Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-07-17
S E LECT TALE.
From f'EIiza Cooks Journal. y
The Painters Secret.
BY PERCY B. ST. JOHN.


merous small apartments which form the sum-
NIT of nearly all large hotels or mansions In
Paris He was Young man about twenty,
and as he stood at his garret window in the
light of the summers sun, smoking, as artists
are wont to smoke, short pipe, he looked
handsome, and for many women captivating
He was pale, thin. and intellectual looking,
with long hair, muStaches, and beard. To an
indifferent observer, he presented the aspect OF
one who was simply indulging in the pleasures
of tobacco smoke but such was not the case.
The house he occupied ran round three sides
of square court, the fourth being taken up by
the wall of the next house. On the opposite
side of The court, on the same floor as that oc.
cupied BY himself, was the apartment of a
work-girl. This young person was remarka-
bly, pretty, and had been often remarked hy the
young artist, with at first only the admiriag
eye of painter, but afterwards with a more
tender interest
She was very industrious girl. She rose
early, almost with the sun, and went to bed
late, as the young artist knew, for he often no.
ticed her candle burning until midnight. AL
most alone in the world, without friends, save
few students like himself, Charles Dupont
felt irresistably drawn towards that happy,
smiling face, which had so often formed the
charm of his garret window. Of late the
young man seemed unusually fond of smoking
Every moment not taken up by his art was oc-
cupied in inhaling the fragrance of the Indian
weed. He scarcely ever went out now, his
walks in search of scenery were abandoned,
and he never joined his more noisy companions
at those public estnnunets, where the young
hopes of France spend their hours in playing
billiards, cards, dominoes, in drinking unnum-
bered glasses of beer, and in blackening short
clay ppes-a perfect science in the city of Par
is. But then Charles Dupont was in love, and
much as the cold hearted and worldly NAV
sneer, the influence of this passion, when sin
cere and pure, is always beneficial TO young
man. The change produced in Charles was
that always incident 10 elevated and superior
minds, generally the simplest. He had now
no care for noisy pleasures. His dream was
to be near the unknown idol of his heart, to sit
by her, 10 talk TO her, and as these could not
be, he was satisfied to gaze on her from a dis
tance.
Plans upon plans were laid BY the Young
man to make the acquaintance of his fair mis-
tress but like all sincere lovers, in the outset,
he was timid. He remarked with pleasure
that she had very few visitors, and those al
ways of our own sex. None ever escaped his
jealous eye, who entered that room, and he
never saw a man enter it. Charles sighed,
however, deeply, for he too saw no chance of
making his way to the side of his beloved.
One dav, it was in the month of May, the
yonng girl stood at her window, putting some
flowers in water. She was dressed better than
usual, and had got up little later. Charles
Dupont was more struck than ever by the sweet
smile that sat upon her face, and BY her really
singular beauty. An idea flashed across his
mind He took off his working blouse, passed
his hand through his hair, took his hat, and
went out of his room, locking the door behind
him. He moved rapidly and boldly To the
door of the young girl. Once in front of il he
halted Charles was brave and would have
defended barricade with cool determination
but here he hesitated. Mastering courage,
however, he knocked gently. The instant he
had done so, he would have given the world
TO have been away, and his heart bea, so vio-
len,lv he could almost hear its throbbings
What is ii | can do for Monsieur . said the
young girl, smiling and blushing, as on open
ing the door, she recognized her handsome
neighhor, the artist.
Mademoisele,' said Charles, with consid,
cradle hesitation. Il fancied by your flowers
and your dress, that to-day was your tete.
am your neighbor, and | thought might take
the liberty to wish you happy one
Monsieur is very good. We are old neigh,
bors it is true, though we have never spoken,
1t has not been for the want of wishing On
nv part exclaimed the artist eagerly.
The young girl looked at Charles. Thee
was So much modesty, resigned and respectful
affection IN the expression OF his face, that she
could not for moment coniound him with the
usual mass Of young men, who, caught by hel
pretty face, had sought 10 make her acquain.
tance. She held out her hand.
Since we are neighbors, let us be friends,
said She
oh, thank YOU, exclaimed Charles, with a
burst of genuine gratitude. 'MadmoiseIle, YOU
do me good. have no friends. | scarcely
ever see human face which has any sympa-
thy for me. If Madmoiselle would only lei
me paint her portrait, II would give me SC
much pleasure
But, Monsieur, it would be encroaching OF
yonr goodness, replied Constance, who, how
ever. looked excessively pleased.
You accept, thenr
Why, Monsieur, never had nv portrait
painted. How could | refuse!'
We would begin to-day but this is youl
fete. Would Mademoisele allow me the hon
or of taking her out 10 walk1'
Constance, after moments hesitation, ac
cepted. When one is young. one makes
friends so easily, especially in France anc
then Charles had the talent of making himself
liked by everybody. He entered her little
room, so neat, so clean, so pretty, ii made him
sigh, as he compared it with his own bachelor
den, where no woman's hand had for many
months disturbed either dust or cobwebs. In
mlnntPS Constance Wa
on nice bonnet and a neat shawl, the fruits
of her industry, and then tripped down stairs
happy as bird, for we may as well reveal a
secret Constance had for more than month
longed as much to make the pale Young artist 5
acquaintance, as he had TO make hers.
They made for the Boulevards mechanically
as everybody does, followed them some dis.
lance. crossed the magnificent Place de la Con
corde, the finest Place in the world, entered
the Champa Elysees, and by common consent
made for the Bois de Boulogne. 1t was q
lovely day. But though they had both seer
many such, vet they thought they never had
They scarcely spoke. They walked arm II
arm, side by side, and in the woods hand IL
band, Once Charles asked Constance if she
enjoyed herself.
am so happy she replied, raising hel
'dove-hke eyes, beaming with happiness, to-
wards him.
There was something in the words, in the
look, which made the young mans heart beat
with intense emotion. Thus passed the day
in occasional conversation, in constant walk.
ing, until both felt hungry. They then enter.
ed the house of a frdiieur, and the yonnp ar.
tist offered his fair friend very plain dinner
but which neither would have exchanged fo,
e - poI,,s N,t;cr,I