The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-09-01

no HOl lAlnh thOtE 10 (duoC ACA
great anxiety on Sir Felix Errol's ac-
COUNT she said, without looking at
Mare. Excepting for these attacks
which are not frequent-he enjoys very
good health
II am glad to hear it," Marc replied.
ssI was afraid matters were worse, and
that you were having a hard time Of
it with your patient"
Gretchen smiled, and raised her dark
eyes for an instant to his gaze.
81 do not fill the role of nurse so
much as that of companion to Sir Fe-
lix. He leads such a solitary life. |
do not know what be would do with
cut me"
Il suppose you know why he has in
vited me to Drayton Court2' Marc OBJ
served, studying the perfect lines of
her face, as She stood looking down at
the fire,
Il believe he wishes you to paint HIS
portrait she answered, without any
show of interest.
'.And your own
'Mine~ she exclaimed, with a quick
look towards him. He did not tell me
he desired YOU to execute a portrait of
myself. What will he do with it?"
Keep it as a companion to his,
suppose"
II wish he would give it to me-" she
said, her voice for the first time betray-
ing earnestness. Il should like it above
everything in the world should, in
deedw
Mare was carried away by her
beauty
Her great dark eyes were lifted to
his, flush had come to her cheeks,
giving the warm, living glow which
her face had lacked when he had first
looked at it.
IF you would honor me by accept
ing a picture of yourself, | should be
most happy to paint it." he replied,
with the courtesy so natural to him.
Il shall have plenty of time If you do
not mind giving me the sittings.v
Her eyes sparkled with pleasure.
''Thank you" she said II am CRATE
full to you for your kind offer. | shall
not find the sittings too long
Then, with a slight frown, she
added
Does Sir Felix wish me painted in
this dress?"
Yes; he wants it to be an exact like
ness in every detail
"And the one you will give me will
you mind. if l ask you to change the
costume?'
Certainly not-though you could
hardly decide upon anything more be-
coming than what you are wearing"
81 should like to be painted as
BRIDE" she said; with veil and or
ange- blossoms on my head-and we'd
ding-ring ON my finger
1T shall be as you wish he replieo,
looking at her with fresh curiosity.
with you for my model, | cannot fail
to make the picture a pleasing one"
sit will not be necessary for Sir Fe-
lix to know?' she said, the natural
brightness that had come to her face,
for few moments. fading. '.Your
painting a second picture of me might
annoy him, if he knew it, and he would
think it vain, my choosing a brides
dress"
1T shall be our secret he answered,
gravely. "We shall want a veil, and
a few sprigs of orange -blossom-the
ring we can dispense with, unless you
have one at hand
Gretchen looked up with a sudden
start, then her eyes dropped. and she
quietly replied:
Il have not"
After this, she seemed to shrink from
mentioning the picture, and. as soon
as she could leave the room without
abrupt, she made a formal
bow to Mare and went upstairs to see
how her patient was progressing
"A strange girl" Mare thought, as
he stood at the open door, watching
her ascend the stairs. Il wonder what
she is keeping a mystery? She has q
secret of some sort, or she would not
be here