The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-05-27

NASNNE
ton when she told her Aunt Margaret
it was the rapture of artistic success
that painted her cheeks and made her
eyes brilliant, her voice thrill with mu-
steal cadences.
Every day, when the weather permit
ted, she was upon the beach, working
with rapid fingers and swelling heart
over her canvas Every day, at the
hour agreed upon, James Smith, fisher
man, presented himself as her model
upon the liberal terms offered in the
IfseGrantvilles Gazette. Had Lena been
brought up in society I know it would
have been impossible for her to accept
James Smith at his own word as Q
Wilton fisherman. But the young ar
list was child yet in many ways. She
had been educated with the seclusion
of nun, in spite Of her foreign ex-
perience, and her devotion to her art
had kept her still secluded from choice
after she returned to her home.
It was, therefore, no amazement, but
simply a delight, to her, when the hand
some fisherman, who looked one of Ma
lures noblemen. in his rough, pictures
que dress, conversed with her intelli-
gently, and paid her the courteous re-
spect Of a gentleman. Little by little,
as they drew more closely together III
their daily intercourse, James Smith let
the brilliant intellect, the Travelled
knowledge he possessed creep out into
sight. He gave her to understand,
without actually lying, that he had Deen
a sailor, and so accounted for his Ia
| miliarity with the scenes she had Wis
| tied and carried craven on her heart
! and brain. He looked over many OF
| her sketch-books, wondering at the
power in the slender hands, the genius
! of the youthful brain, the fidelity OF
touch and eye, and, as the restraint OF
strangenes wore away his true man
hood asserted itself, and his heart rose
his master. How could he but love
her! With all her wondrous gift, she
was the purest, simplest maiden he had
| ever met Ladies he had known by
scores, finished in every graceful ac-
complishment, but never one more ex-
quisite in refinement than Lena. Peas
ant girls he had seen with beauty I'M
adorned" yet not one more unaffected
than this artist maid in her dress Of
cheap print, her hair simply bound in
heavy .braids of golden lustre.
There was the unaffected grace Of
girlhood, with the well-stored mind, OF
one who made books, music and art
daily companions.
! His conscience rebelled often at the
deceit he was practicing, but he hug
ged the thought of the luxury he could
offer his love, the toll he could spare
| her.
June was yet young when the picture
was completed, and in the early morn
ing James Smith, Aunt Margaret and
Lena stood upon the beach looking up
on it's beauty. 1t was to be packed and
sent to New York in the afternoon, and
Lena, her heart full, said softly:
How can live if it is failure?"
Believing she spoke Of actual poverty
should her art fail to win money
James Smith, with a. sudden, over
whelming love controlling him, spoke
out. 1t would make my story too long
to tell the words that made Lena's
heart tremble and her eyes grow misty
while Aunt Margaret wrath was kind
ling at the fisherman's presumption.
But when Lena's hand was fast pris
oned in his own, when her eyes, love
lighted, were dropping and her cheeks
blushing under his gaze, James Smith
said:
But, though I have once deceived
you, Lena, you may trust me now, fol
all time"
/, Deceived me?' she cried, shrinkin,
little.
II am not James Smith, but Mortime
Gilroy; not an honest, hard-worl1in,
fisherman, only an idle, useless gentle
man. You will not need to work whe1
you are my wife, Lena, but can pain
for pleasure only"
Then Lena's eyes flashed merrily, an
she would have spoken, even if Aun
Margaret had not said, dryly:
perhaps it would be good time t
tell Mr. Mortimer Gilroy, who you are.
). .'Do not look SO ,bewildered,' Len
said II am not masquerading. ar
! simply what you know me--Madelein
Seymour, artist. But Aunt Margare
6 wishes me to tell you that paint nov
n have painted for years, solely for pleas
ure! I love my art! I have loved
better than any earthly pleasure sine
v first my hand could grasp pencil BIZ
: 1 am not working for money, becaus
>. I have more than enough. am ricl
d too, though I do not paint in sati
I dresses or wear jewels at the seasid
l. Still. did not mean any deception!"
Q, "And you would have bestowed yol
n wealth upon a poor fisherman" aske
IS Mortimer Gilroy, with glad heart an
s, loving eyes.
" She smiled, answering:
" II think 1 found the pearl in i
m rough case. I did not know your soci
- position, but did know you We're
IN gentleman in heart and education.
If could not have loved you had yol
n speech or manner been as rough
d, your Dress
be So Aunt Margaret was satisfied, al