The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-08-07

"Kirk-Faith Kirk"
"Oh, yes. She's a peculiar girl in
some waye, Mr.. Stanley, as no doubt
you noticed. 1t is not often that we
hOusekeepers can furnish superior mu-
sicians to entertain guests" she add
ed, with a short laugh, which showed
chat she still thought of the incident
bf Faith at the piano with great an
noyance.
But Malcom Stanley had risen, his
whole expression betraying great ex-
citement.
''If this girls name is Kirk, Mrs.
Fulton, and she is from Kansas, it is
almost certain that she is the daughter
of the man who was with my mother
when she died in midOcean, the man
who held me- in his arms, the man
who has always been in my thought
as one of the heroes Of the world"
Mrs. Fulton rose, looking bewildered.
She was familiar with Francis Ra-
leigh's painting, but she had never
thought of associating Faith with it.
81 must see her," said Malcom STAN
ley. He spoke like one who has the
right to command.
81 think she has gone out" said Mrs.
Fulton. "Alice, will you go and seeY'
Alice went out and soon came back.
saying that Faith had gone. Malcom
Stanley paced the parlor in unusual
agitation Of manner.
eff this is the daughter Of Malcom
Kirk" he said to himself. Then he
turned to Mrs. Fulton and bowed
formally.
You will excuse me, madam, If !
take my leave now. l am obliged to
make some arrangements about the
picture at Mr.. Raleigh's this after
noon"
when do you leave for the westY'
Mrs. Fulton asked. She was annoyed
at the events of the day.
81 had planned to go tomorrow.
expect to visit Mr.. Kirk on my way te
Denver. But feel anxious to see Miss
Kirk before l CO. She certainly must
| be his daughter. A hired GIRL as
you call them. would not be likely tt
have such a musical education, and
besides, she has the look in her face
of the portrait. 1t must be She"
YES" cried Alice, her pale face
| showing some color under the excite
ment Of such discovery in real life
"She certainly played the piano like
one who has had the best Of teachers
! And, besides, you can see from hel
| manner that she is refined and lady.
| like" Alice spoke with a glow Of un
/ oh Molo Cfon
looked gratefully at her.
| 81 may come out with Mr.. FultoI
this evening"" he said.
| He bowed and went out, leaving
Mrs. Fulton and Alice to talk over tn,
matter, while he went down to Francis
Raleigh's studio, determined every mo
/ ment with increasing resolve to re
/! turn and see Faith before the day wa
over.
| Meanwhile Faith had gone directl.
to the familiar window on State stree
where the picture had been.
She knew before she reached the
place that the picture was gone, be-
cause the usual crowd of people was
not there. She stopped in front Of the
window, however, and read the ad.
dress of the artist which was attached
to a small scene of foreign seaport
She hesitated a moment, and then reso
lutely went en- to Randolph street, tc
the block where Raleighs studio was.
His room was at the top of the build
ing, and when she reached it she hest
tated again before going in. Wher
she finally opened the door, she drew
back at the entrance, for the room -ap
peared to be empty except for a large
canvas and a few decorations. There
was another room opening from the
first, and after waiting a moment
Faith went ON to the door of tina
room.
A man was sitting there with. hi:
back to the entrance so absorbed in hi
work that he evidently had not heart
her come in. But Faith was at one,
attracted by the sight of the familia
picture of the father which was on ,
great easel in front of the artist.
She came a few steps farther int,
the room, and still the artist did no
had advanced as far as the frame O.
the picture of her father that he turnet
his face and looked at her.
81 am Faith Kirk, and that is m.
father" said Faith, speaking directly
after Malcom's own manner, and point
ing at the portrait. "I've come on
rather peculiar errand, Mr.. Raleigh
but you won't blame me for it, l ar
sure"
Blame the daughter of Dorothy Gil
bert" cried Francis Raleigh. Hi
once heavy, black hair was streake
with gray, and he had grown notice
ably old in many ways, but he was
handsome and well preserved gentle
man, and the old Raleigh manner sa
on him with even more grace tina
when he was young.
: He rose and bowed with an elegan
politeness that brought the color
: stood facing each other in silence
Then Raleigh brought chair, an
5 Faith sat down, while the artist lool
t ed at her with great and increasing il
tereSt.
I Il suppose you have come to TAX
/ me to task for painting this picture,
4 he said. ''It was in one sense yer
! bold thing for me to do. l think, how
ever, your father will forgive me.
am sure he will when he knows a
about my reasons for doing it," FL
: spoke in a tone that made Faith fe'
+ somehow that the picture had had
n real influence on the life of the artis
q as indeed it had. and the telling of