
Thus they became engaged.
Belinda took the somew hat hard seat to which
he JRe pointed sasise.. r,n,a,v ,;s ., ~ .,-.. l.,
signs with an unsteady hand drew his inevita-
Bile circle, and after an insEanss thought wrote
therein:
AuN onc dHuOsucrs
1T is more blessed to Civ than to reserve"
Then he felt that he had earned the right to
join his lady love, who had been watching his
operations with approving eyes.
The harmony Of the morning was unbroken.
They spoke little, but each was happy In the
presence Of the other, and different people have
different ways of making love. License in this
as in other things must be given to the play of
human nature. Toward IL O'Clock. however,
Belinda rose.
Il must be goin'." she said.
Have you got anything to do special?' in
CURED MIR. Sprigget.
Tie gentleman had always talked so much
about himself that he had found outvery' little
about Belinda.
Didn't yer know2' said the girl ''why, now
comes to think of it, amt never mentioned
it. / has a barrow"
DO yer? hadn'ta notion you did anything
like that"
'yss, me and another girl" -
What do yer sell?''
"Guess."
"why, there amt anything'd suit you but
flowers, said the artist.
Belinda shook her head.
"Hokey-pokey. p'r'aps."
mo. Guess again"
Il don't seem to fancy you sellin' anything
else. Belinda, 'ceptin' pr'aps oranges, or nuts
maybe"
Wrong again."
"Nhat IL 1t, then?'
"Whelks!" said Belinda.
II Mr.. Sprigget had been the president of the
Royal Academy himself no greater blow could
nave been dealt him. He was an idealist. and
he despised the practical side Of life. To him
whelks lacked any element of romance. 1t
somehow hurt him to think that his Belinda,
his goddess, his inspiration, should be a vendor
Of whelks and satisfied with-apparently proud
Other association with that homely shellfish
Mr.. Sprigget unfortunately had notions above
his station.
Belinda, he said, with a grave, even sor-
rowful expression, lit don't seem sootable.''
what dont?''
"Whelks. l could ha swallowed a good deal,
but it don't seem as if could swaller whelks"
His manner annoyed Belinda.
You amt asked to" she replied promptly.
IF only 1t was flowers, now, there's poetry
about flowers"
II don't see anything against whelks, /" said Be
linda promptly. They're wholesome and
tasty. There amt the risk about 'em there is
with flowers, neither, and they're uncommon
poplar with men" and the vender Of the des-
pissed article of consumption tossed her head.
She resented these airs on the part Of Mr. Sprig-
get, for she had spirit OF her own.
'.Oh. no doubt" said Mr.. Sprigget; ''but they
wouldn be perfeshunal men-not artists nor
that. Belinda, you said you loved me. 1t amt
much to ask yer to please me-"
.'Of course I'd please Won IL there WA anv