Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1867-03-27

THOSE OLD PrCTURMs.
BIT FAIRFIELD EWING.

see that comb, rising so majestically above
those puffs ?" "Why, Grandma. that nss-
er was intended for you" were few Of
the many exclamations from merry
group Of girls who had gathered round
an old picture in worm eaten frame,
over which they were laughing and COM
menting as they turned it over and over.
now one wav. then another. while Grand
ma looked on with an amused smile.
1t was painting. somewhat defaced
by time and dimmed by age, but from the
cabvas there looked out a sweet, girlish
face, one which had the charm of beauty
as we'll as youth. Not more than eigh cen
years hal come and gone over the young
heart when this had been painted. Glauc-
ing from the picture to grandma's face.
could trace but little resem blance be.
tween the embodiment Of life and hope
which almost spoke from the canvas aud
the living oripiual, seated in the easy
chair before me,
Full and plump, with soft brown eyes
aud hair, was the one wrinklcd the face
and silvered the heard Of the other She
was telling the listeners round her about
the old dresses, their short, narrow skirts,
the cushions worn in the sleeves, making
them look like half-bushels. and the puffs,
rolls and curls she used to wear, years
and years ago. when her form was unbent
by age and her step as theirs.
20, Grandma, why didn't you save
some of those old costumes 1t would
have been such fun to have them to dress
in sometimes" said Laura Haywood, lean
ing her head back and looking up into the
old lady's face from her low seat on the
carpet. .....
The witbered hand was laid caressing-
ly upon the curls, and after moment
she said :-"Well my dear sister Nancy s
clothes are in that chest you could not
open 10 the garret. and you may see Them
all if you handle them carefully, remem-
beriug they belong to the dead. Wait
here are the keys" as they were spring
lug up the stairs, forgetting The portrait
aud some colored prints which had been
resurrected from the depths of a large,
old fashioned trunk--found among some
other an iquatcd furniture in an unused
room.
Giving the keys to Laura, she again en.
joined them to be very cartul, and, receiv-
ing the promise to pnt everything back as
il Was, she came slowly again into her
cosy little room, and taking her knitting
sat down to make up with double dill
geuce the unwontcd iilencss Of the past
hour. ...
/ had not gone with the girls, hut was
half reclining on sofa near the window.
reading one of Shakspeare's plays which
the merry clatter had interrupted. Soon
again saw forgetting all else in the
perusel Of it, and some time glided by
il might have been an bour-before |
again looked up. When did strange
sight met ny startled gaze. Grandma's s
knitting. work had fallen from her lap,
and che was standing in the middle of the
room, her eyes bent upon threc-could it
be ?-yes, three pictures instead of one
which bad been left there. They were
ranged on low shelf side by side.
The light fell full upon them, and from
the sofa ! could see them very plainly.
Two of them were gentlemen. The one
with light. wavy hair. thrown back so
carelessly, and the clear, honest gray eyes
was my grandpa, knew, for my mother
had one just like it; but the other-who
was he Only The head and sholJers could
be seen. The background was clouded,
light. muiky. out of which the we'll FORM
ed head and broad shoulders rose sharp
ly defined. Not an outline was lost in
the haze behind. 1t could not he called
a handsome face yet there was something
irresistibly fascinating in it. and ! invol-
unfairly bent forward, though the whole
picture could be plainly seen from where
| was sitting.
Strange thoughts came to me as look.
ed. Who was the original Of this dark
picture, and did those eyes always look
SO black aud glitteriDg as now. When in
life? And the hair--was it never twin.
ed by loving hands into little ringlets
Straight as arrow end dark as midnight ;
not wave could be seen. Parted slight.
ly to The left side aud brushed smartly
back. it left the square koebbed forehead
and tc@pies bare. A dusky mpstache
q. l,~outh, but the lines Of the chin
bid toe u~- ltfl : -,Iy c,osed ana
showed that 1t was nrm., 4
every lihsoment bespoke power su~
strength Of purpose. 1t was da'k, aerce
looking face pictured there, aud seht q