The Opelousas courier., 1901-07-13

never can get over it. | blushed now
and murmured that any request Mr.
Vernon might make l was sure !
would be but too glad to comply with
Th@a he rose to go, but before doing
so he placed a one-pound note In my
hand.
Invariably In advance. Miss Lor
ing" he said. almost alphabetically,
at Is q rule from which / never devil.
ate"
The next day he came. He brought
with him nothing but the picture on
which he was at work. his paints and
easels, and one or two wooden models.
Of course l never intruded upon him
at his work. but he grew into the hab-
it, as he passed the open door of the
sitting room, to drop in aid talk with
me.
One afternoon, when he had fingered
ove his painting longer than his wont,
and seemed more tired, I asked him to
stay and take a cup of tea with me.
/ could not but see how gladly he
consented. OF course did my guest all
honor. With my OWE hands I drew the
old heirlooms from their covers and
placed them on the table. With par
donable pride | ushered him into the
room.
Are you not afraid to live alone,
Miss Loring," he asked, with so much
valuable silver?"
"Oh, no." | answered; II keep it in
a safe built in the wall, and sleep with
the key under my pillow. No one
would think of looking for it there"
And then l went on to explain to
him my horror of banks, and now
much Of my worldly goods l preferred
to have under my personal supervi-
sion.
"It is not SAFE" he insisted. Il wish
l had the right to refuse to allow you
to run such risk"
With what tenderness he uttered the
last SENTENCED! To what was it the
prelude? 1t must not come upon me
too suddenly. l could not bear the
fullness of it's ecstacy. but l no longer
doubted what for long l had suspected
-Algernon's heart was mine.
AS he babe me good night he held
and pressed my hand. / fear my head,
in spite of the injury to my cap, fell
one brief instant ON his manly
shoulder. l heard something like 4
sigh; then he tore himself away. l
was again alone.
The next day / did not see him on
his way to the studio. Two men were
with him, SO he could not stop. They
were rather rough-looking men-evi-
IDENTIFY models. Shortly after n IF
them passed down the stair" and went
out. Then Algernon came.
Where is your visitor?"I asked.
'"They have both gone." he said.
/ thought it strange I had not seen
the other man pass, but soon Alger-
mons presence made me forget all
else; only he seemed distract and ill at
ease.
Perhaps l had been too cold, too dis
tant, and SO had wounded his noble
heart. / silently swore to throw Oft
LAC 4AGOh vi AkAaIACh A1OACStyp 6AA
show him more of the true heart which
beat but for him. Before, however, I
had gotten my courage to the point,
he had gone.
l sat alone for two, perhaps three
hours. until the twilight fell. Then q
desire assaulted me to go up and
look at the progress of his work. I
had not seen the picture since the day
It came. and he had been with me Q
fortnight.
Softly / opened the door. The pic
ture was on It's easel, covered with q
cloth. The cloth I gently raised, but
I could discover on the anv no
Doubtless, lost in thought Of
me, Algernon had striven in vain to
pursue his art.
I sank into a chair and gave myself
up to sweet reverie, when suddenly ]
A loud and violent sneeze
sounded close beside me. l sprang to
my feet and looked about the room. 1t
was empty, save for the two wooden
and myself.
One of these models Algernon had
evidently been copying, since he had
dressed it in the brigand hat and coat
he kept for that purpose, and which
ne once had shown me.
A great terror assaulted me; l
searched every corner of the room. In
could discover nothing.
At last | went out, but taking the
1ey from the door | locked it behind
ne. On my way down stairs l caught
! glimpse Of Jenny's Tiny maid of all
vork) young man, escaping through
he back door.
I did not approve Of followers, but
Jenny was so good and faithful that /
sometimes had to shut my eyes to the
frequent visits of the young
butcher, who evidently intended her to
his lot. Somehow my recent
right made the presence of a man,
wen the butcher, a thing to be de-
ired.
TOM" 1 called. He came back, |
a~awardly. 81 don't mind If
on stay to tea," I said Il had a little
just now. and I'm nervous. I'D
eel better to know you were in the
.itchen, within call"
Thank We, miss! but I can't stay to-
light, and We needn't be nervous, for
m just after seeing Mr.. Vernon look
ng out of the studio window"
'Mr. Vernon has been gone two
| said.
well, certainly 1t was some one else
n the studio, for | certainly saw a
mans head by the window when
in. q half hour ago."