The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-06-02
gelect @isrellany,
Only a Loan

Nan Kendall held her pretty brown
head on one side and critically exam
ined the picture whicn she had just
finished.
"Yes," she said, with selfsatis6ed
dimpling smile, II think it will pass
muster, mother, dear. Confess, now
that managed those bits of sunlight
and shade with the skill of an old mas
ter! And am l not represen el 'as
large as life,' only more so?'
"And what shall you call it, dear?
asked Mrs. Kendall, fair, brown
haired widow, who looked very like
her daughter.
"'Under the Lilacs,' l think. II
doesn't look very modest. suppose
to paint oneself, but, in the deartb o.
models, l was compelled to do So"
Gas if a prettier model could be de-
sired!' exclaimed Mrs. Kendall, with
motherly pride.
II shall 60 to London with it my
SELF said Nan, "and make-oh, ever
80 much money on it, mother dear
Then we shall have new carpet, fol
this one, though almost hidden by
rugs, is undcniably shabby. And ]
shall get my piano tuned, and buy
those new wal,zes Hctty spoke about
last week, and-and I'm sure | don't
know what else"
"Don't build too many air castles
Nanne,te," said her mother, warning
ly, "for you may be disappointed, af
ter ALL"
But brave little Nannettes hopeful.
ness was not dashed in the least; she
had worked SO long on this picture
and had been SO painstaking. Surely
in the great city, ten miles away, there
must be someone who would admire
and buy it.
Not quite week later Mr.. Curti 6
Van Tassels sauntered listlessly into
one of the West End cafes toward
dusk, and settled himself, with dis
satisfied sigh, at one of the numerous
small tables, covered with whitest
softest damask, and glittering with
silver.
Business had been unutterably dull
during the past week, and Mr.. Van
Tassels' affairs had suffered more than
little. Hence his unwonted per-
turbation of mind.
So preoccupied was he that he didn't
notice he had Wis avis till coffee and
rolls had been brought him.
The cloud lifted suddenly from his
handsome forehead, and he glanced
with deep interest at the girl opposite
him-Nannette Wendall herself. Cur.
tbs thought it was one of the most
beautiful faces he had ever seen-ex'
quisite in its modelling, perfect in it's
contour. Her eyes looked sad and
disappointed, as if ready to drop
tears.
Yes, Nan had met with a great dis.
appointment. She had been unable
to dispose of the picture rouni which
her hopes had centered so long, and
now she must return home even poor
er than before.
She l.al walked about London all
day, not quite despairlng of success,
until the approach of evening. Then,
fearful lest her mother might be anx-
ious, she had left the picture at kind
hearted print sellers, who had promis-
ed to sell it for her, if possible. She
had decided to take the five o'clock
train; but she had missed it, and now
even her brave heart quailed.a little
at the thought of riding home alone at
night.
Faint for lack of food, she had en-.
tered the cafe, never dreaming she
was guilty of extravaganza unparal'
leled, as it was one Of the most fash
ionable and expensive restaurants in
! the West End.
| Her repast finished Nan put hel