The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-14
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.,. Artists Rove.

II. rh;ch lowered ABOVE TUG o,ue. AZ; Sn, ,,,a
walls wo on The river, and when the tide was
water, son Q, down the long, trailing Ivy
mgr, o kiss the laughing waves-there sat
tuo women. ,,or
w" inc. with her arm resting upon broken
.,Imn,n. her dark eyes with the memory OF
the iong-ago stirring their brllliancy INTO
life. pazed afar out ut the fioaling cloua, ner
face sad reflection of the past WINE Tue
r,her many wears younger, half knelt at
her feet, and, with smile on her req ilps,
and the light Of hope in her glorious eyes,
nlaved with the light moss upon tho bank
beside her. .,,
crept in and swept across the loresronnd
inst enough to bring the wondrous beauty
iato relief.
To the artist eyes Of Ralph Bertram,
who. wandering down the river bank,
came upon them, it was perfect harmony
of light and shade-an exact subject for
masterpiece; and there he sat down and
sketched until the darkness shrouded the
whole and shut it from his view.
He took his sketch home, and for hours
sat and gazed at it enraptured with the
glorious beauty Of the faces. Who were
thew? or rather, who was she? Who was
the girl with her dreamy, happy face and |
dark, melting eyes, with their hopefuIness !
and truth?
When morning dawned he went down |
again to the rivers bank, and watched and |
waited for hours, but they never came. He /
inquired Of every passer, but no one knew /
them. One would say: |
All yes, / have seen them-two We- J
men, one old and sad, the other young and !
happy. do not know their names" An |
other would declare he never was aware of /;
their existence, and thus Ralph found bis |
search vain one. He went on working
day and night upon his picture, and at last
afn ,,1 how lo rs
his studio in the city and placed it there,
his friends held up their hands. in admira.
ton and worshipped it, aud before MANI
DAYS it found place in the most renowne d
art gallery, and all the world went crafty
over 1t. .. ~. -....-
,Shus Ralph Berram became celebrated,
and orders came upon him faster than he
could fill them, and all the wealth and beau
ty in the city smiled upon and pttted hing 4.
lie was admitted in every pari"r, par y,
soiree, and reception /; he became the lion
Of the season, and far and near his pr aises
were sung. But to him it was nothing,
when thoughts of his beloved picture came,
and hour after hour he sat and ssa7.ed upon
that beautiful face like one entrar'ced.
81 believe, Mr.. Bertram, that you are
positively in love with that Young face J"
said n belle, IA she came uport him in the
gallery. "Was it from life or your own
Imagination that you painted it?'
"From life."
Impossible! 1t must have been q
dream! No living woman was ever blessed
With such beauty"
YES, one !"
The lady went away, and before night
one-half the world was jealous Of his pic
ture, and declared him crazy. II must
be so, for no woman ever possessed such
rare beauty. 1t was q dream, hallucnG-
ton.
Bertram heard it and laughed. Perchance
the day might come when he could bring
his wondrous beauty before them and con-
vince them; and with this hope he labored
and sought her far and wide.
It was cold, litter night. and around
the corners the wind swept, bringing with /
it fitful gusts of hard-cutlng slcet, and |
penetrating to the bone every unfortunate |
who CHANGED to be abroad. Bcrtram came /
briskly down the street from his studio, |
warmly wrapped in heavy coat and furs, |
with 4 vision of his pleasant rooms before /
him and lightly hummng IN opera. Re |
had turned from the principal street, and /
was walking alone where all was quiet, 1
when he suddenly came upon two women, |
who stood near The iron railing iii front Of |
the house.
"Mother." said one, " it is but a little |
further! DO try to keep up. Here, lean
upon me, mother, mother"
She was Galnly trying 10 support the !
sinking lOru, but not all her strength could
prevent her from falling. And Bertram
sprane forward in time 10 receive her in
his strong arms as she fell back. |
Mother, oh my MOTHER was the des- |
pliring cry.
Don't be alarmed, Miss; she has only
tainted. My home is here close ut hand, |
and if You will assist me l will take your
mother there"
The young woman obeycd him wthc1it a
word, and with her assistance Ralph bore
the Senseless form 10 his elegant apart
ments. There was no light within the
room, and after placing the inanimate form
upon the sofa he CROPPED his way TO the
match safe and lighted the gas. AS the soft
radiance shone through the room ne sprang
back with an exclamation OF surprise and
delight. His pictures! The face Of his
idolzed ones! At the sound the younger
started up and looked toward him. How
beautiful she was with her hood falling
back and the damp waves Of chestnut hair
clineing to her broad white forehead, and
great tustrous eyes fixed upon him in won-
der. Bertram could not speak.
"My mother !" she began with quivering |
Aps.
Pardon me forgot mysef,"-and he
went out, brought wines, cordials, and
labored until the blood stole back in little
flashes and the dark eyes opened. For
several moments she did not seem TO un. ]
derstand the strange room and surround
ings; but when the younger spoke. Sc
sdd: ''sEe
Agnes, darling !"
Mother, are you better?"
eyes, yes"
Agnes! 1t was like
beautiful, santlike! nef. fure' good,
Bertram sat ir !,
called him. n =. the window until they
the room Ihe elder one was standing in
and q :, che mantle thrown around her,
r. .ne hand resting upon the shoulder OF
-.sr daughter.
"T wish to bid you good night and thank
YOU for your Kindness. II it were i'll my
power l would"
"Madame, l beg you to sit down. have
spent months in searching for you, and
beg you now have found you, to remain
here. If you arc willing to confer favor
upon me, remain here tonight, at least"
.sSearching for US What do you mean -
"You will learn one day owe you all
possess"
She sat back seemingly petlifed with
establishment.
"Who are you? never met you! You
owe me nothing"
"Will you remain here!
eyes, If you need US"
After time the noble-looking woman
sat in comfortable chair near the CRATE.
her lovely daughter at her feet, and halph
Bertram brought forth the sketch and told
the story.
s.And are you the great painter, Ralph
Bertram?" asked Agnes.