Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-02-23

gOL llEeO OF THIS CHARACTERISTIC occupation,
he at length sat down and began to put
few touches to the portrait. Seeing
that he was unconscious of her approach
Matt crept UP quietly behind him and
took peep at the picture. Her black
eyes dilated with pleasure.
oh, amt 1t beautiful r. she exclaimed
so you have come at last" said Brink
ley quietly, going on with his painting.
She made no movement and no further
sound SO he continued
Perhaps, now you have come. you'll
be good enough TO step round that l may
continue my work. / am longing to re
fresh my memory with sight of your
face, Matt -
We'll, you can't" said Matt; they're
locked upr"
'Bh-what's locked up-my memory OF
your face?"
banter. She saw him smile, and guessed
that he was laughing at her and her fee
grew blck and mutinous. She would have
skunk off, but his voice stopped her.
Come here, Matt, he ssid Don't be
silly, child; tell me what's the matter,
and-why, what has teco,ae of your re-
| splendent raiment-your gorgeous Sunday
clothesT'
Didn't tell you they're locked up
"Indeedl'
Eyes, William Jones done it because he
told him. He don't want me to come here
and be took"
| oh Tell you what it is, Matt, we
will have our own way. in spite Of them.
| For the present this picture shall be put
aside. If in siy or so you can again
don your Sunday raiment and sit to ms
| again in them-if not, | dare say / shall
be able to finish the dress from memory.
| That portrait / shall give to you. In
the meantime, as | want one for myself,
| will paint you as you are. Do you APP
prove"
Matt nodded her head vigorously.
Very we'll" said Brinkley. "Then we
will get on"
| He removed from his easel and careful
| ly covered the portrait upon which he had
been working. Then he pit up a fresh
cardboard, and sat down, inviting Matt to
| do the same.
! With the disappearance of the Sunday
| clothes the girls stiffness seemed to have
/ disappeared also, and she became again a
veritabe child of Nature. She looked
| like a shaggy young pony fresh from a
race on the mountain side, as she threw
| herself ON the ground in an attitude
which was all picturesqueness and beauty.
| Then, with her plump, sunburnt hand,
she began to carelessly pull up the grass,
while her black eyes searched alternately
the prospect and the painters face.
Presently she smoke:
HE says you're a prying scoundrel,"
she said.
Brinkley looked up and smiled.
''Who is he, Matt?'
mfr. Monk" she replied, and gave
Jerk with her head in the direction of
Monkshurst.
"Oh, indeed" said Brinkley. cit is my
amiable equestrian friend, is it? I'm sure
I'm much obliged to him. And when, may
/ ask. did he bore you with his opinion of
me?"
last night. when he come to see Will
liam Jones. He said l wasn't to be took
no more, because you was a scoundrel
poking and prying."
Brinkley began to whistle, and went on
for a while vigorously touching up his
work. Then he looked up and regarded
the girl curiously.
"Mr. Monk seems to be very much in
terested in you, Mattf'
The girl nodded her head vigorously
then, remembering the odious caress to
which Mr.. Monk had subjected her, she
began to violently rub her cheek again.
"Why Is Mr. Monk so interested In
you? Do you know"
Perhaps it's because he found me when
l come ashore"
"Oh, he found you. did he' Then why
don't he keep your"
Jones'"
Again Brinkley began whistling lightly,
and working away vigorously with his
brush. Presently the conversation began
again.
"Msti, what things did you come ashore
in?"
II Dunno"
You have never heard whether any
thing was found with you which might
lead TO your finding your relations?'
No: no more has William Jones. He
says maybe they'll find me some day and
reward him, but Mr.. Monk says they were
all drownded. and l amt got no friends
except him and William Jones"
well, since he found you, / suppose
he ought to know and since you have no
relations, Matt, and no claim upon any
body in the world, 1t was very kind Of
Mr.. Monk to keep you, instead of sending
you to the workhouse as he might have
done"
On this point Matt seemd rather skep-
tical.
We'll" continued Brinkley, as he went
on lightly touching up his work, perhaps
have done my equestrian friend wrong.
Perhaps his unamiable exterior bellies his
real nature; perhaps he is good and kind,
generous to the poor, willing to help the
helpless-like you. for instance"
rs 1t him!" exclaimed Matt; monk,
Of Menkshurst! Why, he don't give moth
ing to nobody No fear"
And yet, according 20 your own show
ing. he has helped TO support you all
these years-you. who have no claim
whatever upon him"
This was an erigms to which Matt had
no solution. She said 20 more. but Brink
ley. while be continued his painting. 81
lenfly ruminated thus
TT strikes me this puzzle would be
worth uzTSveling II could only find the
key. Query. Is the young person the key.
z bat knew how to use her? Perhaps,
since the amiable Monk evidently dis
likes my coming into communication with
her. But IL would be useless TO lay the
case before her, since. II she is the key.
she is quite unconscious of Ii herself"
He threw down his brush, rose and
stretched himself. and said:
Look here, Matt, I'm tirs4 Of work.
The sun shining on chose sand hills and
on the fa--of sea Is too tempting
shall 80 for q walk, and you. II you are
in the mood. shall be my guide
She evidently was In the mood, TO- she
was on her feet In an instant
"All right. master" she said. I'm go"
Very we'll Tim. bring forth some re-
freshment We viii refresh the inner
man and girl before we start"
Tim di<aDpeared into the Caravan.