Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-05-16
CHAPTER /.
Continued.


/ Poor Willie started back, stumbling
over the rough ground, and presented
n very red, moist face to their view.
But they took no notice Of him.
Stepping genially over the rough
mounds, looking beautifully cool and
clean and smart. and well-dressed be-
side the besmirched and perspiring
Willie, they threw back their heads,
half closed their eyes, and proceeded
to criticise the work before them
with rs much care and conscientious
ness as If it had been a painting on
the walls of the New Gallery.
II say, old chap, 1t really is the best
thing you've ever Done" began OTTO
with kindly admiration.
'By Jove, Jordan, 1 never thought
you could paint before" added Cliff
ford. "There's a broad touch, and at
the same time a nice feeling for eff
feet which shows an immense ad-
vance on your previous work. You
seem, so to speak, to have put all year
strength into the work. 1t does you
Immense credit-it really does, old
chap."
"Some meaning in 1t, too And
that's the point where you always
failed before"
To the intense disgust of Willie.
pretty Nell was evidently much
amused by these remarks. And. al
Though q feeling Of cOndescending
gratitude to her abject admirer made
her try to control her enjoyment, Cliff
ford saw In her blue eyes a Inerri-
ment none the less keen that she sub
dued its outward manifestation.
"It's easy to chaff," grumbled VIII
lie, hotly. perhaps you'd like to try
the work yourselves"
mo, old chap. We should never get
that depth of color" said Otto, calmly
surveying the artists heated, crimson
face.
"Jt wants d natural aptitude for that
sort Of thing" said Clifford.
-. "Well, you can take yourselves on
II you have nothing better to do than
to find fault with what you haven't
the pluck to do yourselves" said Will
lie, sharply.
Were not finding fault. We are
expressing our admiration" said Otto
"And we are quite ready to try our
hand ourselves" said Clifford, as,
with a sudden burst Of energy, born
of his desire to linger in the neighbour
hood of Nell, he threw off his own
ccat, and struggled for possession OF
the tar-brush.
But Willie resisted. and there was
danger of their both suffering severe
" from the nature Of the prize, when
the object of so much singular loyalty
interposed.
IF you really are so full Of energy
that you need some vent for It," said
she. In a voice which was full of sug-
restions of demure merriment. you
might help pull up those boats"
And she glanced at two of the small
pleasure-craft in the river, both OF
which had evidently suffered some in
fury, as their water-logged condition
bore witness.
Clifford set about the task with en-
thusiasm, and, not without difficulty,
succeeded in bringing the boats up on
the Shiny bank.
1t was warm work, and as Otto
Conybeare made no offer to assist him,
It was a long time before Clifford
managed. first by baling the water
out of the boats with an old pail and
then by turning them a little on one
side when he had partly dragged them
out, and emptying them, to finish his
task. When he at last raised his head
with q great sigh Of satisfaction, ne
snw- in the river below a weather.
beaten old punt. in which sat young
fisherman of the realistic, not the oper-
atic, kind, wearing hard felt hat
l stained .jefyey, and huge pair OF sea-
boots. who regarded him with an air
of mingled pity and contempt.
"She always gets mOogs to DO her
dirty worn, she do" he observed. with
a Jerk of tAe head in the direction OF
fair Nell. "And the better dressed
they are, y.he more she likes 1t, On
she's a rae un, she be-"
Now. il is not in human nature TO
like beind classed among the "moogs'
and Clifford, who could hardly flush
a deeper crimson than he had already
done WITH his exertions, tried to as
sume an sir of philosophic indifference
In vain.
.J,rn afraid YOU are not chivalrous.
nv man." said he, thrusting his arms
into his coat and feeling that he would
like to plunge into the river.
81 don't care to pull the cart out OF
by body and get no thank for II" re-
Joined the fisherman.
Clifford, in spite Of his assumed stole
ism, began to feel like 4 fool. He
looked toward the spot where Nell had
been standing beside the shed, ana
saw that she, as we'll as his two
friends, had disappeared. The fisher
man grihned and stuck the end Of an
old pipe in his mouth with an air OF
snug satisfaction.
81 wasn't fashionable enough for her,
wasn't: an thank my stars for it.
It's saved my back many good load"
Then Clifford felt satisfied that it
was pique at having his own advances
rejected which caused the young fish
erman to be so contemptuous. So lie
said, without irritation:
II should have thought no man
would mind doing n mans work to