The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-08-03
66N0AY | come in"
IkMI The curtains

industriously. putting in a sunset SKY
with strong, even strokes.
"When our forefathers signed tile
Declaration Of Independence 12o years
ago" he began.
"Plea se--'
A face made its appearance at the
parting Of the curtains, face framed
ln dark, wayy hair. with big, shining
eyes. made soft by long curling lashes
and a red. red mouth. just now droop-
ing pitifully at the corners.
"They made all men free aud equal
proceeded the man. never once look
ing up. land since then lot Of ladies
with abbreviated hair and petticoats
have been struggling to make their sex
also independent-and with considers
BILE success"
Don't be h0rrid." pleaded the red
mouth. seconded by the shining eyes.
"ThereTore, | WAS about to say, he
went on, calmly, Il don't see how
eau hope 10 prevent you from coming
Ia, II you choose TO do So
She stepped inside, but did not ad
vance into the room.
81 know you're going to be horrid, =
she said, plainuyels.
He laid down his brush, and, turning
IT last, surveyed her deliberately as
she stood, her slender shape outlined
against the curtains. They We're bur
lap curtains, which she had painted
dull brick red c"Pompeian red she
called it,, and which she had orna-
mented with Greek border In yellow
floss and hung in the doorway, herself,
Ia spite OF his scoffing and ribald pro
tests.
They We're pretty bad, those curtains
but whatever their limitations from an
esthetic point OF view, they certainly
made an effective background for the
white-robed figure, and his eye lin
gered spproyingly on the picture mo
ment before he said. severely:
what have you been dOing;
"Why. the idea" she exclaimed, In
dignantly drawing her figure up to Its
full height and flashing a protesting
glance at him from under her long
lashes.
5 II notice that you generally take IL
for granted that I'm going to be horrid
when you've been particularly horrld
Yourself" he observed blandiy.
she did not reply to this daring re-
mark, but, crossing the room TO the
mantel, carefully selected an especial
ly ugly bulldog pipe from the collection
Ii contained. This she filled, with
practiced fingers. from a battered 10
bacco jar that stood near, and then.
crossing TO the easel, offered it to the
man with most bewitching little air
Of coaxing humility.
MY dear young woman" he cried,
waving the offering away sternly. do
| look like a man who would accept n
bride? DO my features bear the i'm
print OF vulnerable virtue, that you
should thus seek 10 gain my favorable
judgment for your nerarious goings-or
by such palpable-"
He said no more, for just then the
stem of the pipe WAS dexteroGsly In
serted between his teeth, aud. deity
striking "A match ON the broad sole Of
his shoe, conveniently presented to her
by the careless attitude Of its owner,
the girl applied 1t TO the tobacco in the
pipe bowl.
In spite OF himself, he closed his
teeth or the stem and drew long
breath, and AS tho first cloud OF arc
matte yapor rose TO his nostrlls Ills
features relaxed.
well, who is it?" he asked, as the
girl seated herself on a hassOck and
fixed her eyes on him appealingly.
It's-it's-Hinsdale," she replied,
dolefully.
"Hinsdale. Why l thought We dis
posed of Hinsdale three weeks ago,
and since then-let me see-there was
Smith and Dcvereus and how many
othersf'
'Oh, never mind the others" she
cried. petulantly. ITS Hinsdale now.
We did dispose of hlm-or at least. |
thought we had-and I'm sure that let
/ ter | wrote"
"Ah, did you write TO him, too?" he
asked. putting big cloud Of smoke
over his sunset aud watching the eff
feet of It's vivid hues shining through
the clouds Of grayish vapor with an ar
lists delighted appreciation of color.
"Oh, well--the letter you wrote,
them she said. Though I'm sure you
didn't 10 it all; you only helped me"
''Oh, yes" he answered indolently.
sBut Hinsdale-lie's broken out
again*'
Yes worse than ever" and she
sighed dismally. "and | want you 10
help me write him another letter-one
that will fix 1t so he'll understand
there's no hope-no possibility mean
of my ever being anything more to
him" here she fioundered and broke
quite down.
Cant do It to-day" he said. decid
edly, I've got to get this picture done
to- morrow-order. you now-.snd it'll
be- scratch IL | manage to do 1t. Il
means painting all night as It Is"
''Oh, John. you must" she cried, eag
frly. 1--we just got to send it to hin
this afternoon by u messenger boy ol
hell be sure 10 come up tonight ant
make scene OF something. be
sides"
NO it's no go" he said. cruelty
taking mp his brush. You'll have I,
get rid OF him somehow and come 10
niorrow--'
But. oil. John" she burst out. tear
coming TO her eyes. II cant com
tomorrow. Aunt Maria has issued he
eommands-the fiat has gone forth