The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1901-11-07

: this inhospitable way. when he is in
hurry" interrupted voice whose
timbre was not that of the house
keeper, Mrs. O'Meagher.
! "Oh! is that you. Sturgis?" laughed
/ the artist. "Aren't you ashamed OF
yourself to come routing honest mer,
out Of bed at this nnseemly hour?
Wait minute, till put on my court
costume, that i may receive Jou with
the honors and ceremonies due to
your rank and station"
A couple of minutes later the artist,
piturepnely ettired in loose ORR
entail drescing gown and fez, opened
the door to his friend, Ralph Sturgis
"Come in, old man." he said, cordial
ly extending hin hand to the reporter;
"you are welcome at any hour of the
day or night. What is it now? This is
not your digestion call, presume"
NO" replied Sturgis, II merel,.
dropped in to say that should be un-
able to take our projected bicycle trip
this afternoon. l shall probably he
busy with the Knickerbocker bank
case all day. By the way, if you would
like to come to the bank with me, l
shall be glad of your company. am
on my way there now"
II should like nothing better" said
Sprague, but l have made an ap-
pointment for this morning with a
er-er-with sitter"
What. on New Years day, you
heathen!"
Sturgis observed the artist closely,
and then added, quizzically:
Accept my congratulations, old
man."
Your congratulations? inquired
Sprague, coloring slightly.
yes; my congratulations and my
coincidence. My congratulations on
the fact that she is young and beauti-
full, and possessed of those qualities of
mind and heart which-and so en- and
so forth. Ny coincidence because
fear you are hit at last"
What do you mean?" stammered
the artist, sheepishly; go you know
her? What do you know about her?"
Nothing whatever" replied Sturgis,
laughing, except what you are tell
ing me by your hesitations, your reti-
cence and your confusion"
The artist spoke after moment of
thoughtful silence.
Your inductiors in this case are
premature, to say the leas- Ny sitter
is young lady, so much is undeniably
true. And there is no doubt in my
mind as to her possession of all the
qualities you jocularly attribute to
her; but my interest in her is only
that of an artist in beautiful and
charming woman.
AT any rate" he added, after mo-
ment's hesitation, Il hope so: for 1
have heard that she is as good as be-
trothed to another man."
The reporters keen ear detected in
his friends tones n touch of genuine
sadness of which the artist himself was
probably unconscious. Laying his
hand gently upon Sprague's shoulder,
he said, gravely:
- hope so, too, old man; for you are
one of those foolish men whose lives
can be ruined by an unhappy love af-
fair. / suppose it's useless to preach
to you-more's the pity-but. in my
humble opinion, no woman's love is
worth the sacrifice of good mans
life"
Yes, l know your opinion on that
subject, you old cynic," replied
Sprague, "but you need not worry on
my account; otiyet, at all events. I
am still safe; the portrait is almost
finished; and | should be a fool to walk
into such u scrape with my eyes wide
open"
"Humph!" CALCULATED Sturgis, skep-
tically, when man makes fool of
for a woman, it matters little
whether his eyes be open or shut; the
result is the same
Spraguelaughed somcwhat uneasily;
and then, as if to change the subject:
Come and see the picture" he said. |
II should like your opinion of it,"
The reporter consulted his watch.
II shall have to come back some |
other time for that" he replied; II
must hurry of now TO keep my APP
pointment with Mr.. Dunlap"
He started toward the door; but
facing Sprague again, he
leld out his hand to the artist, who
PRESSED it cordially.
Goodbye, old man." he said, af-
ectionatcly, ''be as sensible as you
AN, and don't wantonly play with the
ire"
And before Sprague could frame an
nswer, the reporter was gone.
The artist remained thoughtfully
until his friends footsteps
lad died away in the distance. Then
e turned and walked slowly into the
tudio. Here, in the middle of the
Dom, stood an easel, upon which was
he portrait Of a beautiful young
irl.
Sprague gazed at it long and earn
silly. Then be heaved an almost in I
udible sigh.
"Sturgis is right" he said to him
ELF, turning away at last. "and--and {
am n COMPOUNDED idiot" /
CHAPTER VII.