The Opelousas courier., 1898-06-11
: Clint L0Tjng'S NeighbOT !
BY JENNY WREN.

i S'ohlhS. ne lliu Deen Den,
ing over his easel all day, and W,
worn out in1mind and body.
Painting Ar amusement aud pain
ing to keep he wolf from the door |
found to beM totally different matte.
In days goAe by his studio had bee
constantly thronged, not with buyer
(he had no need to foster his genius
but with friends and a,lmirers-thos
who smoked his cigars and drank hi
wine, asthey dilated on the merits {
his picthe s.
He had neither the one nor tn
other now to offer them, and the pic
lures seemed to have lost their charm
Fortunately there we're Il few dealer
who cared more for art than the artist
and SO when Clint one mornin!
%"akened to find himself PRACTICAL,
~be%gaTed, he determined to make hi
talents available, and so he quietl,
moved away from the large and expen
s1ye quarters lie had so luxuriousl,
furnished to the plain upper room
where we now find him dreaming,
perhaps, of the past, when suddenl,
q woman's voice, rich, sweet and clear,
breaks upon his rcyerie.
He starts, awakened in an instant.
and listens to the end.
1t is in the very room next his own.
Nothing but a thin partition divides
the two. Only last night a mans
tread, heavy and somewhat uncertain.
denoted its occupant. Tonight all
had been silence, until the pure notes
rang out upon the evening air.
somehow they fingered in Clint
Lorlng's dreams that night, again with
an echo of the dim past, when he had
stalls at the opera by the season, and
could crafty the very passion for
music which possessed him.
The room had had many tenants
since he had occupied his own; but,
with the next mornings dawning, his
first thoughts flew to his neighbor,
with a regretful wonder whether she.
too, would be fleeing like the rest.
1t scanned not, for, as the DAYS
merged into weeks, there were many
moments when Clint would forget his
and brush, and listen en-
RANGED.
He grew to feel a strange interest
Il his unknown neighbor. Never vet
he been able to catch a GLIMPSE of
Ter face. Sometimes a light, quick
top would pass his door, but, let
lin turn his head howsoever quickly.
had disappeared.
One night, returning home, rather
ater than usual, he caught sight, lust
head, entering the door, OF a stylish,
Irish figure, which ran lightly and
Witty ahead of him up the stairway.
The figure was graceful, the dress
lain, but he had little time to observe
ither as she hurried into her room
nd closed the door.
A sudden impulse caused him to re-
ace his steps, and when next he APP
cared, he bore carefully in his arms
rosebush full of blossoms. He
paused o hesi:ated until he
God at his neighbours threshold, when
Knocked, A moment later the door
and the owner of the room
God revealed before him.
1t was a face worthy the voice. A
tile worn, a little pale, perhaps, for
but with it's wondering blue
and framework of Titan hair,
le could easily imagine how perfect
ould be the picture, with here and
ere an added dash of color.
Both stood in silence, she inquir-
gly, he wondering how he should
gin, when he spoke:
You will pardon my intrusion, I
pc, but [ fear if [ leave these flowers
my room they will fade and wither.
nave not much time to give attention
such things. May I leave them with
u% F.,
ooh, how lovely! Indeed, indeed 6
Il may! Thank you, very much" q
to kiss one of the blossoms 1
the plant she held in her hands. c
how came You to think of me, a a
anger?"
Il had heard you sing, and I knew !
1 were q woman, and all ONE y
e flowers. May l come in and tell v
1 more about it? Ny name is Clint II
ring, and / am your next-door q
ghbor. Ii [ wait to be formally a. q
scented, [ fear I shall never know II
L." ..
a minute she hesitated, then a h
ght smile lit up her fac. as she w
ked into the honest eyes awaiting II
to his question. Handsome 4
$ they were, too, which had found +;
IL way to many q woman's heart.
she answered:
Yes, you may come in. It seems ie
lnge to receive visitors, but [ bid =
welcome. I an Mrs. Andrews" ~
I'D his ears deceive him? Was ~
+ young girl a wife? Perhaps o II
ow, he thought, with a glance at !.
black dress, since she seems alone .u ,
desolate. III
ct she was not alone; for, as he W. W.
'sed the threshold, he noticed in !!
corner an old woman knitting. q"
1t is my aunt" she explained. III
is growing very old, but I dread W.
time when she will leave me alone. 40
t, this is a friend of mine, Mr..
de
he old woman looked up only for las
'ment, as though nothing could al
CT detain her from her work. VIC
It's not Henry" she muttered. an
my will never come again" FOL
other days, many women had
ed at Clint Loring, drawing him,
hoped, to their feet, but all had
d. He had gone on in his bright, be,