The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-03-30

her tears.
Johns face was grimly set, however
and told her nothing.
Let me sect was Hinsdale,
think you said" he went on, still with
that grating sound in his voice.
"Yes," she said, miserably, agar
having recourse to the crumpled sash
"And / think we told him in OIL
last that we'd be a sister 10 him." ht
proceeded, nibbling at 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''
go down with Hinsdale," he said re-
Aectively, lyon might offer to be
his maiden aunt, you know"
"Tberel knew you'd be horrid!'
she exclaimed Indignantly.
'Its a delicate job" he went on re-
flectively. care You quite sure you
mean to refuse him this time?"
"Of course, / am" she burst ont
Indignantly. "You don't suppose |
could care for boy like him, to you?"
"He has nice eye for color, pro-
ceeded 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, 'anl lis
drawings are wonderfully strong.
He's q gifted fellow, is Hinsdale-the
best pupil have"
Eyes, he's gifted enough, she as
sented.
'T've often wondered Why he fancied
you, said John.
"Oh, indeedl" she exclaimed, flush.
ing once more.
Eyes. He's dreamer, you know
an idealist-and it seems to me
some angelic creature a little too pure
and good for human natures daily
food and that sort Of thing would be
moro in his line than n little human
bundle of naughtiness like you went
on John, cheerfully. You'd make n
fellow like Hinsdale unutterably mis-
erable, you know"
You're very kind" exclaimed
Jean, crimson with vexation, "but |
shall not make Mr. Hinsdale miser-
able. / have not the slightest inten-
tion of ever doing so.
"Ah," replied John, coolly, "then
the sooner we write the letter the bet
ter. Now what do you want to say TO
him?"
ooh, " she cried, struggling with her
anger. "You are 80 disagreeable. l
hate You, but I've got TO have some
body to help me with that letter"
"Of course. And you really want to
refuse him--for good and alp"
Certainly do. j want him to I'M
derstand definitely that there is abso-
lutely 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
meditatively.
Anything, so long as he under
stands and leaves off being-heing
silly" she cried, impatiently,
John made no reply to this, but
after n moments deep thought COM
w WilNc
Five minutes passed, during which
Johns pen scratched industriously
over the paper and Jean sat bolt up
right on her hassock, staring at the
picture on the canvas. 1t was pale,
watery sunset that shed green CLEANS
of light on wide lonely landscape,
in the centre Of which woman stood
alone, gazing with desolate, hopeless
eyes at the retreating figure OF 4 man
on horseback. 1t was painted with
inimitable skill and strange, wild
power kthat made John Steele the
most famous of the younger school of
painters. What an artist he was and
whet friend he had been TO herl
And now she must so away and per-
haps never see him again, except in
the class with the others. All these
hours of merry comradeship were over
never TO come again, al 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 il to her, as she
expected.
1T is u difficult thing to do" he
said. "To make n man understand
that, no matter how much he care for
you, you can never care for him"
eyes, l suppose it is" she assent
ed. But you have done it, I'm
sure"
Indeed, 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.
"Yos. You may think il an ex,
trcrc measure, though. I'll read i
to you" Aud he read aloud:
Dear Mr.. Hiusdale: l thought
had made i. quite plain TO you when
several weeks ago, you asked me to b,
your wife. that such a thing was quit,
impossible. / certainly tried TO have
you understand Il, aud 1 deeply re
gre. that | did not succeed, because
this removal of your offer can only
result in added pain TO both Of us
Believe me, am deeply grateful foi
your preference, but you will realize
l am sure, how hopeless il is for you
TO ask for more than my esteem wher
! tell you that l am engaged to h,
married TO Mr., John Steele. Hoping
that You will believe in the sincerit,
OF my friendship, am, very sincerel.