The Dolores star., 1909-05-28

cS~h :" Wy W you huOW. ana i
don't begrudge boys their playtime."
Lal laughed. He hitched at his belt.
pulled himself into shape and pushed
back heavy mass OF brown hair
which lay upon his forehead. Then
he went out upon the porch and threw
himself at full length upon a wicker
couch. with a pile OF cushions under
his head. He was splendid fellow
tall. sinewy. brown from sun and
weather and with strong colorine of
the good red blood which coursed
through his veins. He was Steel.
mans only son, the child of his youth.
whose mother had yielded up her life
fo- him. The story was a sad one.
Steelman was a mere boy when he
had met Esther Mainwaring and mar.
ried her against her parents wishes.
The marriage had proven happy. but
Esther died within year, leaving
this boy to the care OF the saddened
father. Edward Steelman's mourning
had been sincere. and his love for Lal
had grown each year until IL had be-
come nearly the governing motive OF
his life.
When he met Hope worthington he
realized how profound may be the
passion OF a man who has sounded
many depths and aspired to many
heights and who. having entered upon
that nondescrlpt period known as
middle life. learns fer the first tine
the meanings and implications Of
youth. The precise quality Of Hopes
sentiments II would be di6icult to
state. but Steelman woOed her with
an impetuOsity which carried her
away. That she idealized him into
something other than he was may be
admitted. that che found in him a
very true and noble man is equally
the fact. Certainly she believed that
she loved him. though 1t is problemat.
ical whether the comparative loneli.
ness Of Abbeyvale was conducive to a
development Of the feeling.
This afternoon Hope had gone out
Immediately after luncheon and was
to stop on her way home at the vii.
lage to get the mail.
Edward Steelman worked away at
his easel. The north light wouldn't
sASAo huSh iohbCi hc Wab Cd6Ct "
catch the feeting idea which strug-
Gled toward being yet would not quite
assume tangible form. Silently he
painted as the sun got nearer the
west.
Lal had fallen asleep on the wicker
couch OH the porch, one hand under
his cheek and the other dropping
carelessly across the back of his
couch.
Once Edward had spoken to him.
and, receiving no answer. had stepped
out upon the porch and gazed upon
him with a look wherein the artists
deep admiration and the fathers
deeper love were strangely mingled.
How splendid the lad Isl" he NUT.
tered: and then he went back to the
studio and struggled with the eyes
of Phaedra. They bafled him still.
He needed but a touch. yet that touch
he could not give. The wild light Of
a passion-half morbid. perhaps ultra
human. He knew what he wanted.
1t seemed to him that he could think
the look. but could not see It in his
minds eye, as he must do ere he
could imprison 1t upon the canvas.
What would not give for model
who should show me that look!" he
said. half despairingly. There must
be Phaedras in the world to-day. Why
cannot find one? know in my soul
that I've done a great thing. wanting
only this-this- Bah! I must lack
the final gift. / guess I'm not an art
list after all"
Steelman spoke to himself savagely,
as man threatening another with
righteous wrath: and as he did 80
there came the grating Of wheels
upon the gravel drive and he heard
Hope alighting from the cart and hand
ing the reins to the groom. His face
frightened; 1t was always so good to
see Hope. There was about her the
atmosphere of q womanhood half
afraid and half imperious which
charmed him. He heard her football
upon the porch step: he fancied he
heard the rustic Of her skirts: then
there was a sudden pause; she had
stopped.
Steelman listened intently and
iooheu thTouBn the doorway, expect
Ing to see the trim figure darken 1t.
She did not come. 1t was very silent
but for the chattering Of some spar
rows on the lawn. He waited a few
seconds. then laid down his brushes
and walked to the door. his step muf-
fed by the heavy rug and his position,
obliquely to the doorway, rendering
him invisible from outside.
He looked but once. but 1t was with
. gaze long, intent, all-comprehen-
sive-a gaze which swept through
whole chapters In his book Of life and
read horror worse than failure at
the end. There was one wild throb
at Steelman's heart; he felt the veins
I'LL at his temples. He held his teeth
together to suppress the moan OF
aROny which claimod an ,,fto-auc.