Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-08
CHAPTER III.
Ny Lady Of Mystery.

CHAPTER III.
Ny Lady Of Mystery. N
(Being a single photographed
chapter from the life Of Francis sedg-
wick, with editorial comment by Pro.
lessor Chester Kent.)
Dear Kent: Here goes! met her
| first on June %, at 8 o'clock In the
afternoon. Some wonderful cloud u.
fects after a hard rain had brought
me out into the open. had pitched my
easel In the hollow, on the Martin
dale road, 20 as to get that clump sof
pine against the sky. There sat work
ing away with a will. whom I heard
the drumming Of hoofs, and = horse
with a girl In the saddle came swhix.
zing round the turn almost upon me.
Just there the rain had made pud.
die Of thick sticky mud, the mud-pil
variety. As the horse went by ats full
gallop, q fine. fat, mud pie rose,
scared through the air, and landed
in the middle Of my painting. fairly
yelped.
To get 1t oil of was hopeless. How.
ever. went at It, and was cursin1
over the Job when heard the hoofa
coming back, and the rider pulled up
close to me.
II heard you cry ont" said . voice.
very full and low. did hurt YOU? !
hope not"
No. said without looking up.
Small thanks to you that you didn't"
My. tone silenced her for moment.
Somehow. though. got the feeling
that she was amused more than
abashed at my resentment. And her
voice was suspiciously meek when
she presently spoke again. 3
You're an artist, aren't you :"
| NO." said, busily scraping away
at my copperplate. "1'm an archeolo
gist engaged in exhuming an ancient
ruin from square mile Of mud"
She laughed; but in moment be-
came grave again. I'm 20 sorry" She
said. 81 know shouldn't come plung-
/ Ing around turns in that reckless way.
May IL should like to--buy your pic.
ture?"
"You may not" / replied. y.
! THAT isn't quite fair, 10 II ~ she
asked. III have done damage,
should be allowed to repair It." SIS
Repair" said l. "Hpw do you pro-
pose to do It? I suppose that YOU.
think a picture that can be bought for
hundred-dollar bill can be painted
with a hundred-dollar bill"
mo; I'm not altogether Philis-
tine she said, and looked up ut her
for the first time. Her face Ellison
and Comment by Kent: know her
face from tho sketches Why could he
not have described the horse? How
ever, there's one point clear: she Isl .
woman of means.)
She said, II don't wonder you're
cross. And I'm truly sorry. Is It quite
ruined?" Il
At. that recovered some decency OF
manner Forgive hermit" ! said,
who doesn't see enough people to
keep him civilized. The daub doesn't
matter" s
She leaned over from the saddle to
examine the picture. ooh, but It isn't
daub!" she protested. CT know
about pictures. It's very interesting
and curious. But why do you paint nc
on "copper"
"Oh!" she said. II should 30 like to
see your prints!"
| Nothing easier" said I. my shack
is just over the hill"
| "And there Is a Mrs her eyes
suggested that I I'LL the blank.
"Sedgwick?" l finished. emo. There
Is no one but my aged and highly
respectable Chinaman to play pro-
priety. But In the case Of studio. les
convenances are not so rigid but that
one may look at pictures UNI
chaperoned."
"i'm afraid it wouldn't do" che
answered smiling. mo, I'll have to
wait until" A shadow passed over
her face. "Tm afraid I'll have to give
1t up"
Chance settled that point then and
there. AS she finished, she was in my
arms. The girth had loosened. and the
saddle had turned with her. I had
barely time to twist her foot from the
stirrup when the brute Of horse
bolted. AS 1t was. her ankle got q bit
OF wrench. She turned quite white,
and cried out little. In moment
she was herself again.
King Cole has been acting badlyrall
day." she said. II shall have q time
catching him." She limped forwards
few steps. IA
Here, that won't dol" said I. Let
me-"
"You couldn't get near him though.
perhaps. II you had some salt"
~ can get some at my place. said
I, gathering up my things. Your
hopon u haodad that wav World hat.