Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-30


and trimming 20 as TO look respectfully
nice when household matters took her
| into the street; and lastly, pair OF little
| CATERS what IL there In the whole range
OF lady's dress, that, looked At when
separated from the wesrcr, 20 charms and
| fascinafes masculine eyes ss well shaped
| little boot or Yaitert CreAses Of use md
marks of wear only add interest 70 the
sight, and are, 90 70 speak, the finishing
touches 70 the picture, only that, IN TINS
| instance, the picture belonging 70 Mn.
FlAkewhite had been "finishing TOO
much.
replaced these several articles on the
chair as found them, and turning with
sigh into my studio, eoon forgot my
trouble and found relief In work. Whether
the sight of the objects Of my wifet un-
complaining labor had nerved my hand
TO unusual efforts, or whether hsd
chanced upon peculiarly fortunate mo-
ment tor work, cannot ny, but this
much / know, dimnlties Of drawing that
had perplexed and hindered me Tor week,
vanished under the strokes OF my happy
pencil this morning. l touched on little
patches Of color that sstonished and
charmed me with their excellence half
tints of great delicacy and difiiculty
placed themselves, % II were, by some
magical power NOT my own, In Just the
right place, while deep shadows flowed
boldly from my brush and increased the
effect of all the rest.
Not long after q hasty breakfast on my
rart, Mrs. Fiakewhite came into my
studio. dressed 70 60 out-wearing the
same brown hat with the peaTl-colored
ribbon, last years style, that had affected
me 20 unplessantly few hours before
for her habitusl good-by kiss, and threw
into my greeting OF her more than usual
hesrtiness and tenderness, from feeling
of selfreproach of having allowed 10
much goodness and loveliness 10 dishgure
itself with such bonnet
Good bye, John, dear / am 10 glad
Won are painting No well this morning."
said she: 1--WE shall soon zee somebody's
name vel known In this city, and we
have 70 double and quadruple our prices,
and have offers of orders 10 any amount,
and we shall have large handsome studio,
with a real north light, and window 20
tall we shall have 10 20 up on ladder To
open it, and we shall have q nice thick
overcoat every winter ii we like and we
sketchinc, with our little wife TO read N
us while we paint, and we shall grow
great and good automatically and ]
could not listen another instant TO her
happy story, and throwing down pallet
and brushes. my arms closed around her
with bssr like hug, and stopped her
laughing rosy mouth with decorating
kiss that could have been heard block
away. and then making her look nae
straight in the eyes, I carefully whispered,
Mary, please God, you shall be q true
prophet and what you have said ever
does come true, ii will be greatly owing
To the cheerful help of my own dear, true
hearted wife"
"John," said she, looking through the
half closed door, am going toget lamb
chops with sweet potatoes for dinner, and
j listened while she merrily Fang herself
down stairs, nor moved until / heard the
front door close behind her-and all OF
earth held most dear
Twas working interestedly and progress
ing finely again with my picture, and felt
o hopeful spirit and quiet peace Of mind,
that had been unknown TO me for months
perhaps IL WAS premonition OF good
fortune In store for me-when the same
gentleman called again who had bought
INV last picture. He said it had been
much admired since being framed and
oil .ced In . good light 1t his home, and
WA kind enough 10 mention the very
terms of praise which one Of our fsvorite
artists had made use Of about 1t, whose
name cent the blood surging and tingling
all over me with pleasure he would like
q companion picture OF the same size,
took the liberty Of advancing me one hun
dred dollars towards the price, to ensure
INV commencing IL at once, promised 70
call soon again and zee how progressed
with the order, and politely took his leave.
After he hsd gone / sat motionless for
some minutes 70 think over what had
rsseed between us, and recover control OF
nv senses, bcwildered with too much
pleasure. Ihad certainly dreamed Of such
interviews with purchasers, and had often
imaeined how nice II must be for some OF
nv artist friends whose pictures were o.
vsys in demand, TO whom such affairs
were not unusual, but both dreams and
imaeinstion were now certainly realized
witness the one hundred dollar bin on the
easel shsK, just WHARF my purchaser he'd
laid IL.
II vss new one freshly Issued from
the Chemical Bank, and crsckled - took
II up, and though seemed to b looking
1t lie printed face my minds eye saw
nothing there, but was busy far away,
With Q new hat, new alpaca dress, new
thick eaters, and new warm gloves, that
intended would b . surprise for Mrs.
Flakewhlte.
Hastily pinning bit Of paper on my
studio door that stated should soon 70
turn, rushed over into the Bowery 70
8 millincrs store, whore Mrs. +. and
we're known; I took the woman that
waited on me into partial confidence, and
In . few minutes suited myself With hat
which was good, modest and LADY like,
and In about half IN hour-which had
been thirty minutes Of great enjoyment
70 me-wss back again IN my studio, my
several parcels hidden where they would
be ssfe from observation. and with DO.
lightful anticipation Of Mrs. Flakcwhitee
surprise In the morning, again addressed
myself 70 work.
During the evening Of this eventfal day
We walked out together, and % Mrs.
Ylakewhlte's greas 6atislAC4tc0, after her
critical examinatlon Of seams and liaipgs,
and button holes and pockets, the cost
WAS decided upon, paid tor, and worn
home. must here disclose 70 the reader
/ - n - 1