Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-06-16
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.o-lnorroW-order, you know-and it'll
oe scratch II l manage to do it. 1t
means painting all night as it is."
oh' John, you must" she cried, Gag
erly. I've just got to send it to him
thls AFTERNOON by messenger boy or
neil be sure TO come up tonight and
iiiaNe a scene or something, be-
Sides"
mo, it's no Co." he said, cruelty,
taking up his brush You'll have to
get rld OF him somehow and come to-
| morrow"
But, oh, john" she burst out, tears
coming to her eyes, "I-I can't come
tomorrow. Aunt Maria has issued her
communicative fiat has gone forth
I'm forbidden to come here any more"
The deuce you are" And he laid
down his brush and faced quite around
in his astonishment.
YES" she replied, furtively drying
a tear on one Of the ends of her muslin
sash. (Jean never could find her hand
kerchief, being always without pock-
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, know" Blowing a ring of
smoke ceilingward to hide a little
smile.
"And she doesn't mind my having a
studio, if I'll fix one up at home, but
she doesn't think it looks we'll 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 moment there was silence, then
John suddenly pushed back his easel
and pull writing table toward him.
well, if you can't come tomorrow,
suppose I'll have to help you write
your letter to-day" he said, but there
|
and Jean looked up hastily through her
tears.
Johns face was grimly set, however,
and told her nothing.
'Let me see-it was Hinsdale,
think you said"-he went on, still with
that grating sound in his voice.
YES" she replied, miserably, again
having recourse to the crumpled sash.
"And l think we told him, in our last,
that we'd be a sister to him." he pro
ceeded, 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
go down with Hinsdale." he said, re-
flectively. you might offer to be his
maiden aunt, you know"
"There | knew you'd be horrid"
she exclaimed, Indignantly.
Its delicate job" he went on, re-
flectively. Are you quite sure you
mean to refuse him this timer
"Of course 1 am" she burst out in
dignantly. "You don't suppose l could
care for a boy like him, do you"
"Ue has a 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 gifted fellow, is Hinsdale-the
best pupil l have"
"Yes, he's gifted enough" she as
sented.
"Tve often wondered why he fancied
you," said John.
"Oh, indecdw she exclaimed, flush
ing once more.
"Yes. He's a dreamer, you know
an idealist-and 1t seems to me some
angelic creature little too pure and
good for human natures daily food,
and that sort of thing, would be more
in his line than a little human bundle
of naughtiness like you," went on
John, cheerfully. you'd make a fel-
low like Hinsdale unutterably mfsera-
BILE, you know"
you're very kind" exclaimed Jean,
crimson with veXation. "But l shall
not make Mr.. Hinsdale miserable.
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
himW
"Oh! she cried, struggling with her
anger. "You are so disagreeable,
hate you-but I've got to have some
hod,, 70 holm mo with that letter."