Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-08-07

"A LITTLE THIS wAY!" HE COMMANDED.
Such ears, such noses, such mouths
Stand still for yours. There, Ernest,
she poses. Commence"
Ernest took a fresh sheet of paper.
He sharpened his pencil to a point.
"A little this way" he commanded.
Now" And he scratched it swiftly
over the paper, drawing.
The others gathered around him,
some kneeling by his side, others lean
ing over
Splendid" they cried. ooh, Neisha,
If you could only see! 1t is worse than
ours. Those eyes"
They laughed convulsively, one girl
until she coughed.
BY and by Ernest, rising presented
the picture to Neisha, with an elab-
crate bow in which the slim white of
his fingers grotesquely swept the floor.
She looked at the sketch moment,
frowned almost imperceptibly and laid
1t back ON the table,
Ernest reached out his hand for it.
Shall l tear 1t upT he asked.
mo-" replied Neisha. Leave It
there. l want 1t for future reference"
The chill Of her manner fell upon the
rest. They dispersed in twos and
threes, some going to the music room,
where they played duets and sang
snatches Of song; others to the little
Turkish parlor glimmering through the
width of open doors crlmsonly distant,
and the two were left alone.
Il have offended you," said Ernest,
adding. ut seems to me that here
lately am always offending you"
1T is hardly your fault" she re-
turned gently. at is the fault of our
natures; that is all. They clash"
"Sit here" he begged, pushing for
ward a chair, land let us talk about
it."
She sat down and idly took up the
caricature. He, opposite, watched her
face as she studied 1t.
And this is how you see me-" she
unused. There is something abnormal
about 1t. The artist nature is perforce
peculiar, else 1t would not be artist. 1t
Is almost impossible. The nature of
the carlcaturist is impossible. To see
people and things so distorted suggests
distortion In the one who sees. 1t is
as If your mind were twisted X ray
which Enthusiastically reveals the skele-
ton"
Leaning back in the armchair he had
taken, he regarded her out of amused
eyes.
go on" he insisted. Don't spare
my feelings"
He said it laughingly, but there was
a cynical look about his mouth that
she had got to know.
The picture Is as I shall look ten
years hence" she went on. "If YOU are
always to see me ten years older than
am. all the saints and angels protect
me! Such foresight is rife for the
breeding Of unhappiness."
you cross bridges before you get to
them. Neisha. You borrow trouble"
Sometimes 1t is just as well. Err
nest"
Eyes"
I'VE shall never be happy together"
IF 1t was the drawing of the picture.
Seisha. that was little thing. Let me
ear 1t up and let 1t be as If 1t had
lever been drawn. Will your"
Life is made up of little things.
hey are the straws that show the way
he wind is blowing. No; don't tear
up. l want 1t for future reference.
9 said. l want to be reminded by It
hat If should be married to YOU not =
My my fate, but my every action, .
'ould be distorted thus" I,
mo, nor =
Yes. And that is not all. We are =
70 alike for happiness-both sensitive
flowers, both jealous. We quarrel
ow; we would quarrel then. After h
larriage the making up Is not so sweet h
before. 1t grows monotonous. and
zen come the sleepless nights and the a
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