Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-27


matter. 1t has always seemed very
strange to me. Mr.. Hay" she added,
tentatively, "that you should be so
practical. l have always supposed
that an artist should have an exceed
ingly vivid Imagination.
~ am not entirely devoid OF it, )" he
retortcd, bitterly; "but l exercise
common sense moro than anything
else. Besides, am not a Raphael nor
Murilo. Perhaps if I were should
be something of an anomaly with
their power OF vision seeing allied to
my decided practicality, capable OF
earning a good salary, and l never ex.
pect to be anything else, because it
isn't in me. I'm too practical. But
1 am pretty true to nature, and l
think, Miss Pearson, that if you will
give fellow fair show l could illus
trate your story as well Us anyone.
But she was obdurate to oil his ap.
peals.
"Don't argue with me or try to
change my views" she said. "This is
no mere whim. On the contrary 1t is
a serious matter. decided upon these
conditions years ago. If you cannot
do US 1 have suggested We are not
fitted for each other"
It was the most difficult problem
which Clarence Hays practical mind
had ever been called upon to solve.
There were times when he had serious
doubts of Miss Pearson's sanity, and
had she been less attractive woman
he would have abandoned all hope of
winning her and left her to find some-
body else to do hsr illustrating. But
whenever he began to- consider that
course of action the valves Of his heart
contracted with q sudden spasm OF
desolation, and he would once more
begin cudgelling his brain for possi-
bic clew to the theme of her story. He
hunted up every old magazine and
newspaper in which she had ever had
anything published and read her
work carefully, IN the hope of thereby
gaining some idea of what might nat
urally be expected of her. But she
had written in mahy veins, and he
might as we'll have tried to read SO.
luton in the stars as in the printed
pages whereon was mirrored the state
of her mind in the days gone by. Be.
sides, in mono of them was there visi.
BILE trace of the belief in the super.
natural that had characterized their
last conversation, and the theories
thcn expressed left him more mystified
as to the probable subject than any.
thing else could nave done.
She had stipulated that at the end
of month he should come to her
with his drawings. Then they were
to read her story and examine the
pictures together; il each was the
complement of the other, she would
marry him as soon as he wished.
Three weeks of the allotted time had
passed away and Clarence Hay had
fretted and fumed himself into mere
shadow of his former robust self, but
with all his worrying and specializing
no wandering slaft from her high
train of thought had pierced his OBJ.
tuse brain. He studied out q plot
every night in his dreams, but they
were all different, and when it came to
selecting one from such heterogene.
GUS mass of fancies, his predicameni
was as wofnl as though his slumber
had been visionless. He was about to
go to her and explain that as mind
reading was not his forte his was 6
hopeless case, and that in the name oi
Justice she ought to be lenient ani
rescind her unreasonable decree.
But Just at that time he received al
inspiration.
On the last day of the month hi
presented himself before Miss Pear
son with five drawings which were, he
tlattered himself. tho best he had evel
made during his career as IN artist
She read the story. 1t was graphic
description OF Syrian life in the slum
of large city. and was unique ant
strong in conception and execution
Then he showed his pictures. The.
also illustr ated Syrian life in the slum
of n large city.
She looked at him admiringly.
"Never BEFORE" said she, shave
had an article furnished with sncl
' appropriate illustrations. You ar
the man whom Providence intends m
to marry"
Her admiration and affection wer
very sweet, but there was large dos
OF gall and wormwood mixed wit
Clarence Hays draught OF honey.
"Miss Pearson" he said, as he wa
getting ready to go, 81 haven't bee
, honest with you. I love you to
!. much to impose upon you. Their
7 was no telepathic correspondence be
i, tween your mind and mine to prov
- that I am your affinity. 1 came b
!, knowledge in very material way
" Read this letter which received
), week ago."
He handed her a square sheet c
! white paper and she read aloud:
Mr.. Hay-Miss Pearson has finished HI
J story. 1t is a description OF Syrian life
I the slums OF a large city. Interior OF roo
;. given in detail (illustrate). Characters al
y group. Youngest child dies with America
o doctor Mt bedside (illustrateJ. Woman
G well educated and superior to average Syria
woman, but very poor illustrate as she a.
- pears IN the street). Doctor loves her, b.
sho will not marry because she believes
- her duty 10 leT race u llNo dlOuS thohA oh
q elevate them illustrate 'rejection2.
n A WELL WIsHER.
e "Hold on a minute. Don't say an.
h thing till 1 tell ALL" he said, as st
i. com m enced to speak. 81 couldn
If have thought of this from now till IL
,t crack of doom. didn't know VII
n sent that letter, whether mntu
d friend who had fathomed your score
10 or rival to whom you had contide
u all and who wrote this merely to lea
d me astray. But I concluded that
1 false scent was better than none at al
.e SO went to work. I spent two days
s, this Syrian colony. You see the r
suit. There, am truthful, eve
though I may be too practical to su
le your tastes"
10 He waited for her to, say something
r. but she only stared ut him in surpris
ii ''If you want to retract your Il
cision. all right" he said detected,