Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-26

And glanced athwart the gloom
ing flats.
She only said, The night is
dreary,
He cometh not" she said,
She said, I am aweary, aweary,
I would that l were dead -
Yes; she is exactly what 1 have
dreamed Of. I must at least get
sketch of her face, though I suppose
it would hardly do to ask her to sit to
me-"
He drew pencil and paper toward
him, and sketched Esperance's face
from memory, but not altogether sue
cessfully. Dissatisfied with the at
tempt, he tore it In pieces, and light
ing his cigar, gave himself UP to
deep meditation in which the further
imagination of Mariana" bore a
prominent part
After morning service the next day
Claude went to the deanery, there to
undertake the not very congenial task
of painting Bella Mortlake's portrait
Mrs. Mortlake was delighted to have
obtained her wish
"The dear child is quite at her best.
| was so very anxious that she should
be painted now am so glad you can
spare the time. Esperance, run and
fetch Bella"
Claude arranged his easel, discussed
size and position with Mrs. Mortlake,
set his palette, waited and fdgeted
| h11t z
a distant screaming was heard, draw
! ing nearer. Mrs. Mortlake fastened
to the door and listened. Esperance's
voice was heard demonstrating.
Bella, dear, you must come down:
Mr.. Magnay is waiting for you. See,
then, I must leave you and call nurse"
| No answer but screams.
| Mrs. Mortlake hurried to the scene
of action, and Bella was borne into
the dining-room, kicking with all her
might.
Claude shrugged his shoulders, and
glanced at his Mariana" She was
paler and sadder-looking than ever,
and as she stood waiting for Bella's
sObs to cease, there was a dropping
lhopelessness about her very attitude
which Claude longed to catch. He
hastily sketched an outline, and
watched her varying expression al
most breathlessly.
Bella was sobbing out something
about "Esperance," and Mrs Mort
lake, without waiting to find what the
real grievance was, turned round with
a severity of tone and look quite out
! of proportion even to the imagined
offense
''Esperance, how often must tell
you not to interfere with my manage
ment Of Bella? these crying fits are
far more frequent since you came.
Why do you aggravate the poor
child?"
Indeed, Christabel, Bella was cry
ing becanse she did not want to leave
the nursery. I only"
All! that is always the way-ex-
cuses always ready! No, do not at
tempt to evade the truth. You know
quite we'll the child is good with every
one else. 1t really is most provoking!
Here is all Mr.. Magnay's time wasted,
and Bella's face so swollen with crv-
ing that she can not possibly have her
picture taken"
| Esperance did not reply. A look of
sudden pain passed over her features,
her eyes grew more despairingly mis-
erable-her whole face was expressive
of the sense of isolation and injustice.
Claude drank ia her whole aspect
and bearing almost greedily, thrilling
through and through with the delight
OF thus grasping his subject It was
not till a mist of tears dimmed those
bright eyes that his human nature be-
gan to be touched by the sight of
Isuffering, and half ashamed of his ar
itistic rapture, he turned eagerly to
Mrs. Mortlake.
Pray don't think you are wasting
my time; and as to Miss Bella's face, I
expect it will soon be sunny again.
All! 1 thought so,' as Bella, who was
the most arrant little fiirt, looked up
smilingly, and inclined to be propitia-
ted by his attention.
There was some little difficulty
about the placing. One chair was too
high, and another too low, and it end
ed in Mrs. Mortlaks's sending Esper-
anee to the library to fetch one Of
the large books for Bella to sit on.
Claude, who, after his momentary
forgetfulness, had suddenly become
very human and very polite, hurried
after her to carry the bulky volume.
She was standing by the book-shelves
when he entered. pulling not very en-
ergetically at "Webster's Dictionary
LET me help you he exclaimed;
this is famous book indeed, but too
heavy for you"
She thanked him, and would have
turned away, but he detained her.
4 wanted to tell you how sorry I
am to have been partly the cause of
all this-to do;'' he would have said
this scolding," but prudently re-
Trained
you are very good, but indeed I do
not see that you caused it. 1t is al
ways the same" said Esperance,
YEARLY, with the hopeless Mariana"
look again.
Claude was full of sympathy, but
only ventured to say, miss Bella is
somewhat trying, should fancy. I
hope you will give me your help dur
ing the sittings, for she will soon
i. look upon me as her arch-tormento-. -