The Chipley banner., 1897-07-10

.D + 1Ss am nertsI ,e', shanter mter
rakishly atop, posed on throne. Tray
with aplate of sandwiches and empty
beer bottles on piano. Under north
skylight Hatherly in painting
blouse at work on six -foot-by-four
canvas Autumn in the New For
est"
Hatherly (soliloquizing): Well, I
hope to goodness no one drops in this
afternoon. There wasnta day I could
work from the time l brought it home
in November till last week. If I'm not
interrupted and get OH as wen as Ihave
been doing, may be in time for send
ing g-in-day after all. Gentle knock at
the door, which Hatherly does not
hear.)
Visitor: Tap, tap.
Hatherly (impatiently): o, bother!
I'll pretend I'm out.
Visitor Qeuder): Tap, tap, tap
Lefty Lorimer hesitatingly): Yes,
Dick. May come in? You're sure
I'm not disturbing you?
Hatherly (mendaciouslyl: o, no.
OF course you're not. But / say, Lefty,
You won't mind my going on with my
work, will you? / want to get this
done for the Academy, and time is
short now.
Lefty Earnestly: No, Dick!
Hatherly (complacently): That's all
right, then. Sit down there like a
dear, and don't miud me. You see,
the light is good now, and in a while
it will be too dark to paint.
Lefty takes seat behind him and
silently watches the progress of the
work. At last, summoning up courage,
she says nervously: Dick!
q Hatherly (starting): Yes! why, I had
nearly forgotten you, Lefty. BY the
bye, what has become Of the Dowager?
She doesn't usually allow you out
alone.
Lefty: Grandmama is tired to-day
and resting. I've been to the dress
makers. Ford is with me. She is
waiting in the carriage downstairs. I
came alone (falteringly) because I
wished to speak to you.
Hatherly: That's right, my dear.
Gossip away. Tell me all your news.
I can listen quite well, though I'm
busy. How's the old lady? Been any
pleasanter lately?
Lefty almost in tears): o, Dick!
her temper is simply unbearsble.
Hatherly: Horrid old vixen. I'm
glad she's no guardian Of mine.
Lefty: do try to be patient, but
her tongue is SO bitter and so cruel.
Hatherly (absently): Poor little
girl.
Lefty: I sometimes feel as if I
conld run away.
Hatherly (enTossed in studying
foreground of picture, soto voce): {:
Ah, I've caught it now. Claxton WAS
right. That shadow to the left is too
heavy. What are you saying, Lefty?
Lefty getting it out with a jerk |;
Do you rember Captain Grierson, one
OF the Leicester Griersons?
Hatherly (squeezing fresh color on
his palette): Yes, that, alteration will
make all the difference. I beg pardon,
Lefty. You were saying
Lefty patiently: Do you remem-
Der Captain Grierson?
Hatherly: Yes; he was at Rugby
with me. Or was that his brother2
Cecil Grierson -sandy.haired chap,
tall.
Lefty: Yes, Cecil We're Grierson. I
want to tell you, Dick Hatherly,
leaving Easel abruptly, goes to table
and returns with small piece Of card
board with square cut from the centre,
through which he gazes absorbedly at
the new arrangement. Lefty sighs
despondently.)
Hatherly turning TO her)c Say,
Lefty! Just look through this square
q moment. Don't you think the pic
ture will compose better with that
shadow lightened?
Lefty (pale and agitated): Dick, I
must 60 soon. Can you spare ne q
moment to-day?