The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-11-28
IXTHEN young Thomas Mobray,

1
shared, he found Hamilton hard at
work on portrait. When he. recog-
nized Mobrays step and heard his
knock at the door, he quickly hid the
canvas on which he was engaged, sub
stituted another on the easel, and
opened the door.
well, Bob. l am glad to find you
up" said Mobray, laying aside his
opera hat and coat, and seating him
self in comfortable chair. II want
TO talk to you"
'On the same old subject. I sup
pose"
"Yes---about Miss Gertrude Russell.
You know she asked me to sit in her
box at the opera. I have just left
her. and I confess she never ap-
peared more charming. Do you
know, Bob. am sure she likes me,
and ] am as much in love with her
as ever could bc with any woman.
She is pretty. bright and" here
Hamilton paused for moment-"I
might as well not attempt to dis
guise the fact-wealthy In her own
right. But to come to the point-I
am resolved to marry her."
When Mobray had finished, Hamil-
ton made no reply. He had an abb
stracted look and did not appear to
have heard what had been said.
Wake up, old man." called Mobray.
rather loudly, land tell me what you
think Of IT,"
"What 7 think of I'll" repeated
Hamilton, unable to conceal his sur
prise. "Whst will she think of IL?
DO you suppose she will accept your"
"She has given me every reason to
think So" quietly remarked Mobray.
But have you considered the num-
her OF excellent proposals she has
rejected?" suggested Hamilton.
20. know she has refused several
recently. n theirs are the excellent
proposals to which you refer"
"Has not little Leonard Thompson,
Notwithstanding his great wealth
ard social position. failed to win
her?"
Eyes, I believe so." replied Mobray.
evidently bored:
"And has she ever deigned to look
at Lieut.. Harold Schuyler. who is
soon to be military attache to the
embassy at AUSTRIAN"
"I don't know how she has treated
Schuyler" answered Hamilton. rath-
er shortly. but Schuyler does not
know how to win girl anyway"
And then, there Is John Milford"
continued Hamilton. "a man calculat-
ed TO attract any woman. He has
told me that he loved her. but that
he never had the courage to tell her
So"
20, there is no use to run over the
whole list Of her admirers" said
Mobray, impatiently. "Of course, she
has had number. would not care
for her II she were not sought after.
But as for the chaps you have
named-they are barbarians in az
fairs of love. Certainly she refused
them; anyone Of taste must have
done so. II she had listened to any
one of them, I doubt II should have
had anything to say to her." and
Mobray leaned hack in his chair with
a self-satisfied look.
Hamilton was completely overcome
by surprise at Mobray's assurance.
He knew his friend had unlimited
self-confdence in courts OF law. but
he had not expected to see him carry
this trait Of character into the court
OF love. They sat for some time In
silence until Mobrsy reopened the
conversation.
"You understand art. Bob. ! will ad-
NIT. You can describe the physical
beauty Of Miss Russell with vastly
more ease than 7. You could paint her
likeness to perfection. But II You will
let me say II. ! fear you would he at
tracted by her solely from an artistic
standpoint You would be fascina led
as an artist. not as a lover. with her
low. broad brow and fair. oval face;
her dark hair arranged tastefully on
gracefully poised head. accent ntuating
the fairness Of that face; the freshness
of her complexion, which even your art
could not copy; her large. expressive
brown eyes; her mouth full OF graces
and gentleness; the perfect contour
OF her figure; and believe you would
not even be critical of her small. deli
cate, slightly turned-up nose. All OF
these attractions You would instantly
discover and would appreciate. But
while you understand these things as
an artist. you know nothing Of how to
succeed in affairs OF love. You would
dawdle and lag around, and remaiu in
a constant state Of hesitation and fear.
On the other hand. am practical
lover, not visionary or romantic one.
] carry things through with rush
when once ! make up my mind. Now !
want TO marry Miss Gertrude Russell.
and ] am resolved TO do so. ] shall
propose 10 her next Thursday night at
Miss brakes cotillon."
Late on the following Thursday
night. or rather. early Friday morning,
to be exact. Mobray returned from the
dance and went directly to Hamilton's
studio, where he found his friend still
at work. His manner. as be seated
himself, was not as buoyant as on the
previous occasion
"Well, ] proposed 10 her, Bob" he
began, and then stopped and took sew.
sral slow pnffs at his cigar. "and, By
love. she refused me-liked me. ad.
mired my energy and success in NV
profession, and all that sort of thing.
out. She didn't finish the sentence.
still that but finished me-" And Mo.
bray gave a sigh. a rather unusual
thing for him.