Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-06-22
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to-huOIIOW' Aunt MdIld mas issued nor
communicative fiat has gone forth
I'm forbidden to come here any more. =
1.-THE deuce you are" And he laid
down his brush and faced quite around
in his establishment
Yes" she replied, furtiyely drying
tear on one Of the ends Of her muslin
sash. Oean never could find her hand
kerchief. being always without peck
ets.) ''She says it's all well enough for
me to take painting lessons of you,
though everybody knows l never could
learn to paint. Aunt Maria is so ig
norant about such things, you know, =
Eyes, l know" Blowing a ring Of
smoke ceilingward to hide little
smile.
sand she doesn't mind my having a
studio, if I'll fix one up at home, but
she doesn't think it looks Well for me
to have one in this building and run in
and out of here all the time-and so
I've got to move tomorrow"
This time she forgot to dry the tear
and it ran forlornly down her cheek
and fell with a splash on a study of the
head of John the Baptist that lay on
the floor.
For a moment there was silence, then
John suddenly pushed back his easel
and pull writing table toward him.
well, if you can't come tomorrow,
I suppose I'll have to help you write
your letter to-day" he said, but there
was an unnatural sound in his voice
and Jean looked up hastily through her
tears.
Johns face was grimly set, however,
and told her nothing.
LET me sect was Hinsdale, l
think you said'-he went on, still with
that grating sound in his voice.
eyes," she replied, miserably, again
having recourse to the crumpled sash.
"And l think we told him. in our last,
that we'd be sister to him." he pro
ceeded, nibbling the end of his per-
Something of that sort" And she
flushed warmly, clear up to the curly
waves of dark hair on her temples.
evidently the sister racket won't
20 down with Hinsdale," he said, re-
fect;vely. You might offer to be his
maiden aunt you know"
'"There 1 knew you'd be horr.d!'
she exclaimed, Indignantly.
Its a delicate job he went on, re-
f1ectively. Are you quite sure you
mean to refuse him this timer"
"Of course | am she burst out in
dignantly. you don't suppose l could
care for boy like him, do you?"
He has d nice eye for color" pro
ceeeded John, drawing faces on the
margin of the paper--faces that had
big, soft eyes and pouting lips, strange
ly like the girl on the hassock, "and
his drawings are wonderfully strong
He's a gifted fellow, is Hinsdale-the
best pupil l have
Eyes, he's gifted enough" she as
scented.
.Tve often wondered why he fancied
YOU" said John.
"Ob. indeedr she exclaimed, flush
ing once more.
Eyes. He's a dreamer, you know
an idealist-and it seems to me some
angelic creature a little too pure and
good for human natures daily food,
and that sort of thing, would be more
in his line than little human bundle
of naughtiness like you,' went on
John, cheerfully. you'd make fell
low like Hinsdale unutterably misera-
BILE, you know"
You're very kind" exclaimed Jean,
crimson with yeXation. but L shall
| not make Mr.. Hinsdale miserable. l
have not the slightest intention Of ever
doing So
"Ah," replied John, coolly. Then
the sooner we write this letter the bet
ter. Now-what do you want to say to
him?'
"Ohr' she cried, struggling with her
anger You are so disagreeable, l
hate you-but I've got to have some
body to help me with that letter.
''Of course. And you really want to
refuse him-for good and alp
Certainly l do. l want him to I'M
derstand definitely that there is abso-
lutely no hope of my ever caring for
him in-in the way he means"
once more she broke down, blushing
| but defiant.
There's only one way to make a
| man understand that" said John med1-
tatiyely.
Anything so long as he under
stands and leaves off being-being sill
w." she cried impatiently.
John made no reply to this, but after
a moments deep thought commenced
to write rapidly.
Five minutes passed, during which
Johns pen scratched industriously
over the paper and Jean sat bolt up
right on her hassock, staring at the
picture on the canvas. 1t was pale
watery sunset that shed green CLEANS
of light on a wide, lonesome landscape,
| ~, +bo oaotar of which woman stood