The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-09-15

NO. 9.
subject. Nieland opened bis book and
showed us dozen pencil-sketcbes,-
notes seized in haste, quaint move
mems that we're Isabella's own "turn
of head or droop of curl" sideways,
backways,-he had indicated her with
such extraordinary sympathy that Ar
mar exclaimed with delight and wanted
to lay bis hands on the pictures then
end there and yet I wondered at it,
Tor there was one popularity about
every one Of these sketches which
struck me. I don't know if anybody
else remarked it at the time. There
was not one Of these drawings but had
something in it Of shrinking and repul-
sion. Nieland was 50 true an artist,
no had SO genuine a feeling, notwith-
standing all his vagaries and expert
ments, that be could not help indicat-
Jog what he really saw and so when
he sketched Isabella, whether it was
consciously or unconsciously I know
not, the instructive aversion with which
she had always regarded him seemed
felt BY him, the flowing draperies of
her gown seemed held away lest they
should brush him as she passed, her
head was turned aside as if from . re-
pusnant sight, look of PAIN va, in
her face. What a beautiful, strange
face it was, and what lovely pain in
the deep brows and serene, dropped
eyes! We were all standing in group
when she rose from her seat at the
distant end Of the room and came
smiling up to US; her talk bad brought
bright blush into her cheeks already,
a new expression had come into her
eyes.
""hat are you looking At ?" she
said, as Armar made room for her.
Then, when sho saw what it was, her
fair color died away. "why did you
draw those pictures" she said, "when
l asked you not ?" And With a flash
she turned..upon Nielaud and looked at
him Indignantly. As she looked her
anger seemed to rise. mo gentleman
would have done it" she said, passion.
ately. Armar was greatly distressed ;
he thought Isabella Was hard upon his
friend. Njeland blushed up and looked
troubled too. Mr.. B. tried to make
a little joke and said, "You think you
have copyright in your own face,
Miss Isabella" ut is perhaps fortu.
nate tor the world that it is not So"
said another young man gallantly.
But Isabella never smiled she still
stood confronting the painter ; he look.
ed utterly crestfallen.
II did not mean to make you angry.
You don't understand" said Nieland,
meekly. "My art is like my breath ;
l cannot do one thing or another, only
that which comes to me. 1 did not
mean those studies for you, only they
came to be you. tits siu," he went
on angrily; ''if you had one grain of
genuine feeling you would think it a
murder to destroy those beautiful draw
ings; but since you wish it I burn
them"-and as he spoke he suddenly
flung the book into the great fire, and
the flames leaped up, in one moment
curling with their rolnted tongues.
Henry Armar uttered an exclamation
of regret, aud would have sprung for
ward to save the sketches, if the Ger
man, with one glance at his per-
secutrix, had not placed himself in
front Of the blaze. Isabella never moved.
She was relentless for the moment. It
was this quality IN her that seemed to
me so strange and unexpected iu one
20 gentle. Perhaps relentlessness be-
longs to the young most specially: and
to the gentlest and least shaken as yet
by the ouslaugbts of life.
Relentless she might be, but she
was not proof against Armar's gentle
reproaches. Lady B-also interfer.
ed, and begged Isabella as a personal
favor to make it up with the poor pain.
I ter.
"You do not know how sensitive he
is" the kind lady said. "He feels
things more keenly and bitterly than
you, dear Isabella, can have any concep-
tion of: L trust with all my heart that
you may never know such a feeling"
And the elder lady took her in he,
arms aud kissed her. 49,.
"Dear Isabella" Armsr said, eve
won't let any one be unhappy on such
a day as this. Let him paint your pic.
ture to make amends for the conaagra-
tion." ~.
A curious double emotion seemed at
work in the girls heart. She looked
up at Armar, her eyes darkeued while
her face softened and relented. And
then sgain her features seemed hard
set. while her eves locked soft and