The age-herald., 1900-06-17
Mrs. LdnOhN'D6'S Portrait
BY AUGUSTA PRESCOTT sSSgSg sss sssss =

Beg pardon" satd Miss Rose Ellis, as
 she sat at the easel, rapidly sketehing the
 delicate features of the sitter opposite her T hardly understand" That you are only a working woman, Miss fEllis, nothing more and that any-er further thoughts on your part would be highly improper, to say the very least" All that has occurred to me Mrs. Lang horne,' said Miss Ellis, dipping her brush rashly into the white paint and beginning upon a bit of lace. But why mention it?" Nothing except" Except"
 Except that I have noticed that my | brother Ralph is somewhat taken with | you and your work, a very natural thing when you consider that he has never be- lore seen a woman in the public walks of life, and that 1 have feared that you might think"
 T am a little too busy to think, Mrs Langhorne,' said Rose Ellis, with laugh Tn her voice. as she dipped the brush into the ultramarine instead of the white this ! time and went rapidly on with the lace pattern.
 That is what I thought" said Mrs Langhorne, smoothing her Oriental silk dress and moistening her lips with her
 small red, velvet tongue. Yet you never can be sure in such matters" Please be careful of the pose" said Miss Ellis sharply and Mrs. Langhorne turned her pretty profile toward the window where
 the light would fall upon it. while Miss El- lis, abandoning the lace pattern, took up the ltttlest brush and began with the high | lights of the eyes, wondering why this one | woman of all her sitteis should give her l so much trouble
 Ralph went on Mrs. Langhorne, '1s | situated differently from most young men. | When quite lad he inherited a large for 1 tune from an uncle; and at my fathers death he came into a large share of an other estate These two legacies have placed him above all want; in fact very comfortable indeed; and we have looked to his making a fine marriage, fitting the sta ton he will occupy in society when he set ties down for life"
 All this is very kind of you," murmured Miss Ella, searching for a touch of blue as deep as Mrs. Langhornes eyes at that mo-
 ment; but how in the world does that concern me?"
 Mrs Langhorne stared at her and so far forgot the pose as to lift a tiny pearl | lorgnette "Indeed!' she exclaimed, that | is remarkable-that you should not know. Why, 1 thought-after all I had noticed | and after all 1 had heard-that you would 1 be most interested to know Ralph's future, and that nothing could set you right in the matter better than plain statement of the facts in the case" You are very kind, Mrs. Langhorne." ''Ah."
 Il said you were very kind" Mrs Langhorne looked baffled, but, womanlike, kept on. "There is no need of pretending that there is nothing between you and Ralph. l had not been coming here a week before 1 noticed his atten- tions to you; he always insisted upon com ing after me, and finally I also noticed that you were not indifferent to him. Of course l did not suppose that the matter would ever go far"
 Miss Ellis flushed and buried her head behind the kindly shelter of the big palette T would have given up the miniature at
 once," continued Mrs. Langhorne, but really you had succeeded in catching the likeness so well and your pictures are so
 extremely fashionable just now that it
 seemed d pity. But l did not suppose you
 would make love to my brother'
 Miss Ellis looked up hotly.
 You can't deny it. 1 saw you doing it.
 Last evening, after Ralph had escorted me
 home, l happened to think of my scarf
 which I had left in your studio, and l re-
 turned for it. I found Ralph here. You
 had enticed him back"
 Miss Ellis arose. q have respect for
 you, madame" said she because you are
 the sister of one of the noblest gentlemen
 l eyer knew; but l cannot take everything
 from your lips. You are mistaken, Mrs.
 Langhorne, if you think l have ever en-
 couraged your brother"
 'Mercy!' said Mrs. Langhorne, pettishly,
 what a fine temper to show. l was only
 giving you a little advice"
 And I was giving you little," rose
 hotly to Miss Ellis lips, but she pressed
 back the words.
 You need not think that Ralph means
 marriage said Mrs. Langhorne, as a part
 ing shot while she gathered up her wraps,
 "because he has been partly betrothed
 from childhood to Lords daughter; but
 just the same it is foolish of him to play
 with the affections of another girl"
 "I can give you a sitting Friday at B."
 said Miss Ellis, If you care to have the
 picture finished"
 "Of course l do care, you little goose"
 said Mrs. Langhorne, batting her softly on
 the shoulder; and any little words I may
 have said were only for your own good.''
 Thanks, and good-bye," said Miss
 Ellis.
 She spoke blithely but that did not pre-
 vent her from throwing herself on the
 couch minute later and weeping violently.
 Ut is too bad, too bad she sobbed, 'and
 I love him so. Yet I knew I ought not
 Friday at three brought Mrs. Langhorne
 and for an hour she sat in the bright light
 while the little artist opposite her painted
 industriously.~ Yet, somehow, though she
 worked in the same way, Miss Ellis looked changed her face was paer and she seemed to have grown thinner and taller. q hope you have not been worrying. my dear" said Mrs. Langhorne, looking at her sharply.
 At four the little bell of Miss Ellis studio tinkled and minute later the neat maid
 showed in a tall, handsome young nis1,
 who, when he saw Miss Ellis, flushed a
 deep red, then grew pale again, while his eyes glowed as if he had just seen the light after many days. Miss Ellis did not mean to have it hap pen so, but before she knew it the maid was at the door with the tea. Pale as a
 lily she brought in the tray, her heart beat
 ing so she could scarcely steady the cups Let me hee1p you, Rose," said the young man softly, but not so softly but that Mrs
 Langhorne heard. Sit down, Rose; you are not feeling we'll" "She was all right a minute ago." said Mrs. Langhorne, bluntly. The young man set down the tray, and
 turning to his sister said: 'Maude, there
 is something we might as we'll settle now forever. I have been waiting for an oppor- tunity. Miss Ellis has refused to marry me. I have asked her. and she has reject l ed me. l have come over to ask her again, because I know she loves me, and I want you to help me coax her to become my wife"