The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-12-19

ton when she told her Aunt Margaret
1t was the rapture of artistic success
that painted her cheeks, and made her
eyes brilliant. her voice thrill with mu-
steal cadences.
Every Gay, when the weather permit
ted, she was upon the beach, working
with rapid fingers and swelling heart
over her canvas. Every day, at the
hour agreed upon, James Smith, fisher
man, presented himself as her model
/ upon the liberal terms offered in the
Granville Gazette" Had Lena been
brought up in society know it would
/ have been impossible for her to accept
James Smith at his own word, as
Wilton fisherman. But the young ar
fist was child yet in many ways She
had been educated with the seclusion
OF nun, in spite of her foreign ex-
perience, and her devotion to her art
had kept her still secluded from choice
after she returned to her home.
1t was, therefore, no amazement, but
simply delight, to her, when the hand
some fisherman, who looked one of Ma.
lures noblemen in his rough, pictures
que dress. conversed with her intelli-
gently, and paid her the courteous re-
spect of gentleman. Little by little,
as they drew more closely together in
their daily intercourse, James Smith let
the brilliant intellect, the Travelled
knowledge he possessed creep out into
sight. He gave her to understand,
without actually lying, that he had been
a sailor, and SO accounted for his ia
miliarity with the scenes she had Wis
tied and carried craven on her heart
and brain. He looked over many of
her sketch-books, wondering at the
power in the slender hands, the genius
of the youthful brain, the fidelity of
touch and eye, and, as the restraint of
strangeness wore away his true man
hood asserted itself, and his heart rose
his master. How could he but love
her! With all her wondrous gift, she
was the purest, simplest maiden he had
ever met. Ladies he had known by
scores, finished in every graceful ac-
complishment, but never one more ex-
quisite in refinement than Lena. Peas
ant girls he had seen with beauty I'M
adorned" yet not one more unaffected
than this artist maid in her dress of
cheap print, her hair simply bound in
heavy braids of golden lustre.
There was the unaffected grace of
girlhood, with the well-stored mind, of
one who made books, music and art
daily companions
His conscience rebelled often at the
deceit he was practicing, but he hug
ged the thought of the luxury he could
offer his love, the toll he could spare
her.
June was yet young when the picture
was completed, and in the early morn
ing James Smith, Aunt Margaret and
Lena stood upon the beach looking up
on its beauty. 1t was to be packed and
sent to New York in the afternoon, and
Lena, her heart full, said softly:
How can 1 live if it is failure?"
Believing she spoke of actual poverty,
should her art fail to win money,
James Smith, with a sudden, over
whelming love controlling him, spoke
out. 1t would make my story too long
to tell the words that made Lena's
heart tremble and her eyes grow misty,
ling at the fisherman's presumption.
But when Lena's hand was fast pris-
oned in his own, when her eyes, love-
lighted, were dropping and her cheeks
blushing under his gaze, James Smith
said:
But, though l have once deceived
you, Lena, you may trust me now, for
all time"
Deceived me?" she cried, shrinking
little.
Il am not James Smith, but Mortimer
Gilroy; not an honest, Woodworking
fisherman, only an idle, useless gentle
man. You will not need to work when
you are my wife, Lena, but can paint
for pleasure only"
Then Lena's eyes flashed merrily, and
she would have spoken, even if Aunt
Margaret had not said, dryly:
"Perhaps it would be a good time to
tell Mr.. Mortimer Gilroy who you are. .
do not look so bewildered," Lena
said. 81 am not masquerading. l am
simply what you know me-MadeIeine
Seymour, artist. But Aunt Margaret
wishes me to tell you that l paint now,
have painted for years, solely for pleas
ure! 1 love my art! l have loved it
better than any earthly pleasure since
first my hand could grasp pencil But
am not working for money, because
have more than enough. l am rich
too, though 1 do not paint in satin
dresses or wear jewels at the seaside
Still. did not mean any deception"
"And you would have bestowed your
wealth upon a poor fisherman" asked
Mortimer Gilroy, with glad heart and
loving eyes.
She smiled, answering:
II think / found the pearl in its
rough case. did not know your social
; position, but l did know you were a
gentleman in heart and education.
! could not have loved you had your
speech or manner been as rough as
your dress"
) So Aunt Margaret was satisfied, and
society welcomed Mortimer Gilroy's ar