Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-05-28


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
Granville Gazette" Had Lena been
brought up in society know it would
have been impossible for her to accept
James Smith at his own word, as a
Wilton fisherman. But the young ar
tist 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 delight, to her, when the hand
some fisherman, who looked one of Ma
lures poblemen 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 in
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 been
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
strangeness 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 pictn .
was completed, and in the early mcxA-
ing James Smith, Aunt Margaret and
Lena stood upon the beach looking up
on its beauty. 1t was to be packed and
sent to New York in the afternoon, and
Lena, her heart full, said softly:
How can l live If 1t is failure?"
Believing she spoke of actual poverty,
should her art fail to win money,
James Smith, with 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's wrath was kind
ling at the flsherman'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 1 have once deceived
you, Lena, you may trust me now, for
all time"
Deceived me?" she cried, shrinking
a little.
81 am not James Smith, but Mortimer
Gilroy; not an honest, Woodworking
only an idle, useless gentle
man. You will not need to work when
you are my wife, Lena, but can paint
for pleasure only"
Then Lena's eyes flashed merrily, and
she would have spoken, even if Aunt
Margaret had not said, dryly:
perhaps it would be a good time to
tell Mr.. Mortimer Gilroy who you are"
"Do not look so bewildered," Lena
said. 81 am not masquerading. I am
simply what you know me-Madeleine
Seymour, artist. But Aunt Margaret |
wishes me to tell you that I paint now,
have painted for years, solely for pleas
ure! 1 love my art! I have loved 1t
better than any earthly pleasure since
first my hand could grasp pencil. But
I am not working for money, because
/ have more than enough. I am rich,
too, though I do not paint in satin
dresses or wear jewels at the seaside.
Still, did not mean any deception!"
"And you would have bestowed your
Gealth upon poor fisherman" asked
Mortimer Gilroy, with glad heart and
loving eyes.
She smiled, answering:
IT think I found the pearl in its
rough case. I did not know your social
position, but l did know you were a
gentleman in heart and education. l
could not have loved you had your
speech or manner been as rough as
your DRESS"
So Aunt Margaret was satisfied, and
society welcomed Mortimer Gilroy's ar
list wife, guessing nothing of the little
romance that was founded upon adver-
Using for a model.-New York Ledger.
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