Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-09
cHApTER m-fcontlnuea.l

and Went mp TO tell John.
ii Judy found her brother sitting by
the window in his room. He had, ap
parcntly. been sketching, but o
leaned back in his chair. deep in
thought. There was an uneXpresSed
bond of sympathy between them. just
rs there was n great lihrness, only the
natural beauty of the young mans
dark face was married by lines of pair
which his black moustache seemed to
accentuatc.
Judy has come up to tell Punch
some news" he remarked. turning
slowy to her with n smlle-the nick
names were those he had bestowed
years before upon himself and her
.Judy may save her breath. Elsie has
bowled Judy out. How did Punch
know? Look here
He handed her n sketch i'm crayons
OF a pair of lovers in a garden-yery
fair portraits of Elsie and Claude.
."rhey forgot | was up here" he ex-
claimed: $50 l saw all. They spun II
ont. rather. didn't they? Was Judy
doing n weep. meanwhile, and has she
now come to Punch for sympathy"
"No-she hasn't" retorted Judy.
whose feelings were never hurt by his
badinage. because she knew that he
did not mean to pain her. and attempt
ing no denial Of a cause for tears. siuce
she knew how keen was his glance.
'She is too sensible. eh? So sensible
that she can bear 10 know her Grant
knight is not a god to every one? Look
here"
He handed her another sketch that
had been lying face downwnrds upon
the table. There were the same fig
ures. only this time Elsie's face was
represented with an expression of inso-
lent amusement, as she gaZed at her
lover, who grovelled at her feet. and
whose head John had changed TO that
of a pig. Underneath was written,
'Circe and a Victim"
Judith tore it into. saying, angrily:
How can you turn your talents TO
so base n use. JohnY'
ut is the perverted nature of the an
imal," he retorted, coolly, as he
snatched the pieces out of her hand
and put them together again. why
shouldn't / amuse myself? | can't go
and make love to pretty fools, as
Townshend can. for the women won't
lcok at me, though. possibly they
would not be squeamish ii l had mon
ey. You tore my sketch up, Judy. and
/ particularly wished to keep il with
the intention of showing 1t to Town
shend when he shall have become so
wholesomely disillusioned as to be able
TO appreciate my p~erspicacity. Be
sides, you did not half examine it,
look at yon plying moon."-and he
pointed %laughingly at the background
of his torn sketch.
Judith recognized her own profile.
delicately outlined in the crescent
moon looking down upon the scene:
but John frustrated her intention TO
destroy that by snatching it up. while
he turned another sketch toward her
for inspection. 1t represented Claude
lying dead on n patch of greensward,
with n womaE Of slender build knecl-
ing beside him in an attitude of grief;
gliding away was a large snake, which
had it's head turned back. looking
mockingly at them, his head being a
caricature of Elsie.
Judith bent to look at 1t, but sud
denly turned aside and burst into tears.
The mischief in her brothers face i'm
mediateIy gave place 10 an expression
Of surprise that merged into loving
tenderness, rendering the likeness be-
tween the two more striking. as he
stretched out one Of his thin hands and
f0rcibly drew her to his side and kissed
her.
"You goose,' he said. softly. IF l
had guessed you would have been hurt.
i would not have shown them TO you.
] have bitterness enough In me to re-
sent the injuries of forty people. and 1t
must have some outlet. Do not fear
that I shall exhibit those sketches TO
any one else, though / think IL would
do Miss Elsie good TO see them. have
teen very little Of what was going on,
but sufficient TO know that she has viii
fully stolen your lover. ! think |
should have hated him IL he had mar
ried you. and yet ! am angry with her
for stealing him from you. Judy. YOU
must marry Il man who will let me live
with you. You will-won't youi'
.'Yes-I promise you tkat," Judith re-
turned. with "A catch in her breath.
but. Jack. you won't draw any more
horrid pictures. will you?"
well. If / do. | won't let you see
them. You must not crush rising gen
ius. Judy
IL don't want to do so: but / wish
you would try to turn your talent to
some better account"
He made a grimace as he replied:
II have offered TO illustrate the gov
errors books. but he won't stand It,. l
suppose he fears that in one of my per-
verified humors l might make his hero
inc a Medusa and his hero a monster.
while endowing the villain with the
graces of Adonis and Mars combined.
Turn my talent to account? lmpossi-
BILE. Judy. i am a dreamer, as my
father is. There Is something in me
j am ever more conscious of that
than nj night when ! am wakeful. But
If ! obeyed my impulse and sprang up
to put TO paper the faacies that run
riot In my brain. the inspiration would
have vanished by the time l had. light
ed my candle and found my crutches.
j am not of the stuff of which martyrs
and heroes or successes are made"
He paused, with n sigh: and as
Judy caressingly passed her hand over
his dark head, she thought that the
knowledge that John would have
missed her terribly ii she bad married,
should alone engender in her peace and
\ content. Presently she said To him:
Come down to luncheon, John-Mr,
4 Iownshend IL going 10 stay"