Daily camera., 1901-09-30
An Involuntary xseilg
By Kea.stt r. Harris.

: BY Keanen r. Harris.
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tcopyrighA IN. By AatAess sysdsssss.)
| was not the atelier Of fashion.
| i able, or even = prosperous artist
a. matter OF fact, nobody was ever
known to call IL an atelier at all
Teddy Stebbins usually referred to II
- my shop" designation that was
rendered more or less appropriate by
Its situation ON the fourteenth door
OF q downtown Office building. l,
contained no soft hued oriental webs
or faded tapestry; there was not q
rusty coslet or . spidery rapier on
the premises, and the big windows
were ~ innocent Of stained glass as
they were of curtains.
| Miss Gleason was the stenoR-
rapher for Balch 4 Skinner across
the way. II Teddy left his door open
and moved his easel out into the mid
die Of the room, he could see her
from where he worked. and she
NO0A0 oCC AAAA ASO" Wu0S0 OAC
worked; wherefore it IL not to be
wondered at that they soon detected
one another in the act of what Miss
Gleason characterized - rubber
ing"
Within few weeks. however. Miss
Gleason met ths young artists ar
dent gaze with perfect frankness and
q smile that was as sweet and sunny
and altogether charming and dazzling
smile as ever turned q young mans
head. In fact, she smiled SO fire.
quently that old Balch, her employer.
noticed it, and was curions enough
to steal up behind her and hnd out
what she was smiling at. To his
credit, however. he said nothing
about it. although 1t IL moro than
likely that his glistening bifocal
glasses were turned on his pretty
stenographer rather oftener than
before.
Then Teddy. guilefully taking occa-
sion to wander out into the passage
when he heard the slamming OF the
elevator gate in the morning. met
Miss Gleason and was bold enough ia
wish her q good morning and follow
up with something about the wealth
er. Later the SCOPE OF the conversa-
ton widened. She admired the car
nation In his buttonhole and he very
gallantly asked her to wear II for
him.
"some Of thess Aar mornings I'm
coming in TO see your pictures" she
said, a. she left him.
For the next few days Teddy got
to "his shop" half an hour earlier, in
order to sweep the door and tidy up
generally. The majolica utensil wAs
pushed altogether put pf sight under
the aesk aud the pipes we're Slow
Away iuto drawer, TA-
-,. 70 -.r whether, after al.
.on's advice was not good, and
wondered how he would look with a
beard. 1t was only the probationary
month of bristle that deferred him
from attempting it. A. q matter of
fact. he did make up his mind TO let
his hair grow. One morning Miss Glea-
son made the promised visit. and he
had a delicious half-hour OF her all
to himself.
II think that you must be wonderful
ly clever" she said. as he turned can
vas after canvas around for her in
spection. II took lessons once. but !
could never do anything but pansies,
and couldn't do them very well. !
don't suppose q person could ever get
anything as natural as you do unless
they had genius for it. What beauti-
full girl that is!
Its Miss Peyton." he said, indif-
ferently.
The coming OF Miss Peyton . week
before had gladdened his heart to the
point OF ecstasy. Not that she was
anything like as good-looking as the
little stenographer. although her skirt
had perhaps better set and swing.
and her boots might have been
trifle trimmer; but she was the daugh-
ter of G. ". B. Peyton, and consequent
ly her patronage meant great deal
II wish tha, l could paint your por-
trait" he added: II would give any
thing in the world for that-if could
do it justice. that Is"
II don't see why you couldn't" said
Miss Gleason, blushingly. I'll guess
it's about time that was in the Office.
l heard Mr.. Balch a moment ago." and
she made her escape.
Miss Peyton called for her second
sitting the day after that. Her chap
erone was with her. Of course, but had
to leave for little while to do little
shopping. Teddy decided that the girl
was a particularly nice girl and not
bit spoiled. 1t is not certain whether
Miss Peyton had come to any deci-
sion regarding him at that time. 1t Is
certain. however. that as the sittings
went on, she became more and more
friendly. She had blue eyes, by the
way. and while Teddy was prepossessed
in favor Of eyes Of velvety blackness,
he was compelled to admit to himself
that blue eyes had their good points.
Naturally he looked into them quite
often. He had to. \
Miss Peyton had dash Of the prac-
tical spirit of her father, apparently.
for she took Teddy to task concerning
his lack OF sociability. urging the ne
cessity OF this quality from busi-
ne So point OF view.
Tdidn't know that I was unsociable."
said Teddy.
II don't mean that. exactly" she re-
joined; II think that you are very
nice. but why don't you only 60 out
q littk?"
If you only knewl" said the young
man.
sand I don't mean that. either" She
hesitated. while he looked At her, smil-
ingly; II mean," she continued, shat
l never see you anywhere that 60,
and"
'Oh, thAtl" laughed Teddy. SWELL,
thAfAWxnistoltuas." ..,.. -
< - 80. -. from this time.
she said. "Now, to begin with. I'm go
inu n apnA yOn a n irtvit al lion to party