St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-01-23
A NATURAL BLUNDER.

As0ss 0AAs0 d 0tSOu8s N OCs0eu O8yB.
A NATURAL BLUNDER.
Miss BurHoyne's Clay Models an
the Trouble They Caused. :
As Gerald Dubrassetf was walkin
along secluded path in the environ
of Florence he heard some one. moan
He glanced through ahe bushes an
saw q young girl seated on enc " tn
rustic benches Her head wastArowl
back and there was an expression .
pain on her face She was simply bu
neatly clad. and portfolio lay on tn
bench beside her.
He approached her, lifted his hat an,
kindly said: 'a~ -.
"You seem to be n distress Cln
be Of any service to your" - -
She looked up her soft gray eye
searching his bronzed, handsome face
s"Sir, L have sprained my 1nkle-
and badly so, AM affsid NE sid
speaking with considerable effort
sweet Il did IL while clam bering ovel
the rocks"
I'm order q carriage" he said
He hailed . public conveyance and
gently helped her into it. He seatet
himself opposite to her and tried to en-
gage her in conversation, but found
her disposed to be reticent; perhap.
because she was suffering more likely
because he was . stranger. Once o.
twice he caught her furtively scanning
his face, IS il she was becoming inter
csted in him. F a5s- 80
The discovery pleased him. for he W.
very much impressed in her favor
She was not very handsome, MOI
especially graceful, and yet there wa.
something about her face that pleased
and much about her manner that was
ladylikc.
When they reached the cottage in
which she lived he assisted her out soi
the carriage. She did mot trust &c
bear her weight upon her spraiued
ankle. and SO she leaned heavily upon
him.
A pretty little waiting-maid came
running to the door. quite ex cited, and
yet not forgetting to courtesy to the
handsome stranger. a~
.Oh. Miss Burgoyne. what has hap
pened? she cried. her hands nervously
clasped in front Of her.
do not be alarmed" her mistress
said; II have merely speained my
ankle" II
..shall send . doctori" s1lled Mr.
IF you win !. % hind, -sSe .os,l,
said ALSO compensate the diver
she added. - she extended her. puDse.
.Never mind" said Mr. .Dabrasoet
J '.Tn settle with him" 4
''Maria, pay the driver" ordered Niss
Burgoyne. s.s.s &as. =
The girl took the purse ana paidxhe
man, who waved his hand and d1Dve
away. TEsE
MAY I call to inquirs how yousere
getting along?" asked sAlE. DubEa1et
'.rhe doctor will inform you" she
sententiously said =FeN ia
A piqued expression came to his
bronxed face.
.rn help you into - house." he
said.
I'm lean ON Maria, twas the reply.
Her tone was firm, bnt not repellant
He laughed softly and said:
Il consider myself summarily dis
missed"
Miss Burgoyne was already leaning
on the waiting maids arm. She turned
TO the stranger, the blood filling her
face, the gray eyes softening won.
drously.
do not think me rude" she said. al
most appealingly. Il haven't even
thanked you" She paused . moment,
and then added: YES, you may cali :"
Mr.. Dubrasset bowed and withdrews
while Miss Burgoyne entered the house
in a laborious way, clutching Maria
tightly at every spasm of pain
When he called the next day he
found her reclining in m easy-chsir.
her bandaged root resting ON . hassock.
She welcomed him with . smile, and
extended her small. white, capable.
looking hand. !
You rested well?r he asked. earnest
sympathy in his tone. !
''Oh. yes" she replied 1.-THE doctof
says III be about il f-w days Pray
be seated"
The room was cory and inviting
not quite . bouda' and not entirely an
atelier.
'Oh, you are an artistv' he exclaimed
IA pleased tone. -
He walked 10 IT, fvnssRra0 e1nOn
ined an almost fnnisheU picture. kwds'
. market scene in NauilerA n Some
peasants wercs chaffering withs the
market woman over their purchases.
II was IN the gray Of tAS early nPxu'
ing, and candle was still spl0ng
@ TIE taoaa = <
That i very fine" he said. allow
me-" -
As he spoke he picked up . hru1A and
dipped it into the colora "a
oh! don't please." she unessily ~
claimed, unless"
Unless am proficient. eh9" supp&d
he, with smile. ''You can trust me.
A few touches and the effect was
surprising. He had simply Frightened
up the faces where the beams from the
candle fell upon them.
OH" CIRCULATED Miss Burgoyne, in
delighted surprise. Il tried in vain to
get that effect All, you have genius.''
The gray eyes warmed with : glow
of appreciation.
He laid down the brush and resumed
his seat As they sat there and talked,
they Inadvertently revealed 70 each
other glimpses of their past lives, and
when they parted they felt q IL they
I'D laews each Other Tor yess&