The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-04-13

pocket. 80
Nan had not seen the action. but
the quick-vitted waiter had.
Il beg yonr pardon" Curtis said.
quickly and courteously. hut ] think
mis- must be the missing coin.
Doubtless you have taken II out OF
your purse. laid IL beside your plate.
and then forgotten II. Very lucky
I CHANGED to look down."
How can ! ever ihans you. slr?"
Nan exclaimed. while tho waiter gave
Curtis q eight wink. and discreetly
kept all knowledge Of the little ruse
to himself
But q dIiigeni search on Mans part.
aided by both the waiter and Van
Tassets. brought NO purse TO light.
and she Was compelled 10 20 home
without Il. How the money could
be there and not the purse was \
mystery she VAS unable TO solve.
Only Q day or two later Curtis was
passing Harrisoas picture shop when
. painting In the window attracted
his attention. It's execution was
graceful and vigorous. but II was the
central nsure In IL mat he noticed. II
was the very girl whom he had met
~ the cafe.
II am a fooL" he thought. as he
entered and asked the price OF the
picture.
But for all that he bought II, pay.
ing twenty pounds for Il, though Mr..
Harrison thought that the artist
would consider ten pounds . munifi-
cent sum.
"very hnc indeed" Mr.. Harrison
said. volubly. glad OF n chance TO
make q bargain. even II Il brought no
money into his own pocket, land
perfect likeness OF the artist--Miss
Kendall, SIR. II she wasn't as poor
N q church mouse the world would
have heard Of her long ago. I'll be
bound"
Curtis though; so too. and wanted
very much TO know Miss kendall's
address, but he did not say SO.
MY mother has long wished TO
have her portrait painted" he said,
artfully. but she wants IL 10 be the
work Of q iadys brush. DO you think
IL sent Miss kendall a photograph
abe would copy IN oil portrait from
it,"
She would be only too glad. Mr..
Van Tasseis," said Mr.. Harrison. ef.
fnsiveiy, and you couldn't get n lady
better fitted for the work than She"
And Nan worked diligently and hap
PLY on her FIRST order. never dream
Ing by what chain of circumstances
the loss OF her purse had brought all
this good fortune.
She knew nothing about NJ. Van
Tassels. except that he had purchased
Under the Lilacs" and was so
pleased with It that he wanted his
mothers portrait from the same
brush.
Il hope he will like H." she said.
on the very afternoon when Curtis
Van Tassels was coming for the I'm.
ished picture. Il have certainly done
my best"
Mr.. Van Tassels did like II. and he
liked the little artist. too--so we'll
that he came again and again on one
pretext or another.
And before many months he had
asked Nan Kendall to marry him. and
she had answered Eyes"
Man" said Curtis, quizzlcally, one
day. did you ever lose a sovereign"
Nan stared and laughed.
What do you mean. Curtis" she
said. NO: but I thought did. last
Spring"
Thought you did," Curtis exclaim-
ed. why. didn't you really lost liz"
Curtis. you are not the gentleman
who"
Nan stopped.
YES" nodded Curtis Van Tassels.
with smiling lips.
Il have sometimes wondered whore
had seen You before. Oh. Il was
monstrous OF you To deceive me rs
you did. I don't think can ever for.
give you"
"oh. yes. you cant" said Curtis,
confidently. But now do you know
ever deceived your"
mir. Harrison sent me my purse
the very next day. with the money
intact. I had left IL on one OF his
counters. I felt very angry with you
then. and II had known you ! would
have sent the money you gave me
back at once"
And now that You do know me. you
are going to give yourself TO me in.
stead" exclaimed Curtis. triumphant
iy. 1T was only loan, you see."--
New York News.