The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-08-25

Saould have done without her all these
years. sir. She's so happy and loving
nobody could help loving Rosy-no-
body
Mrs. West blinked away tear and
Mare leaned back in his chair, and
crossed his legs, pondering over her
words
Nobody could help loving Rosy
nobody
.sWelI of course, he would have to
love her, too.
Roses were made to love, and this
sweet opening bud could not be an ex-
ception.
He did not give utterance to his
thoughts, and, seeing she had an at
4 tentive listener Mrs West narrated
Rosy's story from the beginning.
80 her relatives were never tracedF'
he said when she had finished. 1t is
not too late-means might be taken,
even now, to restore her to her fam
ily.7
4 "Oh, sir, it is too late the woman
1 pleaded. .sI've had her all these years
and it u'd break my heart to part with
her now. / may be foolish and wrong,
but | hope she will never leave me till
Im dead and in my grave
What will become of her then?
please God, she'll be provided for
I've taken care of that
Mare felt a sort of respect for the
/ woman who had SO Loyalty fulfilled
her trust, and he again congratulated
/ himself on having selected Lilac Villa
FOR his abode.
1 Nor did he find his new quarters in
any way detrimental to his comfort
( There was as much light in the pleas
ant front room as was to be found in
an ordinary studio. and, by the time
! his portmanteau and easels had ar
rived the place, to him, had quite a
4 familiar air.
CHAPTER v.
Not many days had passed before
Mare had sketched rough outline of
the picture for which Rosy was to sit.
II shall call it The Rose Maiden"
he said, in reply to a question from
the girl. when will You let me have
the first sitting? / want to get on with
( it before the roses are over"
Il will sit whenever you like. You
i have sonly to tell me when you are
ready
VERY well; tomorrow morning
then?'
..Yes."
She looked at the outline he had
sketched ON the canvas, and, with her
usual quickness, took in the details of
the draped figure.
.'Am to be exactlyin thatattitude2'
she asked, stepping back from the
easel and putting her head on one side
to study the pose.
sAs much Like it as possible. don't
think you will find it a trying posi-
ton"
! He was scarcely prepared for the
readiness with which his model fell in
with his plans.
When she came into his studio on
the Following day, he could not utter
a word for a few moments, SO great
was his surprise.
She had discarded her everyday
dress and had arrayed herself in a
classic garb-in effect. the fac simile
of the one he had sketched for his pic
ture.
Her golden hair was allowed to fall
over her shoulders in natural waves.
and circling her brow was wreath
of velvety roses.
Roses. too, We're in her hands. and
| the lovely neck and arms were left
bare.
Mares breath was almost taken
away. as he gazed at the living pic
ture before him.
How did you manage to get the
dressy' he asked at length. 1t is the
very thing and all those roses y
Rosalie gave one of her merry
laughs.
s.The dress? / made it out of some
old curtains that had been washed
threadbare; l copied the shape from
your sketch; and the roses-I stole
''Stole?"
"There were not enough on our own
rose trees, so. climbed over into the
doctors garden and helped myself to
as many as wanted"
"But, my dear child"
Il assure you, it does not matter-I
shall take them back directly the sit
ting is finished
You won't be able to make them
grow on the trees again.
II shall have saved some one the
trouble of gathering them. The doc
to always tells me to make myself at
home in his garden-this time | have
taken him to his word.
Sudu uitNc 10 utlp tOu CdiAe tuc
roses back, and take my share of the
I blame. You must have gone out rose
hunting very early
Before anybody at the doctors was
up. That's why | had to climb over
and help myself"
He would quite forgive you, | think,
4 if he could see you now, Marc said.
IF l can make my picture like my
model my greatest ambition will be
realized"
/ Rosy did not understand compli.
ments, if, indeed, he had intended his
words as one.
She liked better the approving glance
he bent on her and the light hearted
ring in his voice.
Mare was enraptured with the beau
/ ty of his model, and he commenced to
paint with zest that left him no time
for talking.
II hope I am not tiring you. he
said, when, after two hours, he paused
/ to look critically at his work. Ar
fists are selfish where their art is con
cerned.'
..you a,a rat salfiSh--nOf even where