The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-10-11
CHAPTER IL

OF all the beauty surrounding hlm.
CHAPTER III.
From behind the bole Of a large tree
Jack Dornton was being narrowly scan
ned by a young lady, who seemed well
pleased with the inspection. She watch
ed him at work for some minutes with a
decided look of admiration in her eyes.
She turned from her survey presently,
and STOPPING down, crept away slowly
among the ~brushwood, making a detour
with the evident intention of reaching
the spot again.
In the meantime Jack, stretching him
self after his spell of work, noticed a
small natural mound covered with soft
v~elvety grass. The more he looked the
stronger became the temptation to take
ten minutes rest. He yielded at last,
and found the mound an excellent pillow.
Before he had enjoyed two of the al
lotted ten minutes rest, his open locket,
containing a portrait of Ethel, dropped
from his hand, and a myriad of gnats
buzzed and whizzed in happy freedom
round his head. Jack Dornton was fast
asleep.
At that moment Il woman came Gid
ing by in full view of the easel. She
was a woman of surprising loneliness.
tall, stately, with mass of golden plaits
coiled round and round her head, full
melting brown eyes and ripe red lips, n
skin ~rivaling the peach in it's delicate
coloring, and a carriage queenly in its
every movement. Her dainty cambria
gown, cunningly made to more express
than hide her FORM" trained carelessly
among the ivy roots and brambles be-
hind her. Her simple straw hat she car
ried in her hand, and her whole air sug-
gested the pretty maiden meditation
fancy free"
She gave a well-feigned start when she
had come well in view of Jacks easel.
1t was not pleasant to watch the swift
change that came over the beautiful face
as she marked the vacant seat and
thought herself alone. 1t revealed I'M
as indicated in the cruel little curves at
the corners of the mouth, which were
generally concealed beneath the pretty
confiding smile that from long practice
had become habitual with her.
Advancing cautiously, she glanced
around, and soon discovered Jacks
| whereabouts. She went quickly to the
easel, and critically examined the morn
ing's work. Turning aside, she remarked
to herself, with such decided talent
and such an appearance, he would be
sure to succeed if he were properly taken
up" She then walked on tip toe to
Jack, and scrutinized him quite as crit
ically as she had scrutinized his work,
and evidently with as much approval.
Then her quick eye detected the open
locket by his side.
She looked carefully at the sleeper and
having assured herself of the soundness
of his slumbers, went down upon her
knees by his side, the better to examine
the portrait.
She started visibly when her eyes fell
| upon the sweet face smiling at her from
the tiny trinket. She rose quickly and
walked away a few yards.
$50 she is this landscape painters
| village maiden!" she muttered vindic-
lively. Surely there is some fatality in
his coming here. l can't be mistaken,
it is the same insipid babyishly pretty
face that Lord Summers pointed out to
me in the park the other day. And she
loves this Apollo, does she? And per-
maps he InlNks Ht IONtS HtE. wei, We
shall see what we shall see!.'
There was a significant glitter in her
fine eyes, and an instantaneous tighten
ing of the red lips seemed to tell of a
hard. cruel heart beneath the fair eX-
terror. But the expression of her face
changed as if by magic when Jack roll
ed over on TO his side and showed signs
Of waking. She had posed gracefully
before the easel, and awaited him.
Il believe I've been asleep" he muir
INJURED drowsily, raising himself on one
elbow, when his eyes fell upon the daz-
cling loneliness of the girl so earnestly
regarding his picture; and in the first
glimpse of Pauline Mailing, Jacks senses
and artistic perceptions were alike rous-
ed, and, springing to his feet he went
toward the easel.
II beg your pardon for the liberty
| have taken in examining your picture
murmured the woodland nymph melodi-
ously. Il hope / did not disturb you.
May / be allowed to continue my inspec-
tion n
Jack. hardly awake even yet, NUT
tered something about ''too much hon.
or"
You are Mr.. Dornton. are you not p
she continued, still looking at the pie
turs. and giving Jack time to pull him.