The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-03-16

1t was great feather in Miss Lidy's
cap to have Dabney among her guests.
The big fellow almost filed up her
tiny little parlor, and his joyous laugh
quite filled up the space about the tea
table where Miss Gerault sat, looking
very Hebe OF youth and prettiness.
'That must be an old gown of her
mothers splendid days." said Miss
Lidy, taking a generous woman's un.
enyious delight in the loveliness of her
opposite" How happy Dabney looks,
while the girl herself
She was consciously doing her best to
make a good impression on the great
artist. He was a gentleman. Perhaps
on that sore night of her defeat he had
been out of humor. She would essay
it again. Something must be done.
Dabney had just come to his studio
the next morning from his hotel The
crisp fresh air had reddened his cheeks
and given him an elastic sense of the
goodness of life. He meant to follow
up his chances then, but-how?
The hour was early, and the elevator
which carried passengers to and fro at
the big Office building contained only
one other person, a yelled lady. She
got out at his floor and stopped. Then
he knew her. Her veil and broad hat
had concealed her identity for the mo-
ment.
"You We're coming to see meT' he
said eagerly.
"Yes, and not for the first time.
But
Was she going to fly from him sec-
ond time? He put out his hand gently.
but resolutely, and clasped hers to rem
der such catastrophe impossible.
"Dear child, you do not know how I
have plotted and planned for this mo-
ment.'
She was trembling, and she was very
pale. He drew her inside the studio
and seated her before an open window.
There, now, you are not to talk until
you feel quite mistress of yourself. 1
have my morning mail to look over"
Il shall never feel mistress of my
SELF" she said vehemently, "and had
better say what came to say before
lose what little courage have. This
is not the first time I have come to
your door a suppliant, Mr.. Dabney."
Il know it,
"The last time l came you froze
petition upon my lips. You looked at
me SO terribly"
II know it,
"You misread me cruelty"
II know it. 1 saw only your exuui-
site beauty, felt only mad frenzy of
desire"
She looked at him with serious eyes.
Even at that moment their astonish-
ing lack of coquetry amazed him.
"Then l am beautifully?
Beyond an artists imaginings."
Her face glowed with pleasure.
II am so glad, so very glad, for now
perhaps that you understand better
you will take me for your
A deathly pallor succeeded the pink
glow upon her sweet face. She drop
ped her hot cheeks into her trembling
palms. 1t was the crucial moment of
her pure young life-on the one hand,
poverty and uncongenial toll; on the
other, comforts easily secured for 9TH
ers. She suddenly stood up:
mo, no, no! / cannot! / must starve
in my own way! Il thought it would
come easier since I had met you in a
conventional way and knew you for a
clean souled, true hearted gentleman"
Then Dabney took the matter into
his own hands. He, too, stood up and,
holding fast by her trembling hands,
looked down into her shining eyes with
grave tenderness.
Dear child, lift that pure face and
let me look deep into your dear eyes.
No; you cannot come to me as model,
and thank God no other man has ever
brought that divine color into your
cheeks. But when tell you that not
for one waking second since froze that
petition on your lips at my own door
have l been able to shut out the men,
ory of your reproachful look you will
understand that / love you-love you
SO well that want you for my own
wee wife, to love and to cherish and to
shelter from every rude blast"
She lifted her head and listened to
him as a child might have listened to
cOAAS WOAANAOOo AAAAy ttIAC, AOoCIAdbCu1
half comprehending. Two undried
tears glistened on her long lashes. Her
artist-lover gazed at her enraptured.
Heavens. If could but transmit
you, just as you are, to canvas, could
take high rang among the immortalsw
1t was a brief wooing. The colonel
had some elegant structures to make
upon the precipitate haste of the WOO
er. The mother bemoaned the unreadi-
ness of the wooed in the matter of dry
goods. Miss Lidy calmly appropriated
all the credit of the affair to herself. |
Dabney's patrons had their say, spite
full and otherwise.
On the whole, however, the resulting
happiness to the two principals was
unquestionable, Would that as much |
could be said of every wooing and
every mating!