Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-11-04
CHAPTER X.


ting the studio In order and making ready
Cor the stream Of visitors who would
tome to see the pictures prepared for the
Academy
Il looked at nine studios" she said, tri-
nmphsntly. when she came back again
oeveral hours later, "and don't see any
thing better than my own, and nothing
bali as original a, yours"
That's good" returned Rachel calm
Is. When mine comes back again we
shall have the satisfaction Of thinking
the Forty are as blind as bats and as
stupid as owls"
1t won't como back" said Mrs Da-
mas, little Grossly As matter Of
fact, she had set her heart and soul upon
Rachel's picture getting accepted, and
Rachefs want Of belief In its merits
made her feel almost angry with the
girl, as IL. poor child it were possible
that for her to have humble opinion
Of herself and her picture would In the
least affect the fat Of the powers that
be at Burlington.
Aud now IL was Show Sunday. Rachel
and Mrs. Damns had put the last touches
70 the studio. had set great clusters Of
golden daffodiis against the dark oaken
Manu. AHh D8t TIE kalt GaEFEh tsttIiuEg
shelf, had set out the quaint screens
and hung up gorgeous broderies. until
the whole place looked like some Eastern
palace.
The arrivals began TO come thick and
fast. and then TO pour in In a stream I'M
I'll the large studio was flied 10 sufoea-
ton. Among them ALL there being many
strangers who did not even know Mrs.
Damas by sight, Rachel escaped notice
fairly well. She heard a good many crit
icisms-all more or less favorable TO her
r-ot her picture, and one tall young man
stopped short in passing It, exclaiming: /
That's clever thing. I'd no idea Mrs !
Damas went in for army subjects"
That's not one Of Mrs. Damas',"
Rachel heard man say III reply. ITS /
done by friend Of hers, who is study /
Ing with her or sharing her strdio or
something. Some one OF other I'D me
per name, but / forget. Stay, he Sc it is
IN the corner-Ray Dudley Us, that
was the name Molyneux told ne that
she's quite young and very Prey"
Knows how to paint a s5idier, any
way said the FIRST man. stiil eying the
picture. If | we"c "a -teh chap "a buy
that"
Many such remar.s did Rachel hear,
and then, just as she was beginning to
feel happy and amused and to think of
venturing out Of her corner, something
happened which almost made her scream
with fright, which made her heart beat
till she could hardly breathe and some
pulse begin throbbng in her throat ill
she was almost Cd oked; for across the
crowd, from the vantage ground Of her
height and thick rug on which she was
Htandng. she saw Valentine Harrington
walk into the room.
lie was not alone. Indeed, he was in
The wake Of two ladies' with loug-handled
glasses, who did not apparently know
Mrs. Damas welt, Tor they consulted to-
gether moment, and then the elder Of
The two. aud evidently the mother Of the
younger one, rustled up 20 Mes Damas
and seemed 20 explain herself That she
was somebody IF Importance Rache,
could tell from Dorothy's manner. Thea
The daughter was introduced to Mrs. Ia
mas who shook hands with her. and inn
medistely Valentine Harrington was pre-
eented Ie bowed with his very own
air Of Difference. but Mrs Damas did not
give him her hand---aud Rachel was glad
Of It, Then the older Of the two Indies
addressed Mrs. Damas again, and after
moment or 50 she ssw Dorothy turn
toward one Of her owr. pictures as il they
had been speak..k Of il.
The yoeager lady turned too, then
looked back With a coquettlsh air at Har-
Fingtoa 10 see if he were following or
hot: then they too moved toward the
picture. md 40 went few steps further
away from Rachel. who was standing
aow well sheltered by her own large can
vas.
, She had good look a. him then. for
the girl with whom he had come had her
back turned 20 her and Harrington in
talking 20 her was sideways toward Ra
,hei. She had good sight, too, and she
eaw that he was not little altered
.hs he was haggard and looked older.
. lis il possible that big really cared r (
she said to herself; and just then the
girl. who 's rather pretty than other
wise. with pert little nose, bright
complexion. and great mass Of reddish
HAIR. turned and spoke TO him and ac
burst out laughing
Rachel shrauk back behind her picture
rs if she had had Il blow, No. he had .
qof really cared or If be- had. be had got /
aver Il. for even as she watched them
sac saw him laugh again aud try to take /
a piece Of paper which the girl held IN +
her hand and then they both laughed as
If there was a perfect understanding and +
a great joke between them,
Then al at oace Rachel remembered I
sbpt in staying here watching them she (
saS running a great risk, that even In +
sneh a crowd she could not hope 20 be /
nverl,oksd, and thar as soon rs Mrs Ia. /
mas had shown the lady her own pie (
,,,ve4 she was sure 70 bring her en- 20 Sc. !
lachers. and tha; Valentine and the girl
would be equally sure 20 follow u theig
wake. And il he found her here. il
would be good-by 20 her chance Of peace +
Cor the future,
The thought was enough 70 make RIA
.hei watch eagerly Tor the FIRST chance Of
getting across the crowded studio and ny
10 he safe shelter IF her own room Not
80 anickiy but tbat Harrington. turning
round at that momcut. caught q glimpse
Of her, or fanccd thar he did. as she
disappeared Through the doorway,
Mrs. Damas," be said, who Is the
iady who Is here without her hatT'
Without her hatF" repeated Mrs. na-
mas. vaguely. sud ienly brought down
from art TO rsJrvaay life oh. yes. of
course. that was my friend, Miss pud
ley. the painter Of this picture
Ain. yes. yes. l fancied that | knew
aey. bat wds wrong he said with al.
mirable eomposarc; but all the same, If
Rachers heart was beating lie a fright
enod birds mp in her own bedroom, Val