The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-06-09

81 ssts e a. Al .3i
0.asr. vut sne relt he didn't quite d,
serve this. without answering, 1he
stopped to pick few Wild flowers
which fringed the road.
well, am selfish" he continued.
"But then have always considered It
somewhat Of duty to be that"
"a duty?"
Eyes. in order to make other people
unselfish!" He laughed.
"And when 1t comes to truthfulness,"
the girl added, to punish him for his
hippancy. Il fancy you consider 1t
quite too sacred a thing to be used
save on rare occasions?"
This time 1t was Everleigh who
stopped to gather a flower. Then he
said: What you really mean Is that
somehow have gotten the threads Of
life all beautifully twisted?"
THAT Is It," she answered.
For the moment he was tempted to
beg her to help him untwist those
same threads, so he might begin life
over again with her to show him how.
Her simple, straightforwardness at.
tracted him strongly-and she was
looking very pretty. But one glance
into her calm eyes made him realize
the foolishness Of such a thing. In.
stead he continued in the same vein:
"You have agreed most unflattering
~ to my assertion that am selfish
You have, yourself, accused me of be.
ing untruthful. wonder what next"
A mischievous light came into Edith
Vincent's eyes. Il should think at
times you would be capable of being
most abominabiy cross!"
| This was rather more than Ever.
leigh had bargained for.
Come" he demonstrated, don't
you think you are rather rough on a
fellow this afternoon?"
Perhaps. but It's your turn now to
tell me all my faults?"
The artist was silent moment as
though in deep thought Then he said:
"You haven't any,
The girls laugh rang out fresh and
clear. And then she gave him a prom.
ise-which he had sought ever since
their first acquaintance-that she
would let him paint her portrait.
"Your portrait is finished. 1t is the
best thing have ever DONE"
1t was a remarkable piece of work,
the expression Of the girls face being
perhaps its highest attainment. Had
there been no church for background,
one would still have known that what
she was about to sing was hymn.
As the two walked home together
the artist said:
Il had intended, with your permits.
sion, to send the picture to the fall ex.
hibition in New York, but have de.
cided that can't. shall be SO lonely
when you are gone"
The girl was really touched; the old
note In his voice. both flippant and
querulous. was SO entirely absent.
Il shall not be so long away" she
said very gently, and then she added:
Take care of my grandfather for me-"
They had reached the rectory, but
seeing some visitors on the porch Ey.
erleigh said goodby at the gate.
Everleigh's nature was one of queer
combinations and misfits for which the
temperament of the artist was largely
responsible. At times, he could be as
difficult and unreasonable as a won.
an, and at others as easily pleased as
child. It was evident that the latter
mood was in the ascendent now. He
went home whistling.
The parting had not been sentimen.
tai; but he knew how dear to the girl
the old rector was, and she had asked
him to take care of him. There was a
whole week before Miss Vincent must
return to st. Paul.
The next morning, very early, the
artist was surprised by call from the
rector. The reason was soon ex.
planned. Miss Vincent had received
word from the principal of the school
where she taught. saying her mother
had died, and that If Miss Vincent
would come Immediately to see to the
entering OF the new pupils she would
convey the greatest possible favor.
Miss Vincent had left on the early
train and had seemed most anxious
that Mr. Everleigh should know how
It had happened. The news brought q
keen sense Of disappointment which
the sharp eyes 81 the old rector did
not fail to note; and as he was saying
goodby he reminded him that another
holiday would not be very far away.
When the artist was alone, he real.
lied that the next holiday was very
far on-an eternity, in fact. He had
made up his mind to tell Miss Vincent
or try to. before she went away. how
much she meant to him; and then. IL
1t proved she cared, for certain Ar.
thur Stanton who had motored over
to see her several times from st. Paul
and whom everyone bat himself