Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-11-15


behind time today, that's nothing to |
you in the days Of work. no doubt. but |
I may remark that it's slightly incon |
venient to me, as l prefer daylight
to dark to catch the Super-eXcellent
tones O. your skim
Il should have thought on the whole
that the glow
stranger he cried with soft slow
gurgle of intense delight, and lifting
himself clumsily up from his seat, he
caught Strange's hand in q close clasp
and pushed him back into an old
frilled armchair.
Il thought YOU were in Algeria. 1t
was a dangerous experiment. old fell
low; the betting was ten to one that
was painting off a model. and | am
continually overlooking that lock.
What i glorious dusty smooth red
you've got on your cheeks. For good
ness sake. let me have it before gas
and 'sich play the deuce with it,
"Take it. my child, take it. What
a pity you didn't have the beard too!
that was a far more glorious red, and
a sight dustier, but l parted with it
this morning"
''Thank you. I've seen your bristles
once; I never wish to behold then.
again. Now smoke, and I'll just have
a shy at catching that tint, it's pre-
cisely what I want for this beggars
cheek My model had it to perfection,
but they clapped him into quad for
prigginS saveloys, and when he comes
out he will be useless, the color or bad
paste"
your rooms hardly serious enough;
it's pretty, in a dolrs-house style"
Serious. I can't afford that. One
can't extract seriousness from rags,
but the colOrs are good and TIE cost
small Look at the drapery hiding the
crack in the wall in that corner, four
pence alfpenny the yard and a reduc-
ton by the piecer'
"And YOU probably went dinnerless
for that" thought Strange. watching
the tall heavy looking fellow with
his straight, limp brown hair hanging
over his forehead in a way that gave
him a queer, foolish look, an effect
that his big alive eyes were constantly
contradicting.
The soft, sleepy tones of his voice
which, only that they happened to be
peculiarly clear, would never have
been heard at all, added rather to this
effect. Strange, however, was quite
aware that the eyes of the fellow
spoke the truth. and that the hair and
! the soft speech lied.
His father had been curate in the
parish where Strange's father was the
| Squire, and even then the big boy had
been good to the little one. and the I'M
equal friendship was still kept up be-
tween the two. 1t was pleasant little
! corner in the life of the older man,
it was the best part of life to the boy,
and no one had notion of the intense
| love and gratitude he bore to the big
notable man who took the trouble Ito
know him.
Strange had stood by him in the bad
crisis of his life, when things had come
to a head and his father, the curate,
had put down his foot and damned
art permanently, and the boy, for his
part. had comprehensiveIy damned
the church, and had then stepped out
of the parental porch with Il five
pound note in his pocket, and in his
eyes the yearning greed for cglor.
GLOW are YOU getting onT' said
Strange.
ooh, live. and hardly owe a thing.
which is consolation, in case | hap
pened to die off in hurry, and had to
be beholden to the governor to fork up.
funeral expenses or he should. l shall
make no provision for these, they seem
in his line. somehow. But it would
cut the old man frightfully il he had
10 pay the models or the beer, or any
thing smacking of the devil, you know
Would you mind turning your face
an inch to the right?"
what are you at? Haven't you got
the brick-dust yet?"
Eyes. in way, but I want to sketch
YOU" said Brydon, measuring him with
his pencil. 81 won't be long; you look
so cool, and big, and Kinder logged.
you've grown frightfull since you went
away, especially about the eyes. they've
got so beastly deep and intricate,
why don't you have eyes like decent
God fearing mortals?'
"Ask my parents; if they refuse you
the information. I can only refer you
to my godfather and godmother-by
the way what's wrong with you, Char
lie?''
"Me-Nothing!-I had another bout
of rheumatic fever month ago, and
l have felt a trif1e stodgy since at
times, especially after a grind up these
stairs
"Heartr' thought Strange. Poor
| beggar! it'll be hard on him if he's
carried off before he learns to draw
| Will you dine with me today?"
Brydons face lit he had ecstatic
memories Of dinners with Strange, and
as a matter of fact his dinners for
two days past, had consisted of bread
and mustard to give it a relish.
'Thank you, old man, l can't
can't go anywhere till Friday"
''Why, in Heavens name?"
i have some black and white to
do he said mixing some paint hur-
riedly
Strange took a glance at his back
view and shrugged his shoulders
THE beggar's sure to let it out. he
always does" he reflected.
After a few minutes silent painting
Bryton turned round
1v toll 1-ol1