Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-08-31

II able, or even a prosperous artist;
as matter OF fact. nobody was ever
known 20 call IL an atclier az all.
Teddy Stebbins usually referred 10 it
Rs my shop" a designation that was
rendered more or less appropriate by
Its situation on the fourteenth floor
OF n downtown Office building. 1t
contained no soft huod oriental webs
or faded tapestry; there was not a
rusty corslet or a spidery raPier on
the premises. and the big windows
were "a innocent OF stained glass as
they were of curtains.
Miss Gleason was the stenog-
rapher for Balch & Skinner across
tne way. If 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
could see him from where she
worked: wherefore IL is not TO be
wondered at that they soon detected
one another in the act of what Miss
Gleason characterized AS rubber
ing
Within a few weeks, however. Miss
Gleason met the Young artists ar
dent gaze with perfect frankness and
a smile that was as sweet and sunny
and altogether charming and dazzling
smile as ever turned young mans
head. In fact. she smiled go fire.
quently that old Balch. her employer,
noticed IL, and was curions enough
10 steal up behind her and find out
what she was smiling az. To his
credit, however, he sand nothing
about IL, although II Is more than
likely that his glistening bifocal
glasses were turned on his pretty
stenographer rather Oftener than
before.
Then Teddy. guilefuily taking Ocea-
sion 10 wander out into the passage
when he heard the slamming OF the
elevator gate in the morning. met
Miss Gleason and was bold enough 20
wish her good morning and follow
up with something about the wealth
er. Later the scope OF the converse
tion widened. She admired the car
nation In his buttonhole and he very
gallantly asked her TO wear IL for
him.
"Some of these fine mornings I'm
coming in 10 see your pictures" she
said, as she left him.
For the next few days Teddy got
TO Ibis shop" half an hour earlier, in
order TO sweep the floor and tidy up
generally. The majolica utensh was
pushed altogether out of sight under
the desk and the pipes were slowed
away into a drawer. The young man
began 20 consider whether, after all.
Robinson's advice was not good. and
wondered how he would look with a
beard. Ii was only the probationary
month OF bristle that deferred him
from attempting Ii. AS IA matter Of
fact. he did make up his mind 10 let
his hair grow. One morning Miss Glea-
son made the promised visit, and he
had a delicious half-hour of her all
20 himself.
IL think that you must be wonderful
~ clever" she said. as he turned can
vas after canvas around for her in
speetion. II took lessons once. but l
could never do anything but pansies.
and l couldn't do them very well. I
don't suppose person could ever get
anything as natural as you do unless
they had genius for II. What beauti-
ful girl that Is!
It's Miss Peyton." he said, indif-
ferently.
The coming OF Miss Peyton a week
before had gladdened his heart 20 the
point of ecstasy. Not that she was
anything like as good-looking as the
little stenOgrapher, although her skirt
had perhaps a better set and swing,
> and her boots might have been a
trifie trimmer; but she was the daugh-
ter of &. w. h. Peyton. and consequent
~ her patronage meant a great deal.
II wish that l could paint your por-
trait" he added; ~ would give any
Nhing in the world for that-if could
Go it justice, that is-'
II don't see why you couldn't" said
Miss Gleason, blushingly. "I-I guess
it's about time that I was In the office.
l heard Mr.. Balch 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, bat had
10 leave for little while to do a little
shopping Teddy decided that the girl
was a particularly nice girl and not a
bit spoiled. Ii Is not certain whether
Miss Peyton had come 10 any deci-
sion regarding him at that time. II Is
certain. however, that as the sittiRgs
went on, she became more and more
friendly. She had blue eyes. by the
way, and while Teddy was preposSessed d
IN favor of eyes Of a velsety blackness.
he was compelled 20 admit to himself
that blue eyes had their good points.
Naturally he looked into them quite
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