Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-10-18

CHAPTER. II-tContiupeal

""l NuHt much assistance" he said
o VIII soon forget the nest that has
sieitered, the hand that has fed Won.
wen 1t is the way Of youth and
womanhood!'
She flushed angrily. 81 am not un-
grateful" she said, but can one helm
being tired?'
certainly one cannot" he assented,
,eauily. Are you tired Of your home
here?"
,Genna is very goOd,'' the girl said
reluctantly. but then"
"What them" he asked, with a curl
GUS interest III drawing out this cllarac-
yer ana the Seltishness and impotence
ulat might so easily be its bane.
On, nothing-only she is dull and Ia
uent' and ugly. 1t is easy for her!"
certainly the virtues seem easier of
attainment when a woman is i'll IA
Vored,' he laughed with ready amrse-
tent, And is Genna your sister of
whom Teresiua spoke"
Yes"
But she loves you very dearly? ?"
Yes, but it Is selfish to wish to keep
me buried here. / did but speak Of
Florence yesterday, Of how l should
Ike TO see it, and she was as shocked
and frightened as if / had said some
thing wicked"
What would you do In Forence?'
he asked %curiously.
See it, of course. See its beautiful
streets, and the theaters and churches,
and all the lovely things it holds, and
how the great ladies are dressed, and
the palaces where the mobiles live. Oh,
1t would be beautifulr'
1T would but make you more discon-
tented with your life here afterward.
Perhaps Genna Is right"
You, too, are against me, then? One
would think it was wrong to wish to
leave ones home, even for a little
while
The lovely, pouting, wistful face look
ed up at him so r~eproachfully that he
forgot all prudence.
Perhaps one, 1t is not Of wrong or
right | think-it is only of your safety.
Have men no eyes, think you, for such
beauty as you possess? 1t might bride
a king"
StAN lOOhCu At III Will WOuuST.
There are dreams which end In
pe&ce and happiness" he went on rap
idly, land there are dreams which see
greatness and wonder, and the dazzling
sceptre of power, and end in misery and
sin and shame. The last dreams are
yours"
She looked frightened. "Why?" she
asked timidly.
Because You are of the humble Of
the earth; because your lot is cast In
loneliness and Obscurity, and you pine
for freedom, riches, aud power. Can
you deny itY'
She drew a long breath. 81 do long
for theSe-but why cannot have them
in safety and honor? Other women do"
He smiled. ASK Genna," he said.
But she hung her head and moved
impatiently away.
He hastily put his painting material
together and followed her. Have I
angcrcd your he said softly, as he
came to her side. and bent down to
look at her flushed p~etulant face.
mo-" she said impatiently. you
ARE only like all the others-you treat
me as a fool"
He looked astonished. "a fool! Par
don me, 1 think you the very reverse.
1t was but for your own good I spoke"
The gentleneSs Of his voice touched
her. Before she felt how coarse and
common and ignorant she must appear
and a strange shame held her speech
less.
viii you come acain?" he asked
presently. II have the face, but i
want the figure"
You can come to the house, then.
and ask Genna yourself" said the girl,
petuantly. Il did but promise for
once"
But he noticed the quick beating Of
her heart under her bodice. the rich
color flushing and waning On her check.
"Very WELL" he said, calmly; "She
looks too good and kind to refuse. /
will ask her."
The surprise in her face ~ she turn
ed it toward him sent a thrill Of amuse-
ment through her heart.
Shall / go with you home, now?'
he continued.
"If you WILL" she answered a little
sulkily. This GOODNESS and ~self-posses-
sion asserted itself over her wilful
nature too utterly for rebellion.
"Supposing she refuses?' he asked
smiling.
Then you must do without me- she
replied. you can take Cecco's daugh-
ter for your model. as you did before"
.Her figure would not correspond
with your face" he answered coolly.
Genna herself would be better"
The girl laughed aloud. Genna! She
in a picture! The saints be gracious!
what nextY'
'She is going to be In this very pic
ture," said the young painter. "1Yant
ber face beside yours. / like the calm,
deyotional. look she bore at the Corpus
Christi festival. / am going 10 ask
her to Sit To me-"
The girl was too astonished to reply;
. little jealous. too, that this handsrle
young stranger should be less suscepti-
BILE than she fancied he would have
nroyed. TO talk of Genna and herself
In the same breath; why, it was alb
surdi
hey walked on for some moments
IN silence. why, there Is Genna!'
cried the girl suddenly, as she pointed
with her finger to a solitary figure
standing In the narrow stony path De
vond. and. shading her eyes from the
suns rays as she swept the landscape
80. arn ufnnan