Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-05-13

ly safe; that the clouds and the great
white mountain had kept watch over
her by day and the desert had ontrapped
any foot that would do her harm by
night.
"You have been there he said again
more severely.
Craymer threw himself into ham,
mock and waited to roll "a cigarette
with his delicate fingers before he an
swered, Don't get excited.
Then he lighted the trifle and watch
ed the smoke curl slowly from his
pursed up lips.
Eyes, went there shortly after our
impromptu visit. Party call, you know.
Devoirs to the young hostess. Don't
look so severe. She doesn't care for me.
She always asks about tn tall un i'll
shy way-not in the least as she would
ask you about me. She lives so among
mighty mountains that "a man who
measures less than 6 feet 2 is beneath
her notice. 1t would be cruel for you to
go there, but it isn't so with me.
WilmOt felt his fingers tingle to lay
hold of this careless speaker. "Then
you've been there more than once" he
affirmed, with added sternness.
Craymer bodied. Il came here ia
sketch the country and the people. And
it's worth going farther to get such
wild young thing, to say nothing Of the
other members of the family. | couldn't
do them justice in one nor i'll several
visits.
Then Wilmot remembered how very
little he had seen Of Craymcr since the
night when they were sheltered at the
hut. He had never cared for the COM
pany of this man and had been rather
glad than otherwise when day after
day had passed without his presence.
But now Il fiery rage arose within him.
Craymcr saw it, and being in "a satanic
humor just then went into the ranchci-
RI and presently came out with hand
full of sketches
"These may interest you," he said,
with a sardonc smile. Then, whistling
"The Little Maid Of Already, - he spread
out sketch after sketch done in a vivid
way, with faultless drawing and clean
handling.
That's the grandchildren fine old
figure. And that is the grandmother.
Here is the child, and here are some Of
the beasts, as they call them. Gothic
in style, you see, but picturesque, very.
And here is the little rhododcndrun
herself.
by the way, " he interpolated laugh
ingly as he held the other sketches i'll
his hand, "such deplorablc ignorance!
1t seems that she's troubling her pretty
head with new and strange thoughts
She asked me who God Is; if he paints
pictures, or whether he is man like
you. Hard ON me, now, wasn't it,
"And what did you tell her. asked
Wilmot.
"Pretended not to have heard and
gave her a picture to look at Queer,
wash t it,
Very queer, " assented Wilmot.
Then Craymer laid out several
sketches of the figure Wilmot rcmem-
bercd so well-the face with its tender,
sedatc mouth; the soft masses of straight
dark hair, parted above the low fore
head, and the trustful eyes, with that
little lift to the lower lid that comes to
one who gazes over wide distances and
that gave rare fascination to this face.
"Well," said Wilmot tentatively,
turning from one to another. Then as
the other did not speak, what are YOU
going to do with all these he asked
in dry tone.
'Work them up and sweep things at
the next 'eX;' send two or three across
the pond to my old market and make
my fortune.
y long pause followed. Then Wilmot
said Don show them 10 any one else,
but name any reasonable price and con-
slider them sold. "
"Ah, SOP said Craymer, with a
knowing nod. Il thought as much.
! Well, you shall have first refusal"
And don't 20 there again, " Wilmot
added.
80 that you can have everything
| your own way when you go:'
81 have not been there since we came
away together, and am not going"
"Yet you spend hours gazing in that
| particular direction.
"Iou are impertinent. l asked you
not TO go there for the girls own sake.
| There surely is material for sketches in
some other direction.
ooh, to be sure. Indians and sons Of
China. You've a lofty sense Of honor
though. Why, I've sold the portrait Of
my promised wife over and over again
sometimes as Greek maiden, some,
times as an Italian singing girl and
once 1 painted her head and shoulders
as Love.
THAT was between You two. But
this simple grandmother, with her gen.
erous hospitality, and the girl whose
faith in the clouds and the mountains
makes life of pitiable poverty into a
poem! They cannot understand what
you intend to do with these. They new
er heard Of the academy or the salon. 1t
is not fair -
Then, as ~ even the roof of the We
randa made the air sitting, he arose
suddenly and walked down the long
path before Che rancheira. In the clear
night everything melted and softened
into an all int Jlding charm.
'Why does he 90 there and what is
it that makes me care to go? 1t is the
same object, but we are drawn in differ
ent ways. What fools we mortals be. 1"
The Oregon grape was in full bloom.
The deep, glossy leaves ratified as he
passed too near, and their sharp little