St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-03-12
THE 1VR6NG PICTURE.

The full Sunshine came pouring through
the plate-glass windows of the great pho
tographic saloon, where Virginia Lynne
had become very tired Of waiting '.just
one minute" tor her turn to face the cam
era. If the camera had been young gen.
tleman, it probably wouldn't have object
ed much to the process, as Virginia was
not at all disagrecable to look at-on the
contrary, she was very, very pretty, with
a clear olive complexion, deepening to
carmine on her round cheeks, and large,
blue-gray eyes, just the color Of violets,
blossomed in the shade. Jet black hair,
plainly brushed from her forehead and
confined in one knot at the back of her
neck and little red mouth, very saucy
aud somewhat naughty also, in its curves.
care you nearly ready to take my like
ness, sir ?" she asked, rather impatiently,
as the operator entered the room on some
trifing errand.
"Not quite yet, ma'am. We shall he
soon, hope, however. To tell you the
truth, We didn't anticipate so much trou-
BILE from our present sub)cct-a baby,
ma am, who DiW not sit still -
"a baby-oh, then 1 haven't another
word to say" said Virginia, scornfulIy el-
evating her pretty shoulders as she turn
cd toward her companions. II do detest
babiesv'
"Why, Virginia p exclaimed Mrs. Wal
ter, her matron sister, with genuine hor-
ror.
"Can't help it, never could endure a
baby-that's one of my articles of faith ~
"And how many articles of faith have
you?" laughingly inquired another CON-
panion.
80, several. One is a hearty aversion
to widowers-that class of dyed-over hus-
bands who are always alluding to Mrs.
Smith Number One! If l became that
lady's successor, should be perpetually
fearful Was standing in the way of Mrs
Smith Number Three! And then the
idea of washing the faces and combiny the
hair of half a dozen unruly step children.
No secondhand babies tor me, thank
you?'
But if Virginia could only have had a
peep into the operating room, where that
hazel-eyed baby with pink ribbons at its
shoulders, and string OF red coral round
its plump neck, was setting Photography
at defiance, she would probably have kiss
ed its perfumed breath nearly away with
true feminine inconsistency
"Harry, do sit still!' pleaded the nurse
in despair, while the operator dodge hope
lessly too and fro, trying to ''catch the TO-
GUS" and two or three young lady aunts
jingle their watch chains and held up
their bracelets in the vain endeavor to at
tract the little ones eye. But if the
quintessence of obstinacy can be imagined
to fix its throne in a year-old baby, that
baby was the individual
All of sudden, bright-wirged canary
in cage opposite began to sing piercing
ly. The scarlet lips opened into wonder
ing smilc-:he large hazel eyes that had
roved from place to place, like chan light
ming, were fixed for moment. The ope-
rator jerked the drapery away from his in.
strument with the agility Of magic-the
sunrays swept their pencils over the CLEAN.
ing plate, and
30, let me see it ~ shrieked aunts and
nurse in confused treble chorus, crowd
ing round the photographer as, after a
short absence, he entered the room bear
ing the plate. "Only let me get one peep
at it!' ....... -.
"How delig ghted Raymond will be ~
whispered one of the young aunts to her
sister, as she caught the baby in her arms,
crushing her shining brown curls against
its silky little head. ........ ...... ...
"Where shall send the cards, ma am p
asked the operator. -.@.. .m+ ..........s
"To Captain May-Raymond May
Philadelphia. Just the address, please
no other word. We intend it for birth
day surprise to my brother"
"Very we'll, ma'am. Theodore ~ a.
soon as the ladies had disappeared, 'jus
write down that address, and tell the
young lady below that We are ready fo1
her, s. q +s.-asa#
Virginia Lynne must have been hare
indeed to please, had she been dissatisfied
with the face reflected in the mirror, a
she took alast glance ere leaving the sa
loon down stairs. A proud, stately youn;
beauty-and heart-free a. the widest faw'
upon the eastern hills. l vza ~
"When can I have the picture ?" sh
asked. sssf az.
"Iu about five days, ma'am." ~
/ "No sooner! l leave town tomorrow =
t"We can send it TO you by mail, whe'
ever you are, ma'am."' 80. um.s
i She hurridly wrote upon card, "Nlis
Lynne. Philadelphia" and pushed it to
ward the man