The mountain Democrat., 1863-05-30
THE WRONG PICTURE.

L
frograf lrfc saloon where Virginia Lynne
bad become very tired of waiting Just
one minute for her turn to face the came
ra. If the camera had been a young gen.
tleman it probably wouldn't have objected
much to the process, as Virginia was not
at all disagreeble to look at-on the con.
trary, she was very pretty, with clear
olive complexion, deepening to q 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 q I'd >c4R62ed ia
! Oue knot at the back of her neck, and a
NtiIe re3 mouth, very saucy and some
what naughty also in its curves, completes
the picture.
Are you nearly ready to take my like
ness, sir y she asked, rather impatiently,
as the operator entered the room on some
triiiing errand.
Not quite yet, madam. We shall be
soon, | hope, however. To tell you the
truth we didn't anticipate so much trou.
BILE from our present subject-a baby,
who will not sit still!
"A baby !-oh, then, haven't another
word to say, said Virginia, scorn(ully,ele..
vating her pretty shoulders as she turned
toward her companions. i do detest
babies =
why, Virginia!' exclaimed Mrs. Wal.
ter, her matron sister, with unaffected
horror.
Cant help it-I never could endure a
baby that's one of the cherished articles
of my faith
And how many articles Of faith have
your laughingly inquired another COM
panion.
oh, several One is a hearty aversion
to w,dowers-that class Of dyed over hus-
bands, who are always a!luding to Mrs.
Smith Number One! If 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 combing the
hair Of half dozen unruly step children.
No second hand children for me, thank
you
But if Virginia could only have had
peep into the operating room, where that
hnzel.eyed baby with pink ribbons at its
shoulders and string of red coral round
its plump neck, was setting photography
at defiance, she would perhaps have kissed
its pcrfumed breath nearly away with true
feminine inconsistency
Harry, do sit still = pleaded the nurse
in despair, while the operator lodged
hopeIessly to and fro, trying to catch
focus, and two or three young lady auntS
jinsled their watch chains aud held up
their bracelets in the vain endeavor to at
tract the little ones eyes. But il the quint.
essence of obstinacy can be imagined to
fix its throne in a year old baby, that baby
was the individual!
All Of a sudden bright winged canary
in cage opposite began to sing piercing
ly. The scarlet lips opened into won
drring smile-the large hazel eyes, that
had roved from place to place, like chain
lightning, were fixed for moment. The
operator Jcrked the drapery away from his
instrument with the agility Of magic; the
>unrays swept their pencils over the
cleaning plate, and
'Uh, 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
lug the plate. Only let me get one peep
att"
How delighted Raymond will be-
whispered one of the young aunts to her
sister, as she caught the baby in her @ms,
crushing her shining brown curls against
its silky little head.
Where shall send the cards, ma a'am?'
asked the operator.
TO Captain May Raymond May, Phil.
adelphia. Just the address, please-no
other word. We intend it for birthday
surprise to my brother
Very well, maam. Theodore as soon
a' the ladies had disappeared, he cried,
lust write down the address, aud tell the
young lady below that We are ready for
her,
Virginia Lynne must have been hard
indeed to please, had she been dissatisfied
with the face reflected in the mir, or, as
she took a last glance ere leaving the sa-
loon down stairs. A proud, stately young
beauty; and heart free as the widest fawn
upon the eastern hills.
when can have the pictureH' she
asked.
In about five days, ma'am.'
NO soonery leave town Tomorrow
we can send it to you by mail wherev-
er you are, ma'am.'
She hurredly wrote upon card Miss
lynne, Philadelphia, and pushed it to-
ward him.
There is my address-please send it as
soon as possible
Captain Nays sitting room in the great
Philadelphia hotel was as snug little den
as man need wish for, with its carved mar
bic mantel, bright patterned carpet, and
luxurious sofas and lounging chairs, and
Captain May himself, as he looked smiling
up from the perusal of heap of papers
to greet the entrance of a companion, was
no unfair specimen of handsome young
naval officer.
well, Charley
We'll, May-upon my word, If you're
not up to your ears in those old naviga-
tion charts again. It's enough to make
lazy man ache to see you work =