The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-04-16

and Sara was waiting 1or MIN IN Ine
cool, awning-covered verandah as he
drove up. There was sullen, dissat-
isfied look in his face. She was stretch
ed out comfortably, lazily, in a great
chaiselounge, her black little slippers
peeping out at him with perfect aban-
donment.
Hello" he said shortly. She gave
him her hand Sorry I couldn't get
out last night" He shook her band
rather ungraciously.
1--WE missed you" she said.l Pull up
a chair. l was never so lazy as now.
Dear me, am afraid I'll get stout and
gross"
Spring fever" he announced. He
was plainly out of sorts. "I'll stand, If
you don't mind. Beastly tiresome, sit
ting In hot, stufey train"
He took couple Of turns across the
porch, his eyes shifting in the eager,
annoyed manner Of one who seeks for
something that, In the correct order Of
things. ought to be plainly visible.
Please sit down, Leslie. You make
me nervous, trsnping about like that.
We can't go in for half an hour or
more" -
Cant go in?" he demanded, stop
ping. before her. He began torpull at
his little moustache.
mo. Hetty's posing. They won't
permit even me to disturb them"
He glared. With final, almost dra-
matte twist he gave over jerking at
his moustache, and grabbed up a chair,
which he put down beside her with a
.Tehemance that spoke palmer than
words.
'T say" he began, scowling in the
direction of the doorway, "how long Is
he going to be at this silly job?"
Silly job? Why, it is to be a mas
terpiece," she cried.
81 asked you how long,"
"ch, how can tell? Weeks, per
haps. One cant prod genius"
TITS all tommy-rot," he growled.
a'T suppose I'd better take the next
train back to town"
Don't you like talking with me?"
she inquired, with pout-
"of course do" he made haste to
say. >"But do you mean to say they
won't let anybody in where Oh, /
sayi This Is rich!"
Spectators upset the muse, or
words to that effect"
He stared gloomily at his cigarette
case for a moment. Then he carefully
selected a cigarette and tapped 1t on
the back Of his hand.
: aasee here, Sara, I'm going to get
this of my chest" he said bluntly.
eve been thinking it over all week.
don't like this portrait painting nom
sense"
Dear me! Didn't you suggest it?'
she inquired innocently, but all the
time her heart was beating violent
time to the song of triumph.
He was jealous. It was what she
wanted, what she had hoped for all
along. Her purpose now was to en-
courage the ugly fame that tortured
him. to fan it into fury, to make it un-
endurable. She knew him well: His
supreme egoism, could not Withstand
an attack upon its complacency. Like
all the Wrandalls, he had the habit
of thinking too well of himself. He
possessed clearly-defned sense Of
humor, but it did not begin to include
self-sacrifce among its endowments.
He had never been able to laugh at
himself for the excellent reason that
some things were truly sacred to him.
She realized this, and promptly
laughed at him. He stinened.
Don't snicker, Sara" he growled.
He took time to light his cigarette, and
at the same time to consider his an
swer to her question. in way, yes.
I suggested tort Of portrait, Of
course. A sketchy. thing, something
like that, you know. But not an all
summer operation"
"But she doesn't mind" explained
Sara. "In fact, she is enjoying it. She
and Mr.. Booth get on famously to-
gether."
"She likes him, eh?''
Certainly. Why shouldn't she like
him? He is adorable"
He threw his cigarette over the rail-
ing. Comes here every day, sup
pose?"
"My dear Leslie, he is to do me as
soon as he has finished with her. 1
don't like your manner"
"Oh," he said In dull sort Of won
der. No one had ever cut him short
in just that way before. What's up,
Sara? Have I done anything out Of
the way?"
"You are very touchy, it seems to
me-"
sTm sore about this confounded por-
trait monopoly
sI'm sorry, Leslie. I suppose you
will have to give in, however. We are
three to one against you-Hetty, Mr..
Booth and L"
81 see," he said, rather blankly.
Then he drew his chair closer. See
here, Sara, you know I'm terribly keen
about her. I think about her, dream
about her, l. oh, well, here 1t is in a
nutshell: I'm in love with her. Now
do you understand"
81 don't see how you could help be-
ing in love with her." she said calmly.
"I believe it is habit men have where
she is concerned"
You're not surprised?" he cried,
himself surprised.
Not in the least"
81 mean to ask her to marry me-"