Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-01-27

To the invisible third looking on
would have made in itself pretty pic
turc. The girl with her delicate dres
and her still more delicate fairness; th'
dark man standing over her with tha
refined look on his face; the beautiful
room with its rare pictures, its grea
bowls of roses, its soft, rich darkenec
GOODNESS. The sounds from the stree
came in vaguely through the open win
dows robbed of their harshness. Thel
did not seem to wreck the stiffness whicl
wrapped the man and girl in magi
msntel.
Vincent Dilkley felt the perilou'
sweetness OF this nearness falling ovel
him like a spell. He moved angrlly.
Be cold and rough to her, indeed
Heavens How else was he to keep his
own controll
Suddenly, as he bent forward to make
4 correction, he saw the little hand hold
ing the pencil stop unsteadily. The mex
instant Nina Wilton had turned her head
away and he was aware that she wal
crying.
"lIiss Wiltonl" he exclaimed, started
out Of his own reserve.
The girl had started to her feet am
stood facing him with flashing eyes, II
burst Of childish passion.
"How dare you treat me sol' She cried
in trembling voice. ''What are yol
afraid Of! You act as though you wer'
afraid OF somethingl Haven't 1 alway
been nice to youl Haven't papa an'
mamma always been friendlyl We've al
liked you so much-you and your sister.
And YOU take it upon yourself to treat
me as Thoughts though WHAT have
[ done to youl" she broke of, all her
girlish Young beauty shaken by this
storm Of words. 81 sent Miss Hersy
away to-day particularly that l might
ask you. And now suppose you think
don't know what you thinkl--because
you are eood.looking and girs have
fallen in love with you, perhaps you
think the same thing Of me.' She was
insulting him ruthlcssly in her passion,
that confessed so infinitely more than she
herself was conscious OF. "But YOU need
have no such fear, she cried contempt
uously. Then, az the door, turning
once more, she added, with the sudden
pitifdlness of a scolded child, II liked
you so much, and l thought We would
be such good friends'
Vincent Dnkley had not spoken a
word. He had controlled himself thus
far. And now, somehow, he got oui
into the street. Tha. evening when h,
reached home, there was such look
upon his face that Barbara, with ire
pressible nervousness, said:
"vincent, are you sure YOU are welll''
eyes" he replied. And for the first
time in his life ne spoke to his sister
sharply.
A few days later at the breakfast table
Barbara said;
The WiItons got to their place last
night, it seems. That will make it morC
convenient for you, Vincent, giving
Nina hA lessons. You won't have to &C
into town. l suppose she will go or
taking the lessons just the same this
summerl"
Vincent Dilkley pushed his chair back
and rose.
81 don't think can quite manage the
time for those lessons, Bah. live
made other arrangements. l wrote to
Mrs. Wilton yesterday"
lie came slowly round to bis sister
side and laid his hand gently on hi
shoulder.
"l'm afraid, too, Bah, as-that source
of income will have to stop that-unless
| can find something to take its place,
YOU will have to give up that little trip
of yours this summer. lam very sorry, u
he added. He said it as simply as a
boy. But when Barbara looked into his
face it was worn and gray aud almost
Old.
"Oh. Vincent" 1t was 2 mothers
yearning crying. "Don't think of me y
Not think of herr He had thought
of her always. 1t was to obtain for her
the comforts Of an income which, how
ever meagre and poor was yet, at least
comparatively secure, that he gave these
lessons which his soul loathed, spending
his talent and his vitality in a hated
drudgery of every day. If it had not
been for her, he would have lived the
artists free life and painted pictures and
won fame perhaps, and been at liberty
to WOO the girl be loved.
For no need to try and conceal the
secret longer, Barbara knew it and when
her brother had gone, burst into tears.
She was still sitting in the little homely
paror, her busy hands for once idle.
when a light step upon the porch reached
her ear.
II was Nina Wilton.
The young girl came straight in, took
of her broad shade hat and tossed it
upon a chair.
"Miss Barbara" she said, "your
brother won't give me any more drawing
lessons. Why won't hel'