The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-11
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Our Daily Short Stories
A LAGGARD TN LOVE.
BY FRANK JOHNSTON.
Copyright 1901. by Authors syndicato,

lie.eu as an artist not as a lover.
WIN ner low, broad brow and fair
oval lace; her dark hair arranged
eesteIully on gracefully poised head.
Iccen tuatlng the fairness of that face
Tue freshness of her complexion, which
1o your art could not copy; her
large. expressive brown eyes; her
mouth full of graces and gentleness:
tue perfect contour of her figure; and
1 DeheVe you would not even be crit
lcal OF her small, delicate, slightly
turheu-up nose. All of these attrac-
tlons you would instantly discover
ana 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
ana lag around, and remain in a con
slant state of hesitation and fear. On
the other hand, l am a practical lover.
not visionary or romantic one. /
carry things through with a rush
when once make up my mind. Now
L want to marry Miss Gertrude Rus
sen, and am resolved to do so.
snail propose to 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 stiil
at work. His manner, as he seated
himself. was not as buoyant as on the
previous occasion.
We'll, l proposed to her, Bob" he
began, and then stopped and took sew,
eral slow puffs at his cigar, "and by
Jove, she refused me-liked me. ad-
mired my energy and success in nv
profession, and all that sort of thing.
but. She didn't finish the sentence,
still that but finished me-" And Mo.
bray gave a sigh, a rather unusual
thing for him.
You will get over it quickly, Tom,
you know you will" suggested Hamil-
ton, consolingly. You have the facul-
ty of recovering rapidly"
Mobray smiled family and attempt
ed to answer in the same vein. But
you must understand that none of the
previous attacks has been quite as Sc
we're as this one" Then, seriously:
Il am harder hit than you think Bob"
The two friends sat for some moments
in silence.
"Well. l won't keep you up any long
er over my troubles" said Mobray.
rising to go. Good night, old man."
and he started toward the door. Then
turning around he said:
BY the way, what the deuce are
you doing up at this time of night?"
Just putting the finishing touches
to a portrait l am to have ready for
Tomorrow" replied Hamilton. THE
original will take lunch with me to-
morrow, and if you can spare the time
l would like you to join us. and give
me your opinion of the picture"
Mobray accepted and then sought in
sleep to forget his disappointment in
love-
The lunch was served in Hamilton S
studio. When Mobray entered he was
surprised and disconnected to find that
the other guests were Miss Russell and
her mother. But the truth of the sit
uation did not dawn upon him until
Hamilton went over to the easel and
uncovered the portrait of Miss Rus
sell.
Some time ago." began Hamilton.
Miss Russell was gracious and kind
enough to permit me to paint her por-
trait and to consent that I might keep
it in my studio. But the harder I
worked to reproduce a worthy likeness.
the more L despaired of the power of
art to accomplish the task of Impress
ing her delicate features upon canvas.
and l realized that if l desired to have
that face always with me, my only
hope was to possess the original. And
when / think of it I am simply unable
to understand how 1 ever had the cour
age to ask for it,"
You are sly old fox" said Mobray,
grasping his hand, "and 1 was wrong
in supposing you were a laggard in
love"
smiling.
I hope, Gertrude, you don't mean
10 imply that you forced a proposal"
remarked Mrs. Russell, reprovingly.