The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1901-04-25


be placed one pausd npis 10 my hssd.
Iarsti.hIy 10 siTsnes, Nj. L,rins. b
said, slnost spoloatiioally IL is rSl
; from which never devisls,
TIE rsri ds, be cane He brough
With hln oo,hipg bat The pictore o
which be sas Al work. bis painh and 90
eis, aud one or ,so wooden models.
oi course 1 never inuoded apoD him .
his work. bat be stex Ia the habit. ~ b
pssssi tbs open door Of tho sit,ins room
TO drop in sod talk With me
ope Afternoon. vben be bad fingered OF
er his psirtips longer Than vas bis won,
and seemed more tites, aked him /,
stay sud taxi cup OF tea wih me.
conld not but see how slsdiy be col
seuted, OF course did ny guest sll boz
or Witt my o.n hsDjs ] drew ile old
beirlooms from their covers snd places
them % the table. With psrdopabl'
piide | u'hered him into the room.
Are you not afraid TO live alone, MisI
Loring, be asked, with 80 much valuable
silvsri
Oh, mol l answered; l keep il 10 sale
built 10 the wall, and sleep with the key
under my pillow. No one wouid think Of
looking for IL thtrs.
And then vent on TO 1plsin to him
my horror oi banks. and hos much Of my
worldly goods | preferred 10 have under
my personsl supervision.
1t is not ssf,. he insisted. l wish / had
the right to refuse TO ALLOW you to run
such risk
With what tenderness be uttered the
last sentenced To what was IL the prelude2
II 10 nst not come upon me too Suddenly.
| could not bear the fullness OF it's tostscy,
but no longer dopbted What for long l
had suspected -Alsernon's heart was
mine.
As he btde me good night held and
pressed my hand. fear my head, 10
spite OF the iojury to ny cap. fell one
brief instant oD his manly oulder. !
heard something like q tisb; then be torn
himself away. / wss pgsin alone,
The neI, day did not see him on bis
way to the studio Two men we're with
him. go he could not stop. They we're
rather rough looking men evidently mod
els. Shortly siter one OF them passed
down the s,airs and went out. Then Al
gernon cam
Where is your visitor? l asked.
They have both gone, he said.
l thought 1t strange l had not seen the
other man pass. but soon AlgerDon's pres
snce made me forget oil else.
P,rbsps | had been too cold, too dis
tsnt. aud so had wounded bis noble heart.
silently swose to throw of The mask OF
maiden modesty, and show him more OF
he true heart which beat but for him.
Before, however, had gotten my courage
o the point, be had gone.
sat alone for two, perhaps three hours,
,nlil the twilight fell. Then sudden de
ire assaied me to go up and look ct the
progress OF his work. had not seen ihe
picture sincs the day it came, aud be bad
,een with me fortnight.
Softly opened the door. Tbe picture
Vss on its easel, covered with cloth.
The cloth was gently raised. but could
discover on the canvas no change. Doubt
sss, lost in thought OF me, Algernon bad
triven 10 vain to pursue bis art
sank into q chair and gave myself up
o sweet reverie, when suddenly started.
! loud aud violent snetzs sounded close
eside me sprsng to my feet and look
d sbont the room. /. was empty, save
Or The two woo 'en models and myself.
One OF these models Aleerpon had evi
emily been copy ing. since be bad dressed
10 the brigsnd hat and cost be kept for
hat purpose, and which be once had
hown me
A great terror sassiled me; | searched
very corner Of the room 10 vain
ould discover nothing.
Az last / went out. bnt t.king key from
be door locked it behind ms On my
sy down stairs I caught glimpse Of Jen |
y's (my maid OF oil work) young man. 20
aping through the back door.
! did not approve OF followers. bat Jen
, was so good and fsithfal thst l some
mes bad to shut my eyes TO the some
h.t frequent visits Of the young butcher,
ho evidently intended her 10 share bis
H. Somehow my recent fright made the 1
resenoe OF rsp, even the butcher, 3
,iue TO be desired.
Tom called. He came back, toviDg /,
don't mind II yon stay to
"a, | said. had little irabt iust nov.
ID I'm nervous IA feel better TO know
% sere in the kitchen, within call.
Thank ye. miesl bn. | can't stay to
iabt. and ye needn't be nervons, for I'm
Is. after seeing Mr.. Vernon looking ou.
the stujio window.
Mr. Vernon has been gone Two hours !
i'd.
Well. certainly IL sss zone one else 10
10 studio. for certainly saw a mans
cad by the wiudew when | came 10.
alf hour ago.
His ssseriion made ms doubly nervous.
/, 10 very q range. / said; and then | told y
in What had happened. .
Is, ms 60 up and loof. Miss Lorine, be
,ssetted.
Cooselting. | led The ssy, bat stood /
,ck thsi be Might ent,f sioae- Jenny .
esnv bile bringing mp The rear b
1t vs. nos qqi.e dark. Ton struck . y
ght. Tue room sss Silent and empty.
Had sons sho 4 been p'syisg os ,ricksi =