The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-17
dar. AGO. in nj. campi anal. vo. Fa.h.

rily at their sisters discomtorture.
an his camp?" abieCtly as ked.
ayes, OF course;" chimed IN Bsss.
cover by the entrance to Horsey Mere
channel. He's got worlds OF reptiles
and insects in his collection th's Vaca-
ton. Melinda and don't IKE them d
bit. Ughl But Fashion doesF
could not precisely analyze my tceI'
ipCs at this point, but | remained silent ;
for saw that Fashion was being piqued
into retort. Perhaps there was sti an
other naturalist on mis- vacation IN the
"Wcll, sistors," she began with a lit
tie CLEAN Of triumph in her flashing
ewes which were turned upon Melinda
~ think remember something about
a certain artist wishing to paint Rom
any house.boat"
THAT'S sol" responded Bess in the
greatest gloe, while Melinda's face was
now blushingly bent closely over her
swiftly flying willow withes. Fashion
and | arc to be nj work upon the
baskets. Grandfather is to be playing
on his violin to the dancing children:
Father will be sorting willows and
smoking his pipe. He ia going to put
mother at the kettle.sttck beside tho
fire; and Melinda-think OF It's to
be leaning out over our boat to sum
mering artist in his boat exchanging
little creel for big coinW
"A Heart With Coin, no will per-
haps call iii" added Fashion teazinGly.
'Won't he paint Melinda beautifully
though, Mr.. Meacham?" Bess roguishIy
appealed to me.
"Oh, OF course; OF course!" l returned
with a brave protense OF enthusiasm.
81 tell him." She added mischievoHs-
", "he just wants US three girls for
modest" ~,
"And what does he say TO that, Bess"
"Oh, but it makes him almost wild.
He's fiery anyhow. Why, no pretends
not TO know dear old professor, and he's
lived alongside him for yearsW
"But doesn't the professor pretend
mt to know him ?" ut last asked Melinda
with q little show Of spirl.
"Of course. They're neighbours. Tho
funniest part OF 1t is, another pair that
acts just like them. moved into one OF
papa's houses few months ago. l told
Payle Gray yesterday"
yesterday" | blurted in astonish-
ment.
Certainly; yesterday. We ali saw
him yesterday at work finishing his
pretty picture OF Still Life in the Fens.'
Odd they should both DO here at the
same time. Isn't it now2'
Here the little rogue tainted Fashion
and Melinda with another cunning look
OF accusation.
"AIr. Gray probably came because the
professor came;" said Fashion with q
slight elevation OF her eyebrows.
"Or perhaps the professor found the
Breads by learning where Mr.. Gray
passed his vacation;" retorted Melinda
with pretty pout.
"0r they were both drawn here BY
their mutual affection and genialityw
insisted little Bess; at which they all
laughed so heartily that found myself
laughing with them, despite my bitter
reflection upon how the mighty lofty
human disintcrostednes could be in
stantly transformed into an almost
groveling self.interest and rivalry.
I could think OF no two more un-
pleasant people IN all the world than
this simpering professor aud this oily.
tongued artist.
But the awakening from my idyllic
dreams and fancies was fated to be
ruder still.
The very next morning Fashion was
found to have disappeared.
I had dreamed or really heard during
the previous night the soft humping OF
a wherry against our boat.house; low
whispering as OF some light form spring
ing into the whorry; and finally the
gentle dip OF oars pulsing fainter and
fainter into the silenccs oil the night.
But could secure no responsive
look or workof concern from tho family
at breakfast Melinda and Bees with
conscious and averted looks gave mo no
sign. The chauvies arc revenously rs
usual. The mothers thin lips may have
been little tighter drawn; but that
was all. The father, calm and stolid,
ate contentedly and in silence. Only
old grandfather Wharton, Gdgeting aud
Tuning on his bench, dare az last find
relief to his sturdy Romany contempt
for tho perils OF enlightenment in tho
brief outburst:
"H'it's wat cooms from book.larnin'.
Cuss hit all. Hi sayI"
Then Uriah Wharton brought his
huge fst down crashingly upon the Ia.
BILE with,
"Thcn, book-larnin's good enough for
me an my gals, Gran'iaytIler Wharton.
Wen emmy female creetur gifts ready
t'go, shc COOS. An wen airy daughter
o mine gets ready tgo, go she may, be
1t night or day; fur she's Gipsy enough,
loddy enough, an lovin' enough Z let
kith and kin know, wen she's ready,
were 'er tent be pitched, an w'eresum.
dever she bides!"
Here Melinda and Boss spraug to tho
shaggy, big.hearted father; yearly sui.
located him with loving caresses; and
left him for their tasks with glowing,
grateful eyes; while l knew only too
well that this was irrovocable law and
tinality upon the subject in tho Gypsy
houSe.boat on reod-fringed Kicking
Broad.
Two days only had interviewed when
Melinda, after rowing away with par.
eel OF baskets and little brother rs
companion, had sent boat, baskets and
brother, only, back 10 tho house boat
among tho ree1s.
knew that not oven old Grandfather
Wharton dare whimpor now. but the
stolidity OF the Gipsies and to mo tho
mystery and heartachc OF this swift
fading out from my life OF these radiant
preSonCes, were more than could bear,
/ saw, too, now that Melinda had
gone, there were evident preparations
for abandoning tho house.bont. | dc.
termincd to return Mt once 10 London.
I 1. l. r.