The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-07-26


write of love to man she had never
seen three months previously was diff
fioult and rather alarming thing to do, it
seemed to her. AS months passed Philip
complained that her letters were cold
and accused her of having ceased to
care for him. This made Mildred angry,
and she wrote q sarcastic letter in re-
Ely. All this she confided to her aunt,
and that lady felt that her opportunity
had come. She quietly tossed all let
tiers which came from Philip during the
next two weeks into the fire, and at the
expiration of that time she wrote home
glowing letters full of accounts of Mil
dred's social triumphs. The London
season was on, and Mildred really was
the recipient of much attention. She en-
tered into the gayeties with feverish
spirit caused by Philips cruel neglect
of her, as she supposed. A certain scion
Of an old French house was very devoted
to her, and Mrs. Montrose did all i'll her
power to aid and abet his cause. She
believed that Mildred's infatuation for
Philip was a passing girlish fancy, and
that marriage between the two could
only result in misery. She felt justified
in making this lovers quarrel a final
rupture. A poor artist was bad enough,
but when he added to his poverty dis
position of jealous tyranny it was time
something was done to save Mildred be-
fore it was too late. Well, the "some-
thing" was done.
1t was June when Philip heard the
news of Mildred's titled admirer. Six
weeks had elapsed since her last sarcas-
tic letter came to him, and there had
been no response to four of his penitent
epistles. So this was the end of his
dream. He packed up his belongings
and set out for the "wilds of Maine. !"
He did not care where he went, only to
get away from the roar of New York
and the eyes of curious people-that
was all he asked. He had thought Of the
Maine woods, but tho thirst for the salt
sea grew upon him as he journeyed, so
| he found himself one June night set.
tied in fishing hamlet with his tent
pitched just out of the reach of the
waves at high tide and sheltered by pic
| turesque rocks ON one side and glimpse
| of spreading country fields on the other,
| A few rods distant was the cabin Of
"Clamming jack" where he took his
repast, Suzanne was Jack s daughter, a
veritable fisherman's daughter. and the
handsomest creature it had ever been
Philips lot to look upon. Medium
height, of perfect shape and almost
faultless features, she possessed that
wonderful complexion SO often found
near the sea, and which might be re-
Election from the lining of seashells, so
similar is it in coloring. Her thick soft
hair was the hue Of ripe wheat and fell
to her knees when unbraided. ga glo-
rious model!' Philip thought only, and
straightway asked her to serve in that
capacity, offering what seemed a for
tune to the simple girl-50 cents an
hour
So Suzanne passed many weary hour
for him and marveled at the sight of
herself upon canvas. And while she
posed "Clamming Jack" would row
ashore with Dick Dunning of the fish
ing scow Black Minnie, and the two
would stand awestruck behind the artist
gazing at the wonderful things which
grew beneath his hand. Then Suzanne
| would have to be freed from her strange
new role of "artist's model" and go and
spread tho family repast.
Dick Dunning lived with Claiming
Jack and his daughter during the fish,
ing season. In the winter he worked at
odds jobs about the neighboring towns.
A good fellow in his way, with dog
like fidelity to his friends, an honest
eye, aud willing open hand, so open
that it never held the pennies that he
earned until they grew to dollars That
Dick loved Suzanne was as plain to all
the world as that the waves ran up to
kiss the shore. When man loves wo-
man honestly, there is that in his eye,
when it falls upon her, which no OBJ,
server can mistake, but with women it
is different. and none could say if Su-
zanne loved Dick. Philip from shee.
WEAKNESS in thinking so hopelessly OF
his own heart affairs fell to wondering
about Suzanne's, and then it was that
he began to look upon her as awoman, not
merely model, and he thought what
desecration it would be of beauty such
as hers to give itself to rough handed,
uncouth Dick Dunning. 1t was not long