The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-07-08

D@ Fam 1s leetsi o. shanter inter-
rakishly atop, posed on throne. Tray
with plate of san4 wiches and empty
beer bottles on piano. Under north
skylight Hatherly in painting
blouse at work on siz-foot-by-four
canvas Autumn in the New For
est"
Hatherly (soliloquizing): Well, I
hope to goodness no one drops in this
afternoon. There wasn'ta day I could
work from the time I brought it home
! in November till last week. IF I'm not
interrupted and get on as well as Ihave
been doing, I may be in time for send
ing-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 (louder): Tap, tap, tap!
Lefty Lorimer (hesitatingly): Yes,
Dick. May I come in? You're sure
I'm not disturbing you?
Hatherly (mendaciously): o, no.
OF course you're not. But say, Lefty,
you won't mind my going on with my
| work, will you? I 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 q
dear, and don't mind me. You see,
the light is good now, and IN while
! ii 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!
Hatherly (starting): Yes! why, I had
nearly forgotten you, Lefty. By the
bye, what has become Of the Dowager?
sho 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
tusy. How's the old lady? Been any
pleassnter lately?
Lefty (almost in tears}: o, Dick!
her temper is simply unbearable
Hasherly: Horrid old vixen. I'm
glad she's 10 guardian Of mine.
Lefty: / do try to be patient, but
her tongue is so bitter and so cruel
Hatherly tabsently): Poor little
Girl
Lefty: J. sometimes feel as if I
could run away.
Hatherly (engrossed in studying
foreground of picture, soto voce):
All, 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 ierk):
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. beg pardon,
Lefty. yyu were saying
Lefty patiently: Do you remem-
ber Captain Grierson?
Hatherly: Yes; he was at Rugby
with me. Or was that his brother?
Cecil Grierson-sandy-haired chap,
tall.
Lefty: Tes, Cecil We're Grierson. I
want to tell You, Dick-tHatheriy,
leaving Easel abruptly. goes to table
and returns with a 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): Say,
Lefty! Just look through this square
q moment. Don't you think the pio-
ture will compose better with that
shadow lightened?
Lefty (pale and agitated): Dick, I
must 60 soon. Can you s-;are me
moment to-day?
Hatherly Cpenitently): Excuse me,
dear. I'm beastly rude, treating you
like this. It's the fault of this glorious
light. There hasn't been day like it
all winter. I'm boor, I know, but
the fatal Monday draweth nigh after
which no man can work.
Lefty: Well, I was trying to tell
you that Captain Grierson returns to
India in two months to rejoin his regi-
ment, and
Dick (cheerfully interrupting):
Lucky beggar! Seeing the world while
we all yegetate at home.