The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-29

you talds re went on SUN Win tnat
grating sound Ia his voice.
yes" she said miscrably. again hav-
Ing recourse to the crumplcd sash.
And / think we told him In our last
that we'd be sister to him." he pro-
cecded, nibbling the end OF his pen.
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 60
down with IIinsdalc," he said reflective
". You might offer to be his maiden
aunt, you know
"Therel | knew you'd be horridr' she
exclaimed indignantly.
Its a delicate job" he went on re-
Effectively. Are you quite sure you mean
to refuse him this timc?v
sOf course | am" she burst out indig
nantly. ''You don't suppose | could care
for boy like him, do your
He has nice eye for color" proceed
ed John, drawing faces on the margin of
the paper-faces that had big. soft eyes
and pouting lips, strangely like the girl
on the hassock, "nnd his drawings are
wonderfully strong. He's gifted fell
low, is Hinsdale-the best pupil l have"
Eyes, he's gifted enough" she assented.
"Pve often wondered why lie funcied
you" said John.
"0h, indcedr' she exclaimed. flushing
once more.
Yes. He's a dreamer. you know--an
idealist-and it seems to me some an
gelic creature little too pure and good
for human natures daily food and that
sort of thug would be more in his line
than n little human bundle OF naughti-
ness like YOU" went on John checrfully.
You'd make a fellow like uinsdalc I'M
utterably miserable. you know"
you're very kind" exclaimed jean,
crimson with vcxGtion. "bl;t I shall not
make Mr., IIinsdale miserable. l have
not tho slightest intention of ever doing
So
"Ah," replied John coolly, "then the
sooner we write this letter the better.
Now, what do you want to say 10 him? ~
"Ohi' she cried, struggling with her
anger. "You are so disagreeable. ] hate
you, but I've got TO have ~mebody to
help me with that letter."
''Of course. And you really want to
refuse him--for good and ALP
Certainly l do. want him to UNDER
stand definitely that there is absolutely
no hope of my ever caring for him in--in
the way he MEANS" and once more she
broke down, blushing, but defiant
There's only one way TO make a man
understand that" said John meditative-
".
Anything, SO long as he understands
and leaves off being-being silly" she
cried impatientiy.
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 upright on
her hassock, staring at the picture ON the
canvas. 1t was a pale. watery sunset
that shed green CLEANS of light on a
wide, lonely landscape, in the center of
which woman stood alone, gazing with
desolate, hopeless eyes at the retreating
figure of a man ON horseback. 1t was
painted with inimitable skill and
strange, wild power that had made John
Steele the most famous of the younger
school OF painters. What an artist he
was and what friend he had been to
her! And now she must 60 away and
perhaps never see him again, except in
the class with the others. All those
hours of merry comradeship were over,
never to come again, all the sweet work
and play together. A great sob came UP
in her throat, but just then John threw
down his pen, and she choked the sob
and, rising, reached out her hand for the
letter.
But he did not give it to her, as she
expected.
1T is a difficult thing to do" he said.
ITO make man understand that, no
matter how much he cares for you, you
can never care for him."
Yes, suppose it is" she assented.
But you have done it, I'm sure"
Indeed, | may say there's Gully one
way to convince fellow of such an TN
pleasant fact" he went on.
But you employed it?" she asked ca
gcrly.
Eyes. You may think it an extreme
measure, though. I'll read it to you"
And he read aloud:
Dear Mr. Hinsdale-I thought had made ii
quite plain to you when, several weeks ago, you
asked me to be your wife that such thing was
quito impossible | certainly tried to have you
understand it. and deeply regret that did not
succeed, because this renewal Of your offer can
only result in added pain to both OF US, Believe
me, ! am deeply grateful for your preference,
but You viii realize, ] am sure, how hopeless ID
is for you to ask for more than my esteem when
| tell you that l am engaged to be married to
Mr.. John Steele. Hoping that you will believe
in the sincerity of my friendship. am, very sin.
cerey yours, JEAN CHESTER
The silence in the room could have
been cut with knife when John con-
cluded his reading and laid the epistle
back on the table.
Jean stood rigid, gazing with a fixed
and naughty stare at some point on the
wall above Johns head, when he turned
and confronted her with as little cmbar-
rassment as he would have shown in fac
ing new pupil.
"Well, what do you think of it?' he
asked coolly.
Il think" she flashed out, that you're
the most conceited beast ever saw
My dear girl" he protested, Il told
you that extreme measures were neces-
sary. It's the only way to get rid OF
him, and I'm willing to sacrifice myself
in good cause"
With great dignity Jean turned to
leave the room, but somehow he was at
the door before her, with his arms out
s1A'tched.
EfYou're not going to leave me. little