The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-27
An Artists deal.

HNalHdH OdESSEf was going As IaSI as 3
/ car would take flzn 10 offer himself and
his fortune to Miss Nellie Ciendennin,
but the face that haunted him as he
rolled along was not Miss Ciendenin's s.
L was q face OF great beauty, a young.
| serious face, with wide. dark blue eyes
and tenderly curved red mouth. Only
a dream-faee, but at two and thirty Ma
| than Carter was a bachelor because OF II.
Carter was an artist. Perhaps l. was
| from his mother, who had been an Ital-
ian singer Of good family, that he in
herited the poetic temperament whtsh
| caused him to cherish this dream. Ger
| tain it was that in his travels far and
! wide 1t had grown more vivid and real.
Now at 81 he had told himself It was time
70 put away childish things and begin
| life
He wanted to paint and study abroad a
year or two, but could not leave his
young ward, just returned from school
and dependent on him for her success
! In social life, so as the best way out Of
| 1t he decided to marry her and take her
with him. He thought her a dear giri,"
bright and piquant, and but for the face
he might have fallen in love with her.
And now he was looking at it for the
| last time. In an hour Ii would be part
Of the past, a dim shadowy thing. The
eyes looked at him reproachfully.
All! those eyesi Innumerable times he
had essayed to paint the face, bu: the
eyes had always eluded him. There was
something in their depths that mocked
him.
"Pshaw! what a fool ami He gath
cred himself together with a jerk. The
jerk terminated in a jump. for there al
the window of the Markview Hotel was
the face. framed in furs and feathers
and looking down wistfully into the
street.
He left the car as soon as II turned the
corner and FASTENED back to the Mark
view. The face was gone, but even as
he looked lady and gentlemen descended
the steps to carriage that awaited them.
The lady was very young. slender and
graceful, and for one moment those won
derful eyes met and held his. Then she
was hurried into the carriage by her COM
panion, a tau, flne-looking, gray-haired
man, evidently her father.
Carter heard the order, ITO the Tenth
street depot" and in few minutes was
Gathering after them. He found them in
the great-domed waiting-rooEl, evidently
in trouble. for the girl looked distressed
aid her father much Hurried. Carter
bought a paper at the news stand near
by and dallied over 1t.
81 can't send any one for It," the gen.
tleman was saying: Il must go back my
self-and leave you, my dear"
'Indeed, indeed, don't mind" cried the
girl, in silver-swee6 tones. 1--WE have
twenty minutes yet and that Is time
enough II you go at once. I will wait
for you just here. Hurryr' She gave
him a little push and, tunlbiing his sew
eral packages into her arms, he rushed
away.
Great heavens! I can't lost her now!"
muttered Carter in despair. "If only !
knew her name or where they are bound.
Is there no wayne way?"
The girl walked toward the window and,
one Of her parcels slipping from her arms
in her endeavor to recover 1t, the remain
der were scattered on the floor. Carter
gathered them up in a twinkling and Of
fered to tie up one which had escaped
its fastening. He seated himself beside
his dream and when she had said,
Thank you" he could not summon forti-
tude to leave her.
1t was the facet was the face; inno-
cent, beautiful even to the little golden
rings on her forehead. The limped. child
like eyes met his frankly and the rose
cheek looked so soft and youthful.
''She hasn't had time to be frozen into
conventionaiity.'' thought Carter al viii
risk 1t and speak to her. 1t is now or
never"
He leaned over and spoke rapidly, earn
estly and with convincing eloquence.
81 saw you at the hotel. Do you know
I have been seeking for you ten years?
Your face came to me n a dream and
have never despaired Of finding you I'M
til today. / was gong-no matter where,
but 1 saw YOU could find no way to
speak to you, so ! followed you here, hop
ing against hope. II you knew how your
face has haunted me you would forgive
me. Fortune has favored me with these
few moments. do not be so cruel as TO
deny me the privilege OF speaking! How
could I see you go out Of my reach with
out making an effort, even at the risk
of being considered ungentleman!y! Will
you not ten me that you are not an
gry?''