The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-03-15

ttuna Carton door. she lappeu IL
-ofly-the iiuttering OF a birds wing
could have made hardly less noise.
Come in"
BEFORE she realiE I'd IL, the door was
ewing open. letting food Of light
into the hall. and framing the figure
81 Richard Carton. painter-a tall.
broad -ch ested man, built big and 1.-the
a. who stood upon his feet squarely.
with the bearing OF self-confdence.
"Wen?" Carton asked. looking
down at her coolly. curiously.
Mr. Carton?" she responded with a
question. to which he bowed affirma-
tion. IL am Mrs. Thorne."
The name Of course meant nothing
10 him: Carton saw only the slight.
almost willowy figure clothed in shah
3, black. and the soft pallor of her
face framed largely in the mass of
her hair. very dark and shot with
metallic tresses. bronze-colored-such
a crowning glory as is most delightful
10 paint. But perhaps he saw only
me big. dark eyes. and read in them
their pleading message. At any rate.
his manner became more kindly.
oh. yes Mrs Thorne. You want
TO pose? Won't you come in?" He
invited her TO enter courteously. Il
have been looking for a good model
for some time. | think you will do
speniidly"
She got into the room somehow.
dumbly. in tumult OF emotions-of
relief strangely allied with some
chagrin. that he had not recognized
her OF modification because OF pow
ertys Haunting signals in her attire.
Well IL was bread for The Boy. at
least
Upon the model-stand-a low wood
en affair some FIVE or six feet in dia-
meter-she was aware of an assured
isolation Had Mrs Thorne been a
chair or a table she felt that Cartons
interest in her would have been OF
the same nature. of no less and no
greater intensity
II Is the artists attitude TO his
model but at times she found herself
resenting il duly She had come reg
ularly now every afternoon for over
a week.
As for Carton, she felt that she
would have known him anywhere.
Just as she had been startled by the
unchanged quality OF his voice. by the
timbre OF his football. after so long a
time How long? Could II be only
eight years since he left their native
village TO study his art; but seven
since her marriage. only four since
her husbands death. which had left
her with The Boy. dependent upon
her own exertions. penniless and
without friends?
once Carton asked her advice about
some small detail of a tea he pro-
posed giving
I'm afraid" she told him, that /
have been out Of the social life for
SO long a time that | would hardly
know
Oh well. it's a slight matter. after
all Only ! wanted everything TO be
Just So. Women are particular you
know
And his transformations invitation TO
tea She was careful 10 decline. al
though on the afternoon following the
function she could not refrain from
ASKING. archly Did she like it,"
She2" Carton echoed the word in
alarm. Mrs. Thorne saw the color
rise 70 his forehead; she thought his
manner confused. borish, arde
She? didn't know mentioned"
You didn't" she fastened TO reas
sure him, but women-old married
women like myself-feel privileged to
have intuitions. you know" She fin
ished with a little laugh. that even to
her ears rang hollow
Yes. he asserted. Il suppose so"
AZ least he might have contradicted
that phrase. "old married womeni'D
fou-you're right. he stammereJ.
ana then his face fell. as did her
hopes. which she had based on his ex-
pected denial But she didn't come
for some reason"
But she will?"
oh, YES. I'm sure she will" He
as quite too enthusiastic
He seized his brush. and began to
slap paint upon the canvas furiously.
Indeed"
"A fellow likes to confide in some
one. YOU know. Mrs. Thorne" He
injected. very i'll at ease We've
are 70 be married next week"
Married? You? Next week." She
sat bolt upright
Why. yes. I've just arranged it."
AT the end or the days sitting he
AID down the tools of his trade with
sigh OF relief THERE" he added
= couple OF days more, and then"
lie paused.
carton rose and walked TO the win
COW, where he stood looking out
Now. there's the matter OF gown
mat stumps me" he said. slowly
I'VE been to every costumer in town.
ana can't get what I want. Maybe
you could help me out-Mrs Thorne"
j seemed as though he had placed
tne slightest emphasis on her name
In I'D