The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-06-14

I
gravely. 81 shall not have to trouble
you to pose again"
Miss Murdock's attention was at.
tracted by the melancholy note in his
voice. She observed him from the cor.
ner Of her eyes in kindly curiosity.
The artist fell into moody silence
For awhile he worked with feverish &C.
tivity at the portrait; and then, grad
ually falling into fit of melancholy
abstraction, he sat, with poised brush
gazing intently at the beautiful girl
before him. His task forgotten, he
was apparently unconscious that he
was taking advantage of his privileged
position to stare At his fair subject. Ag-
mes felt his burning glance and was en-
barrassed by it; but, womanlike, she
retained control of herself, outwardly,
at all events, as she uttered some COM
monplace remark, which broke the
spell and brought the artist to his
senses with sharp consciousness of
his rudeness. He replied to the young
girls question in low, changed volts,
and then relapsed into gloomy silence.
After an awkward interval he asked.
suddenly:
care you so very glad, Miss Murdoch,
that our sittings are almost over"
"Why. no, Mr.. Sprague," replied Ag.
mes; II did not mean that. Of course
I shall be glad when the portrait is
finished, because wish to have it home
and to let my friends see it. But I
should be indeed ungrateful if l be-
grudged my poor little time and trou-
BILE, when yours have been SO lavishly
and so ungrulgingly spent"
"These sittings have been source
of so much pleasure to me-" continued
Sprague, thoughtfully, that I hava
selfshly overlooked the fact that they
could Only be an annoyance and bore
to you. l fear l have nccdlessly pro-
longed them"
But, indeed, Mr.. Sprague, I assure
you it has been anything but bore to
me to pose. l am sure shall miss the
pleasant morning hours l have spent
here"
"They have been the happiest hours
of my life" said Sprague, earnestly, in
a low voice, "and now they are nearly
gone-forever."
Agnes started slightly, blushed and
riveted her gaze upon the dainty white
hands which lay clasped together in
her lap. Her bosom rose and fell in
quickened unduations.
"Why forever, Mr.. Sprague?' she
asked, softly; do you think of leav-
ing New York;
NO. he replied quickly; ut is you
who are about to desert this studio,
which for short time has been
frightened by your presence"
SWELL" interrupted Agnes, "since
you are not going to leave New York,
l hope you will continue to call on
u.s."
II suppose 7 shall continue to call
on your reception days, if that is
what you mean" said Sprague, some
what disconsolately.
"Now that" laughed Agnes, "is not
in line with the polite things you have
been saying"
81 did not mean to say anything
rude, Miss Murdoch, but call on
your reception day is call on your
guests. Surrounded as you are on
such occasions, one has barely a
chance to catch n glimpse of you,
much less to speak with you"
1--WE are always glad to see our
friends at other times than on our
reception days"
do you really mean it?' asked the
artist eagerly. MAY l. call on you
sometimes when the crowd is not
there?"
"We shall be happy to have you
call at any time, Mr.. Sprague."
Sprague thought he detected a 4,
slight emphasis on the pronoun.
But it is not we wish to call on.
1t is you, Miss Murdoch"
Once more the young girls express
i've eyes fixed their gaze upon the del
icatc hands in her lap, and once more
there was scarcely perceptible fut-
ter beneath the lace which lay upon
her white throat.
The artist sat with intent eyes
fixed upon her.
"Of course I shall be pleased to
have you call at any time, Mr..
sprague," she said, after brief in.
slant.
What more could any sane man ex.
pect modest girl to say? 1t is not so
much the words spoken as the manner
of their utterance that conveys mean.
ing. But it is truism that lover
is not sane man. Sprague was not
yet satisfied. He was about to speak
again, when q knock sounded upon
the door.
1t was the hall-boy with letter.
"Miss Murdock?" he inquired, glanc.
ing in the direction OF the young
girl.
"For me?' exclaimed Agnes, sur.
prised.
"Yes, miss; gentleman left it
for you"
Agnes took the letter, inspected it
curiously for an instant; then, ex-
cusing herself, she tore open the en-
Telope and unfolded the note which
it contained.
At once deep flush suffused her
face, and an expression of annoyance
passed over her features. She glanced