The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-29
A LETTER OF REFUSAL.
N1
A Good Reason Why a Girl
Should Decline an Offer.

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"May come imp
She stepped inside, but did not advance
Into the room.
Il know you're going to be horrid," she
said plaintiSely.
He laid down his brush and, turning at
last, surveyed her deliberately as she
stood, her slender shape outlined against
the curtains. They were burlap curtains,
which she had painted dull brick red
(ePompeiian red" she called iD, and
which she had ornamentcd with a Greek
border in yellow floss and hung in the
doorway herself in spite of his scofIing
and ribald protests.
They were pretty bad, those curtains,
but whatever their limitations from an
aesthetic point Of view they certainly
made an effective background for the
white robed figure, and his eye fingered
approvingly on the picture moment be-
fore he said severely:
"What have you been doing?"
"Why, the idea" she exclaimed indig-
nantly, flashing n protesting glance at
him from under her long lashes.
Il notice that you generally take it for
granted I'm going to be horrid when
you've been particularly horrid yourself"
he observed blandly.
She did not reply to this daring remark,
but, crossing the room to the mantei,
carefully selected an especially ugly bull
dog pipe from the collection it contained.
This she filed. with practiced fingers,
from battered tobacco jar that stood
near. and then, crossing to the easel, Of
fefed it to the man with a most bewiteh-
ing little air of coaxing humility.
My dear young woman" he cried,
waving the offering away sternly, do
look like man who would accept
bride? Do my features bear the imprint
OF vulnerable virtue. that You should thus
seek to gain my favorable judgment for
your nefarious goings on by such pail
pable"--
: He said no more, for just then the
stem OF the pipe was dexterously insert
ed between his teeth, and. deity striking
match on the broad sole of the shoe,
conveniently presented to her by the
careless attitude of its owner, the girl APP
piled it to the tobacco in the pipe bowl.
In spite of himself he closed his teeth
on the stem and drew long breath, and
as the first cloud of aromatic vapor rose
to his nostrils his features relaxed.
''Well. who is p he asked as the girl
seated herself on hassock and fixed her
eyes on him appealingly.
'It's-it's-Hinsdale," she replied, dole
fully.
''Hinsdale Why, l thought we dispos-
ed of Hinsdale three weeks ago, and since
then-let me see-there was Smith and
Devereux and-how many others?"
"Oh, never mind the Others" she cried,
petulantly. Its Hinsdale now. We did
dispose of him-or at least | thought we
had-and I'm sure that letter wrote
'Ah. did you write to him, too?" he
asked, putting big cloud of smoke over
his sunset and watching the effect of its
vivid hues shining through the clouds of
grayish vapor with an artists delighted
appreciation of color.
"Oh, wel-the letter you wrote. then"
she said. Though I'm sure you didn't do
1t all. You only helped me-"
"0h, yes" he answered indolentiy.
rBut Hinsdale--he's broken out again?'
'Yes, worse than ever" and she sighed
dismally, .'and | want you to help me
write him another letter-one that will
tx it SO he'll understand there's no hope
mo possibility mean-of my ever be-
ing anything more to him Here she
doundered and broke quite down.
Cant do it today" he said, decidedly.
''Iye got to get this picture done tomor-
row-order, you know-and it'll be
scratch if l manage to do it. 1t means
painting all night as it is"
''Oh, John, you must" she cried, eager
~. "I've just got to send it to him this |
afternoon by a messenger boy or he'll be |
sure to come up tonight and make a |
scene or something, besides
mo, it's no CO." he said cruelty. taking |
mp his brush. You'll have to get rid of |
him somehow and come tomorrow
But, oh, john" she burst out, tears
coming to her eyes, I'll can't come to-
morrow. Aunt Maria has issued her COM
mands-the fat has gone forth-I'm for
hidden to come here any more"
THE deuce you are" And he laid
down. his brush and faced quite around
In his establishment.
YES" she replied, furtively drying a
tear on one of the ends of her muslin
sash. dean never could find her hand
kerehief, being always without poekets.)
"She says it's all well enough for me to
take painting lessons of you, though ev-
erybody knows never could learn to
paint. Aunt Maria is so ignorant about
such things. you know"
''Yes, l know" Blowing a ring of
smoke ceilingward to hide little smile.
"And she doesn't mind my having a
studio If I'll fix one up at home, but she
doesn't fhina 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 II ran forlornly down her cheek and
fell with a splash on 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
pulled writing table toward him.
well, if you can't come tomorrow.
suppose I'll have to help you write your