The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-04-07

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| pocket.
Nan had not seen the action, but
| the quick-witted waiter had.
81 beg your pardon" Curtis said,
| quickly and courteously, "but think
| this must be the missing coin.
Doubtless you have taken it out of
your purse, laid it beside your plate,
and then forgotten it. Very lucky
CHANGED to look down."
"How can ever thank you, sir?"
Nan exclaimed, while the waiter gave
Curtis slight wink, and discreetly
kept all knowledge of the little ruse
to himself.
But diligent search on Mans part,
aided by both the waiter and Van
Tassels, brought no purse to light,
and she was compelled to go home
| without it. How the money could
be there and not the purse was a
mystery she was unable to solve.
| Only a day or two later Curtis was
passing Harrison's picture shop when
painting in the window attracted
his attention. It's execution was
graceful and vigorous, but it was the
central figure in 1t that he noticed. 1t
was the very girl whom he had met
| at the cafe.
81 am fool" he thought, as he
entered and asked the price Of the
| picture.
But for all that he bought it, pay
ing twenty pounds for it, though Mr..
Harrison thought that the artist
would consider ten pounds munif,
cent sum.
VERY fine indeed" Mr.. Harrison
said, volubly, glad of chance to
make bargain, even if it brought no
money into his own pocket, "and
perfect likeness OF the artist-Miss
Kendall, sir. If she wasn't as poor
as church mouse the world would
have heard of her long ago. I'll be
bound"
Curtis thought so too, and wanted
| very much to know Miss KendalPs
address, but he did not say so. !,
"My mother has long wished to
nave her portrait painted" he said
artfully, "but she wants it to be the
work Of ladyls brush. Do you think
if / sent Miss Kendall photograph
she would copy an oil portrait from
it?"
"She would be only too glad, Mr.
Van Tassels," said Mr.. Harrison, Ell
fusively, "and you couldn't get 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 Mr.. Var
Tassels, except that he had purchased
Under the Lilacs" and was SC
pleased with it that he wanted his
mothers portrait from the same
brush.
/ 81 hope he will like it," she said
on the very afternoon when Curtil
| Van Tassels was coming for the fin
ished picture. Il have certainly done
my best"
| Mr.. Van Tassels did like it, and he
liked the little artist. too-so well
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 YES"
! Man." said Curtis, quizzically, one
day, did you ever lose a sovereign?
| Nan stared and laughed.
| what do you mean, Curtis" she
said. mo; but l thought did, last
| Spring"
Thought you did," Curtis exclaim
ed. "Why, didn't you really lost it?'
| Curtis. you are not the gentleman
who"
! Nan stopped.
EYES," nodded Curtis Van Tassels
with smiling lips.
II have sometimes wondered where
had seen you before. oh, 1t was
monstrous of you to deceive me as
you did. don't think l can ever for
give you"
"Oh, yes, you cant" said Curtis
confidently. But now do you know
ever deceived your"
"Mr. Harrison sent me my purse
the very next day. with the money
intact. l had left 1t on one Of his
counters. !. felt very angry with you
then. and If I had known you would
have sent the money you gave me
back at once"
i "And now that you do know me. you
are going to give yourself to me in
stead!" exclaimed Curtis, triumphant
ly. 1T was only :o.r. you see
New York News.
pEEE IN rrIpKEx AS A E0nn