Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-15


the invitation, though | believe to this day
she intended to decline.
"Thank you" said "when it is ready,
shall call for you. Goodnight
When the d or closed behind me, struck
a match, aud, holding the little quivering
flame quite close to a small, white card,
tackled upon the middle panel read
CO DALE.
Eqgrqrcr ON Wood ~
Whether had suddenly grown more fas-
tilious aud critical, or whether my practised
fingers had all at once lost thier cunning,
cannot determines but | do know that the
two days allotted n nay mind to the compile
ton OF the autumn-scenc upon my easel
stretched out into three four, 1--WE and finally
week passed before | was willing to say
" Finished =" and put it in the frame.
But one thing should be considered in ox.
tonuaGon Of the delay. My brain had play.
ed me the most extraordinary tricks during
those seven days Would you believe that,
ON awaking from highly.artistic aud analytic
rcycrie one afternoon ! discovered under
group Of oaks and beeches, where dwarf
gum-trcc should have been, a slight figure in
gray dress, shawl and hat with a veil
thrown over the crown
see, by your SMILE you don't credit the
story but | assure you, il is true. The
picture was finished, however. | took it off
the easel TO hang it on the wall pulled it
down from there, and bracing it upon the
table with d pile of books, at last replaced
!. ou the easel where it properly belonged, be-
lorc ! could be satisfied with the light After
all this found myself at number twenty
eight, ready to escort my visitors to my
studio
The slight color that flushed Herbert Dale's
face told me, before his words, that he liked
and admired my work but | was not so
sure of his sisters approval. For full five
minutes she stood leaning over the back of
her brothers chair, saying nothing, while |
remained in the background watching the
/ lickerng, western sunlight play over her
soft, blond hair and delicate sweet face. At
last, with a sigh as Of mingled longing aud
regret, she turned and took the chair silent
/ y moved toward her, saying " 1t seems a
me as perfect as any human hand can make it.
/ You can't imagine how it makes me wish for
the country aui the woods
Then She was silent again but | think
my eyes must have said more to her than
my ips or they only uttered, | thank
you
OF course, we naturally began speaking Of
pictorial art in all its departments. She told
me her brother and herself both drew, aud
that she engraved their pictures. Aud
gathered, though she didn't say so, that she
supported the two in that way. My interest
in this couple, who seemed as much alone il
the world as myself, grew every moment they
remained and, long before she exclaimed
4" Why, BERTHE dear, it is nearly dark We
must 20 home this minute | determined tc
follow up the acquaintance which had begur
so propiiiously. Rising to help Herbert back
to their room, asked +" Miss Dale, have
you ever seen the Seasons, illustrated by
Ludwig Richter ?"
d" No. | never had an opportunity. though
1 have often read about them. hope some
time to be able to buy the set ; for think
they would be very helpful to me"
" think they would be very suggestive tC
you in many ways, while they are also ex
ceodingly entertaining. When mine are re
turned by another friend"--I laid the slight
est possible accent on the two last words, t
see what effect it would have upon her" ma,
bring them to you2 rarely open then
now, for know every line and every group b.
, heart"
Thank you l should be very glad t
see them, she replied, without seeming t
notice my emphasis. And then went out
and stood alone in the gloomy corridor, as
had stood week before, on the evening whe
first met Geryaise Dale.
In few days my books came back, and
seized the first moment of leisure 1t was i
} the evouing-and carried them next dooi
The call was delightful. The loan of NOR
books, the exhibition Of a sketch or two lie
to another and another visit aud at last
T. became a habit with me to spend three o
= four evenings a week with the Dalcs.
Up to the time made the acquaintance {
G my new friends my life had been utterly sc
q fish. Every sensation and circumstance ha
been interesting to me only as it affected m
o own personality. Every thought and ever
r hope centered in my own advancement an
success Therefore, the self-sacridce and d.
! voion Of Gervaise Dale to her sick broth,
e awoke in me feeling Of surprise and adm
/ ration that at the time was almost inexplici
{ Bile. As revelation of nobility Of characte
it appeared in my eyes superhuman.
e Herbert and | became much attached
L each other, as our acquaintance grew; al
g frequently, in the short winter afternoon
while Geryaise was out carrying home h
= work, | read aloud to the unfortunate yout
l Ono day We were sitting quietly watchir
g the sun sink behind the leaness trees in L
lonely park, when he suddenly burst out witt
to " Mr. Churchill, | suppose you've oft
C., wondered why Geryaise and ! should be alo
% here. | think you ought to know our histor
Us or at least whatever will interest you in
BE- aud am going to tell it to you"
in Don't tell me anything you would ratf
n. not speak of, Berthe | said, laying my ha
or on his for knew how hard it is for sensiti
to natures to open their souls even to their ne
n. est aud dearest, and | could not bear he shot
We think me vulgarly curious about their p
h. life.
81 want to tell you. In the irst pla
do Geryaise is an angel
ID, My heart echoed that as | looked towa
| the table in the window where her blo'
ny and pencils and little instruments lay, q
ty thought how cheerfIly and uncompaininl
ht she toied there, hour after hour, and day af
or day, to provide for their small needs.
He continued
ad 1t is the old story of parents dying p
ST niless who are supposed to be wealthy, and
zee children left to the charity cf rich relatiy
n who could hardly have been less generous
to their bitterest enemy"
ng The hot blood rose in his wasted cheek, .
os- burned in his sunken eyes, as he uttered
in last sentence and it spoke more strongly Il
sr- a thousand words OF the indignities put ~
them in the home to which they were UNIV
ho come.
,s My uncle, who was left our guardian,
,st passive, easy-going man, entirely under
,r. control of his clever and INSCRIPTIONS W
lie. | have had hip-disease ever since | can
mt member, and SO, Of course, when we "
nv taken to our guardians house, | was looI
me- upon wholly as burden, to be endured,
We enjoyed. But Gervaise, who was always v
|, >. aud strong, they made slave herself nearly
10 death, aud she cheerGully submitted for
Ily sake,