The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-04-05
BELLIES BLUNDER.

DELLE D DLUN DEh.
AS Gerald Dubrasset was walking
along a secluded path in the environs
of Florence he heard some one moan.
He glanced through the bushes and
saw young girl seated on one of the
rustic benches. Her head was thrown
back and there was an expression of
pain on her face. She was simply but
neatly clad and portfolio lay on the
bench beside her.
He approached her, lifted his hat
and kindly said:
"You seem to be in distress. Can l
be of any service to you?"
She looked up, her soft, gray eyes
searching his bronzed, handsome face.
"Sir, have sprained my ankle-and
badly so, am afraid" she said, speak
ing with considerable effort, though
her voice was none the less sweet. II
did it while clam bering about over the
rocks"
"I'll order carriage" he said.
He hailed public conveyance and
then gently helped her into it. He
seated himself opposite to her and
tried to engage her in conversation,
perhaps because she was suffering
more likely because he was stranger.
She was not very handsome, nor es-
pecially graceful, and yet there was
something about her face that pleased,
and much about her manner that was
extremely ladylike.
When they reached the cottage in
which she lived he assisted her out of
the carriage. She did not dare to
bear her weight upon her sprained
ankle and SO she leaned heavily upon
him.
A pretty little waiting-maid came
running to the door, quite excited and
yet not forgetting to courtesy to the
handsome stranger.
"Oh, Miss Burgoyne, what has hap
pened?" she cried, her hands nervously
clasped in front of her.
"Do not be alarmed" her mistress
said, "I have merely sprained my
ankle"
aShall I send you doctor?" asked
Mr.. Dubrasset.
"If you will be SO kind" she softly
answered. "Also compensate the
driver" she added as she extended her
purse.
"Never mind" said Mr.. Dubrasset;
"I'll settle with him."
Maria, pay the driver" ordered
Miss Burgoyne.
The girl took the purse and paid the
man, who waved his hand and drove
away.
MAY call to inquire how you are
getting alongP" asked Mr.. Dubrasset.
"The doctor will inform you," she
sententiouslS said.
A piqued expression came to his
bronzed face for an instant.
"I'll help you into the house," he
said.
@I'll lean on Maria" was her reply.
Her tone was firm, but not repeE
lent. He laughed softly and said:
81 consider myself summarily dis
missed"
Miss Burgoyne was already leaning
on the waiting maids arm. She turned
to the stranger, the blood flushing he!
face, the gray eyes softening wor
drously.
aDo not think me rude" she said
almost appealingly. 81 haven't ever
thanked you" She paused momen
and then added: "Yes, you may call.
When he called the next day ht
found her reclining in an easy chair
her bandaged foot resting on has
sock. She welcomed him with smile
and extended her small, white, capa
ble-looking hand.
"You rested well?" he asked, earnes
sympathy in his tone.
@Oh, yes" she replied. "The doctor
saws I'll be about in a few days. Pra1
| be seated"
The room was cosy and inviting
not quite boudoir and not entirel.
an ateher.
"Oh, you are an artist" he exclaimed
in pleased tone.
| He walked to the easel and exam
ined an almost finished picture. l
was market scene in Flanders. Som
peasants were ehaffering with the mar
ket woman over their purchases.
"This is very fine," he said. "Allov
me-"
AS he spoke he picked up brusl
and dipped it into the colors.
"Oh, don't, pleased" she uneasily ex
claimed, "unless-"
UNLESS l am proficient" he sup
| piled. "You can trust me-"
A few touches and the effect wa
surprising. He had simply brightene
up the faces where the candle-ligh
fell on them.
"Oh!" calculated Miss Burgoyne i
delighted surprise, 81 tried in vain t
get that effect. Ah,you have genius!
The gray eyes warmed with a glol
of appreciation. He laid down til
brush and resumed his seat. AS the
sat there and talked they inadvertent
ly revealed to each other glimpses {
their past lives and when they parte
they felt as if they had known eac
other for years.
"She certainly is charming" wa
his mental comment. Compact, Gu
tured, practical. Reserved enough
be tantalizing, confidential enough t
captivate."
Gerald Dubrasset was man {
great wealth. He spent his income
travelling and in gratifying his tast
for the grand in art and the beautifl
in nature. He was sociable and ha
mingled largely with the world. Il
had met scores of women with rar
charms of mind and person, yet non
of them had attracted him rs strongl
as this quiet, self-contained, helptl
American girl whose acquaintance
had made by the veriest accident.
!. He became frequent visitor at tt
cottage. She was always glad to Sc
him; if she was not demonstratlve
was because it was not her nature
be.
One day he noticed on her table
pretty little clay figure of a shepheI