Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-06-16
a moments deep thought commenced
to write rapidly.

moments deep thought commenced
to write rapidly.
Five minutes passed, during which
Johns pen scratched industriously
over the paper and Jean sat bolt mp
right on her hassock. staring at the
picture on the canvas. 1t was a pale
Watery sunset that shed green CLEANS
of light on n wide lonesome landscape
in the center of which a woman stood
alone, gazing with desolate, hopeless
eyes at the retreating figure of man
on horseback. 1t was painted with in
imltable skill and strange wild power
that had made John Steele the most
famous of the younger school of paint
ers. What an artist he was and what
friend he had been to her! And now
she must go 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 down the
sob and rising, reached out her hand
for the letter.
But he did not give it to her as she
expected.
1T is difficult thing to do" he said.
"To make a man understand that no
matter how much he cares for you, you
can never care for him"
"Yes, l suppose it is," she assented.
But you have done it, Pm sure"
Indeed, l may say there's only one
way to convince fellow of such an
unpleasant fact" he went on.
But you employed it| she asked,
eagerly.
Yes. You may think it an extreme
measure, though. I'll read it to YOU"
And he read aloud:
Dear Mr.. Hinsdale: I thought 1
had made it quite plain to you when,
several weeks ago, you asked me to be
your wife, that such a thing was quite
impossible. l certainly tried to have
you understand it, and l deeply regret
that l 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 pref
erence, but you will realize, l am sure,
how hopeless it is for you to ask for
more than my esteem when l tell you
that am engaged to be married to Mr..
John Steele. Hoping that you will be-
lieve in the sincerity Of my friendship,
l am very sincerely yours,
JEAN CHESTER"
The silence in the room could have
been cut with a knife when John con-
cluded his reading and laid the epistle
back on the table.
Jean stood rigid, gazing with fixed
and naughty stare at some point on
the wall above Johns head, when he
turned and confronted her with as lit
| tie embarrassment as he would have
shown in facing a new pupil.
"Well-what do you think Of it?'' he
asked coolly.
81 think" she flashed out, that
you're the most conceited beast l ever
saw"
"NIy dear girl" he protested. 81 told
you that extreme measures were nee
essary. 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
stretched.
you're not going to leave me, little
Jeanv he cried. II can never get along
without you any more, for, oh, love
you-love you-love your!
A second she stood hesitating-the
with little sigh, she went to him and
burst out crying comfortably on his
shoulder.
."Jeanw came a voice suddenly from
behind the burlap curtain. 1t sounded
like the clinking Of ice in a pitcher.
Aunt Marlaw gasped Je~l, in hor-
ror.
"Oh, come in, Miss Chester" said
John, drawing aside the Pompelan red
draperles. I'VE were just going to find
you and ask you to come to our we'd
ding tomorrow, at II"
"Jean-what does this mean? Why
didn't you tell me this before" eX-
claimed Aunt Maria, aghast.
81 thought ought to consult John
before l told you," said naughty Jean.
Chicago Times-Herald.