The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-03-11
CHAPTER XIII.

6rst time in my life. l took pains with
my toilet. l carefully brushed my hair
In different ways, trying which was the
more becoming. But with all my pains,
cut but a very sorry figure.
Dear me, how spruce you look this
morning" said Martha, as l came down
to breakfast. And quite elated, too!'
Before 10 o'clock l was in the neigh
borhOod Of her house. 1t was 100 early
to go there yet; so l fingered about Tor
q time. How very awkward IL was that
] had no knowledge Of her name! had
quite forgotten to ask il. As the time
drew near l began 10 feel nervous. A
church clock struck eleven as | timidly
knocked at the door. l was answered by
q stout, good tempered locking old lady.
You have a young ladr staying here,
! began, in a hesitating tone.
''Oh. you are the youIg man that Miss
Clara expects, l suppose" Saying which.
the old lady deliberately drew a pair
OF spectacles out OF her pocket, and ad-
iusting them, carefully scrutinized me.
Ny appearance seeue9 to satisfy her. for
she said, in a more friendly tone, Walk
In, young man; Mss Clara will be with
you directly"
lor. Upon the able were several water
colored drawings, some finished, some I'M
finished; also some Berlin wool work.
Bouquets OF flowers were everywhere;
upon the tabl, amidst the work, upon the
mantelpiece IN two vases, upon little
stand facing the window, and upon the
cottage piano that stood in a corner. The
air was loaded with their perfume. In
a few msments the door opened and
Clara cane into the room
you have come, then" she said. with
her sweet. melancholy smile.
As taught but death or imprisonment
could lave kept me away!
She painted water-color pictures, and
did Berlin wool work for the shops, she
told ne. She sat down al once and be-
gan Ter work. and l waited upon her.
washed her brushes, ground her colcrs,
adjusted the blind. and between these
little Offices | watched her busy fingers
but 0ftener my eyes were upon her face,
grazing ITS every lineament upon my
memory. Never have l looked upon an
other face 50 spiritually beautiful 1t
was one OF those heads that the old Ital-
ian painters loved 70 give to their An
gels and Madonnas. 50 prefectly serene,
90 utterly free from human passions.
The fair wavy hair. untrammeled by
art: the oval face, neither full nor thin.
but perfectly smooth; the low forehead +;
the blue eyes: the straight Grecian nose
the small mouth; the swelling, gracefully
arched neck the skin so delicately white.
tinted upon the cheeks with the faintest
earnatiOn. Her figure was OF about the
middle height, exquisitely graceful, yet
painfully fragile. She wore a black
dress, made high to the neck. with a
small, plain white collar.
We talked very little; she was too busy
with her work, and silence was more
congenial with our mood.
At o'clock Mrs. Wilson called Us to
dinner. which we took in a breakfast
parlor below. The old lady was very
chatty and very curious, and asked me
q great number Of indirect questions
those | did not care TO answer | con-
trived pretty skillfully to eTade.
You must excuse my questions, sir
she said; but although Miss Clara Is
no relation Of mine. and, indeed. know
nothing about her, still feel as much
interested in her as though she we're my
own child: she is 50 innocent, and knows
so little about the world, that it's quite
necessary that she should have some one
10 look after her. Now, you are the
FIRST visitor that she has ever had, and
she has lived with me these two years
But, when she came home last night shs
told me that she had met an old &C
QuAiutance who was coming to see her
that he had come TO the city in search oi
employ ment. and had no friends nor &C
Quaintances, and was 50 dreadfully mis-
cradle that it made her quite unhappy
20 see him. At first | set my face
against Il, but she soon coaXed me over
and | compromised the matter by saying
that you should come this once, but tina
II did not approve OF you, il was to b
the first and the last visit. But | mus
say you seem a very nice, quiet. modes
sort Of young gentleman. Aud what kiEC
OF employment might you be seeking"
/ told her / had been usher at a school
but that at present was doing copy ing
did not say Of what kind The olC
lady remarked that an usher's was
very genteel sort Of employment Alto
Gether she seemed very we'll satisde,
with me.
In the evening Mrs. Wilson brough
her sewing up into the parlor. and pro
RpbEf4 mat hADui4 EEaA " bNEuls AM
90 the evening glided on, oh. so rapidly
until ! could no longer see in the dark
ening twilight. and then We all sat nea
the window; Mrs. Wilson chatting. / an,
Clara silent. She gazing into the street
with that absent look 30 common 10 her
! watching every motion Of her face, a
Il grew more and more indistiurt in tn
deepening shadows. Lights were brought
and then we went down TO supper, an
then Il was time to 90.
you viii come and see me agair
won't your she said, as she gave me he
hand at the gate.
/ wanted no pressing and arrange
that would come again on Monday, Sh
wished me good night, and went In m
closed the door, and the day was snde
the day whose blissful memories wi
never fade from my heart.
That day was the precursor Of Nun
like ones. until. In short time. c0nl
perceive that she looked forward to m
coming with expectancy. and that m
presence had become a thing almost me-
Is.,beA TO- 49,. q, 49,