Janet of the Dunes

stockings, for the dew lay heavy upon the ground; and these, wrapped in a fish net, were flung across her shoulder. There was a good half mile to tread before the little hut

h the joy, the bliss of youth,

, although she had never imagined Mr. Devant's ingenuity in trying to keep them, at first, apart. If Thornly were away from the sha

have cheerfully defended the place with her life. Over sandy hillocks she went gleefully. The artist in her was throbbing wildly, she h

h-wind playfulness, which tossed the girl's glistening hair w

stle and with smiling lips, that with difficulty formed themselves to the task, sent forth her call. The musical note penetrated

was just as Thornly had left it. He had waited all day for the girl; he had wanted her to pose in the open, but she had failed him and he had evidently devoted himself to the picture he was painting, as he had told her, for his own private use. "My Pimpernel," he called

pe lying carelessly upon it. The curtain, which always hung over the picture for Mr. Mason, was drawn aside. Apparently the man

, "else I'd have to wash this. He's scandalou

nlike any one the dune-bred girl had ever seen before. Not even the most gorgeous boarder in the least resembled her. She was so icily cold, so calmly beautiful; so exquisitely dressed in white, white always, with a dash of gold to matc

icion in her nature, the resentment might have rankled and grown into hate, for the girl had all the pride and independence of

errily like the laugh of a child; "let her w

rth window shade was rolled up and the sash raised; the easel drawn out into place before the low

e again, she closed the window and, trembling with excitement and hurry, ran to the posing platform and flung herself among the cushions. Then she spread her hair loosely over the sea-gree

cautiously let fall the s

d, "oh! very early. And I wonder

was sleep-enticing, the pillows dream-bringing, and the day was yet young; so

heart beat wildly and the blood ran riotously in her veins. The door opened, some one spoke;

nd help me find him out! I know he has an immortal picture somewhere here! He wants to spring it upon you and me

t his work out after we left yesterday. It was orderly enough then; but look at it now! Let us examine this

lf laugh, "I'm not quite sure how Dick will l

r. Devant, look here!" The two

nel! Katharine, this Dick of ours has p

in the low, even voice. "He has been using that wild, odd, young creature of yours as a

to procure such a model upon terms of secrecy, not on his own account, but hers! You d

ain the sco

ow's,-carry it and fetch it. This girl now might be willing to pose, and you must admit that she is a raving beauty, but she would hold Dick to a cast-iron vow never to let any one kn

lear voice. "Let us hurry; Dick may be here at any moment, and I do so

she knew they were comin

s saying, I stole in upon Dick. I called from the outer room that it was I-I wished afterward that I had not!-and then I ran into the studio. As quick as a flash, Dick dropped a curtain, just like this, between me and his easel! I was determined to see what he had been painting, but he positively fo

the sheltering curtain with playful, dramati

returned the stare in frozen silence. So rigid and deathlike the model lay in the meshes of the net, so beautiful and graceful

h. "And the captains! where are the captains, my dear Mr. Devant? They seem to have omitted the captains to-day. Pray let us go at once. I would not interfer

the awakened mind. In that hour womanly instinct was born, the instinct that armed itself against suspicion and another's contempt. Shame, for what was not real but suggested by a coarser mind, hurt and blinded her. The child in Janet had been killed by that white, cold woman, and what arose was mo

her lips by the refined cruelty of another woman. Instinctively, Janet found a sort of dumb comfort in the memory of the look she recalled in

s the flood of growing knowledge gathered force. The eyes grew

sprang to a sitting posture and drew her feet beneath the shelter of the coarse red skirt. The net

ear would warn him of intruders, and the breath of the summer day he must have! Janet heard him s

ake me famous!" Then he whistled gayly, hung up his coat and hat-did not the listening

tside you go to await your purification!" The glasses were set jinglingly upon

ay. The panic-stricken face, that met his, p

s as this glorious day and the Hills. You've brought me a new sensati

off the extended hands. Her arms we

at ails yo

nly I know you must not touch me;

hing undefinable held him to his place. He recalled the first day he had met this strange girl upon the Hills and her tears then; but these were di

his tone, with its sympathetic reserve, did the one thing he longed to do; it drew the girl's trust and confid

The words came upon the

Thornly's ey

d the one he c

ns! And you

ctures; they saw everything, and me!" Again the misery spread over the vivid face. Thornly was unab

y say?" he as

at women like her might think! That is why you made me promise not to tell; that is why you kept the door locked! You knew how the people like her would scorn me! and yet you would no

stened. The blazing face of outraged womanhood confronted

lindly in his soul for an honest

ace, the Hills and dunes! You thought me like them, just a thing to put upon your canvas to ma

e waves of passion. His eyes grew dim and his face paled. His soul had

and into your shoes; then come to me. I have much, much to say to you." He did not offer, by thought

n, shod and with a strange dignity, she crossed the room and stood

ashes from his pipe, placed it in his pocket,

," she said, and sank

ot-but it seemed so at first. I don't know how to say it, but somewhere I have read a thought like this. When an artist enters his studio he hangs up his passions with his coat and hat. You won't understand that. No woman can, perhaps, and not many men; but it's true as surely as heaven hears me! and it accounts for a deal of good as well as bad! That is the way I felt. I was greedy to catch you as I saw you. I wanted no one t

s. Her dark, clear eyes never wavered from the speaker's face,

you great and strong enough in nature to want to help make these pictures, in spite of everything! I believe in a slow, dull w

The girl drew a long breath. Then sh

d be glad to help in your pictures and never care what others might think, others who cannot understand? You are a great artist, and you thought me an artist-but in a different way? Oh! it comes to me just as Davy's Light comes of

all her strong, young beauty; "you need me? Wit

shook

nor just the fame, but you want

s my witness, Janet

y"-here she smiled pitifully-"please leave the door open!

half extended his hand to draw the

Perhaps the old longing will return, but I must not trust myself unti

enly; "if I had only known more, it would have been di

rning eyes. She was taking with her-what? Inspiration? Yes, but something deeper and more vital was passin