Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-01-19
ESMEE'S ROMANCE

Justin nOSte. the brilliant young art
ist. was in South Africa making
sketches OF the BOer war for Ameri-
can newspapers lie was riding to-
ward Il kopJe one morning when the
sudden sound of heavy firing sent the
blood Tying to his heart. as he realized
that beyond the brow were the Beers
and that an engagement .waS taking
place. Putting spurs TO his horse. the
rode forward at full speed. and the fe-
yer OF battle swept over him when he
reached Il point where he could see
the hollow that surrounded the baSe
of the kopjc
Down IN the dip WAS Il thin red
line ot mon who scrambled as fast
as the ones in front would let them up
the hillside toward their hidden foes.
iDtreuched behind every rock and bush
and scrap ot cover that could shield a
man
Justin rode straight, down into the
melee and thcu he felt sudden blow
and sharp pang. and then all was a
blank
From the depth OF Oblivion he emerS-
ed at last in hospital tent. where
Quiet nurses moved to and fro and
where the Stiffness seemed almost Hp-
presSive after the claug and clamo of
the hollow. His left arm was helpless
and bandaged. aud all his limbs felt
singularly weak and his head swan
dizzily.
What is the matter with me-" he
/ asked of 4 nurse.
Not much now. Mr.. Hoste. \ bull
| let passed through an artery. and they
/ only inst found you in time. But you
will soon get mp your strength with
rest and care
To while away the tedium of his
stay in the hospital he began to draw
and sketched the face of girl he had
seen i'm dream the night before the
battle. She had Il lovely. serious face.
with great. earnest eyes aud tender
I mouth she seemed to be standing at
the gate OF Il beautiful country house.
and she appeared in his dream TO be
holding the gate open for him TO pass
through. lie called the sketch His
Dream Girl" 1t proved To be his best
work.
10 New York he responded to Bond
street rallery'S suggestion by sending
his African sketches tor exhibition.
and he included among them his mas
terpicce.
lie had no lack Of friends now that
ne had made Il little place for himself
in the world of people who do some
thing" and they took him up and
made him one of the minor fashions
OF the hour. going in parties TO see his
SHOW" writing il mp in all the pa
. perS. inviting him to dinners and Civ
, ing him commissions TO draw and
!. write for them.
He had never been so prosperous
and he found it pleasant enough
though now and then the lonelines:
seized him for moment. Ant
through it all he had the sense OF
! something which was coming TOWARD
o him. approaching always day by da.
until it was imminent. Ii seemed ;
!. mere chance that took him one after
noon in late spring to Bond street t
take II peep at his own pictures or a
u the people criticising them.
Il y group of three women at the ia
> end of the second room attracted hi
" attention. They seemed eager and III
" terested and were absorbed in som
e debate concerning the sketch of 9TH
10 Dream Girl"
Justin. curious TO know what the
discussed. drew near and heard on
~ say with decision:
IA There cannot be any one else in III
world so exactly like Esmee as tina
He must have seen her AT some tin
4, or another
/, "Esmee." she added. turning TO I'll
-, third. ARE you sure you have nev'
met him."
Justin stepped closer invOluntaril
and bent forward to look at the 81
10 addressed; then he started forwar
exclaiming:
en- MY dream 3irl"'
For he was gazing into face tn;
was the fac-simile of his vision. on
,r- lovelier even than the dream h;
70 shown it.
They were all specchlesS with Il
strangeness of the incident. And Ju
. tin was just recovering himself al
was about to apologize when the e
n stretched out her hand to him. sayil
:X softly:
81 "You are Justin"
~ He stood transGxed, while a murm
nd of establishment broke from the 9th
80 two And then Esmee said:
IH Il saw you once, years and yea
Ia ago, when you were boy and liv
AZ in the country. | was lonely lit
sa% girl, and you were Il lonely little be
EN and the powers that were deere