The huntsman's echo. [volume] (Wood River, Buffalo County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1860-1861, 1861-02-07
"COBwEBs.
"Hist! look here"

y
men, who had come up to the noun
tains, on q pedestrian aud ske;ching ex
pedition from Philadelphia, As b.
spoke. he laid his hand on his comps
MONS arm.
The person he addressed, looked ant
saw a little girl, about ten years old
advancing along en- old blackberr,
path. She was brown as berry, from
exposure to The sun, and her feet and
arms were bare; bu! there was a grace
about her, as she came tripping for
ward, that princess might have en-
Wed.
Just In front Of her, spider had
spun his trap across the path, and, as
the young man spoke, she slightly
stopped her head, and raising her
hands, pushed the cobwebs aside. II
was this ar,less, natural movement,
which completed the picture.
IL should like TO paint her,"said he
who had spoken.
"Whatl love at frs. sight?" answer.
ed his companion. laughing. "To
think OF the fastidious Clarence losing
his heart to a sunburnt fairy. You
are eighteen, and she about ten--oh!
you can afford 10 wait"
This conversation had been carried
on in whispers. The child, still ad.
vancing, had, BY this time, come oppo-
site to the two young men. On seeing
them, she stopped, aud stared curious
ly at them, as a young deer, that has
never been hunted, may be supposed
to stop and regard the FIRST stranger
chat enters the forest. Her bright
speaking 'ace, as she thus stood, grace
fully arrested, was not less beautiful.
in its way, than her 1.-the figure:
NV dear" said the last speaker
"would you like to be made into pic.
ture? My friend here is painter, and
will give you a dollsr, il you will let
him sketch you"
The child looked from the speaker
70 his friend. Something, in the latter's
face. seemed TO restore the natural
confidence, which the iree-and easy
air Of the other had for the moment,
shaken. She drew coyly up to him as
il for protection.
II have read Of pictures, said she.
e. sing up into his face, "bu. / never
saw one. Is it real picture Of me
x.ou 1~;lI ,nateqb
The artless, appealing manner Of the
child went to the young mans heart.
He would as soon have joined in ban
tering her as in bantering sister. He
took her hand. as lie replied, II will
make as good a picture ofyou as l can
il you will let me. A picture like one
Of these"
And he opened his portfolio. which
contained various sketches,
"Ohl how beau.iTul!' cried the child.
It was evident that a new world was
opened to her. She gazed breathe ess-
", at sketch after sketch, till the last
had been examined, and then heayed
a deep sigh.
"Please sir" she said. timidly, at
last, will you give me my picture
when you have painted il?"
"No." in.crposed the other young
man, 'b we will give you dollar"
She turned on the speaker, let 90 the
hand she had been holding, and drew
herself up with sudden haugh,iness.
II don't want your dollar" she said
with proud delicacy.
She was tusning to escape, when the
artist recovering her hand, said, sooth
ingly. INK
"Never mind him, my dear. will
pain. two pictures, and give you one.
Come will that dol"
Resssured, the child took the posi-
tion indicated to her, and Clarence
Harvard, for that was the young ait.
ist's name, began rapidly painting.
Before noon, two hasty sketches, 10
oil, were finished. =.
There" be said, drawing long
breath. "you have been as quiet as a
little mouse; and I'm thousand times
obliged to you. Take that home, 'and
he handed her the sketch, "snd may
bo, some OF these days. you'll think Of
him who gave it 10 yon." 81
"That I will. all my life long," art
lessly said tho child, gazing rapturous.
ly on her new possession. With an en-
thusiasm, partly born of tue artist soul
within her, and partly the result o, a
ehili'spride in what is its own especial
property, ..-- a..l a....s .a
"ohl .yes,, interposed the .o.Ler
youth. "you'l! promise to be his wife
some day, won't you, Miss Cobwebs?"
The ehildss-eyes flashed as she tut
ned on the speaker. Her instinct.
from the first, had male her dislike
this sneering man. She STAN bed ae-
r. -