Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-10-18
CHAPTER Nv.
The Moth aud the Candle.

ANS
The Moth and the Candle.
Not one day only, but many did Rufo
Anio come 10 the house on the hillside,
and his picture grew rapidly and the
faces Of the two girls set side by side
on the canva were iifelike in their re-
semblance, and admirable foils to each
other, the n so glowing and lovely, the
other so calm and sweet
And meantime, though 1t was to Nita
that the young painter talked most,
and to whom he gave ready jests and
merry smiles, yet for patient, quiet
Gonna he reserved the deepest feelings;
she alone knew of his life his struggles,
his ambitious hopes, and she alone, too
read the weakness and irresolution Of
character that marred so many Of his
best efforts, and the langu:d selfishness
that was so difficult to rouse and so
easy to minister to.
1t was a new thing to Genna to be
treated with consideration and respect,
and the gentle Difference and courtesy
Of the young painters manner +ouched
her far more deeply than he Ter sus-
pected. In all her rough, hard life no
n had ever seemed to care for any
feeling or desire Of her and now
she had found one being who never
Knocked at her want Of beauty, who
never sighted nor neglected her, wen
for the lovely younger sisters attrac-
tons.
1t was a terror and yet a joy to her
to be in his presence, 10 hear his voice,
to meet his eyes to have the chance
touch Of his hand on her head or Shout
der as he moved or changed her posi-
tion from time to time. Her face SEEM
ed to glow with happiness: the rich
color burned IN feverish brilliance on
her dark cheek, and gave luster to the
great pathetic eyes and even trans
figured the patient, homely face which
he had honored-so she deemed it-be-
yond all words by placing on his a N
vas.
~ am sorry to have to hide you eyes
In my picture" he said n day. They
are so beautiful
The words brought the hot blood leap
ing to her face, and filed her with a
strange and passionate delight. Bean
tiful!' that ne should have applied
that word to M attribute of hers
seemed a wonder too great for ere
dence. 1t seemed to change her whole
life to rapture, not with the gratitica-
ton Of vanity, but the marvel that
n human being had thought her
worthy of such praise. He did not
know what a tumult Of emotion he
had reused In the breast Of his quiet
model. She sat there still and notion
less as a statue Of marble-her long
lashes covering her eyes, and only the
flush on her dusky cheek and the trem-
bic of her locked fingers hetraying any
agitation.
Are you tired?" he ASK , her. as he
laid down his brushes at last, and so
released her from the strain Of her at
titude.
mo-" she said quietly, as she rose
with an odd dazzling look upon her face
Tired of resting? that would Ne
strange indeed"
You do not often rest, 1t seems to
me. Why does not Nita help you nor
with your household laborsT"
"She is different" the girl said grave
ly. Work Is natural to me. l have
always been used to it."
And spared herr Is It not SCI"
She looked al him with grave rebuke.
"She is so young and beautiful. 1t
Is not fit she should do all the rough,
hard service needful here. But she Is
very good. She would always help me
IL / wished" ?
'Knowing very well that You wished
II ever SO much you would not say sc.
How unselfsh you are, Genna."
She colored hotly at his praise.
"No, indeed" she eagerly disclaimed,
al do but little, and ] am often discon-
tented and rebellions, too. II Is. as
MA. .au. "A ,,annfnnps,a lffn anA .ft,v,
w~earisome."
Where is your sister nowr'
"In the fields, j think. She told me
she was going to help there this after
noon"
ut is her turn to sit to me to-mor-
row." said the young painter. "She
does not make such a good model as
you, Genna; she Is SO restless and i'm
patient"
The girl was silent. HIS words dis
turbed and perplexed her, and made
her half afraid Of the JOY they gave.
Across the ~barrenness and hardness Of
her life his face, his voice. his praise
fell like sunshine over darkness. giving
her tumultuous pain, q mpturous,
dreamy emotion. as new as they were
inexplicable.
He looked at the softened and per-
picked radiance Of her face with a
certain wonder and reverence In Ills
own.
Elf there were more women like you
In the worlc, Genna," he said impui-
sively, 1.-THE world would be "A great
deal better than IL is."
"Oh, hush" she said, wita evident
distress; do noe say Such words 70 me.
You do not kn0H what ! ana"