St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-11-15
Undine.

Undine.
II ndimc. said the voice of the stag,
manager. \ little rustic of dresses in
the darkcncd parlnr. accompanied 10y
the rising of the curtain to reveal tn,
tablcau of the evening.
| There WAS but one figure. that of til,
Young girl. not more than seventeen
| who stood. apparently. under Il fall of
water. arttully contriVcd of spun glass.
with slight motion. Her face WAS
very fair and beautiful. with the rar,
combination of golden hair and large,
black eyes, shaded 10y long. dark eye
la>he> and finely prncillcd, dark eye
hrnWS. The features were delicate and
regular. the mouth. especially. being
sensitive and Win>omc a> Il baby :.
| The Slight. graceful figure Wa> covered
with Il robe of >ca- green silk. over which
fell folds of rich. white Lace. loopcd with
clusters of >ca-Wccd. tiny shells. pearls
and coral. y light wLrath "t >r:I-
grasses and coral caught the hair from
tine TINY ears. and fell. with its WaNN.
golden pr"trr>iom. far below the slender
waist. The round. white AIMS. reach
lmg up H. if TOYING with the water. Were
of great symmetry and beauty, and the
linl hands were soft and white H. AN
infants.
The curtain fell rose and fell three
times i'll answer To the applause. he
picture was too fair to lose.
Nv ho i> she ," was whispered. a> Il
sudden blaze of light revealed the
pleased audience.
WHO i she ;" almond Christie ask
ed. hcnding his stately head T." Il level
with Blanche BY ruc>.
''Nhc i only IL school girl yet. blanche
answered: $50 you will srr her u" more
after this. evening. until Lac out.
in two or three Years. She l. Visiting
my cousin Belle: they aIc attending
the same seminary, and will pr"hahlN
remain at MayNillr during the summer
yacatiom.
"Thrm We shall meet again ,
NO. She and Belle. we've allowed tu
take part in the tIhlc;tuN a. Il special
favor but Aunt Margaret entirely dis
IppIuvc> of children in >ucictN. Now -
and Blanche laughed lightly; "don't
dare To say You want t" paint her. a>
she appeared Tonight.
RAY mnnd echoed the laugh. and col
ulcd Il little at the implied sarcasm.
| lie Was an amateur artist of no mean
merit and rather disp">rd to bore his
friends Il little on the subject. Had hi>
father been thoughtful enough to have
spent his magnificent fortune. a> we'll a~
make it, doubtless Raymond Christie
would have been an artist of fame. But
wealthy. popular. and not very cncr-
mctic lac WAS content To ;imIISc himself
with art. instead of giving il the un-
divided Worship proficiency demands.
| lie had studied in Italy. however. and
the, houdoirS of his lady friends were
decorated with exquisite little cabinet
pictures. in dainty frames. proofs of his
>pa>m> of industry. and exhibiting mUch
power. and Il genius that only required
study and necessity to give the world Il
truly great artist.
..Cnmr. Blanche" he said coaNimgll
'.hc good d-naturcd aud ask Mrs. Byinc
to allow the children to finish tlciI
evening with lis. want one more look
ut that exquisite face.
Am | not always good-naturcd ;,
answered his hctr0thed. 'lou shall
see I'ndinc again. But hc Il good hoy
first. Ask somebody t" dance while |
find Aunt Margaret"
The tahleauX having proved Il SIG
cess. and the party promising to he Il
| brilliant affair. Mrs. Byrnc WIS III Il
gracious mood, and Blanche only named
her request To have it granted.
So at the conclusion of his duty dance,
Mr.. Raymond Christie waS presented tn
Miss Jessie Waivers, who still wore hen
quaint and graceful dress.
| The artists eye paid homage to the
almost f;Iultlc>s beauty, and the heart
of the Young artist was awakened 10y
| the childlke grace and purity of the
school girls mind.
He had been Il Votary of fashion fol
ten Years. had travelled at home and
! abroad. had met beauty, wit. talent.
accomplishments, with all the glitter ot
| wealth, the culture of education. the
rctincment> of society. He had ttkcu
into the depths of his great, noble heart
/ the penniless but beautiful blanche
Byrne. and WAS loyal III its very throl
! to his hctrothed. Yet never III his life
had IL strange face. a new voice, touched
| him us did the face and voice of tndine
as he called her in his heart from thi>
evening to the bitter end. He danced
with her, and wondered if mere feet
could produce the peculiar. floating
grace of every movement: he talked
with her. leading her from one subject
to another. to wonder at the childlikt
wisdom of her answers.
When they parted. he had IA strong
desire to press his lips upon the pure
brow. and bless her sleep, as we d,
that of babies and little children.
Tell me about that lovely child
Blanche" he said. as he sat with hi
betrothed in the wide, old-fa>hi"ne'
porch of Mrs. Byrne'S country seat.
Il know very little Ray. She is al
orphan from infancy; indeed. her moth
er was widowed before Jessie was born
and died ii month after. She will have
wealth. but is without near relatives"
Let lis paint her. Blanche? lol
may keep the picture till fall
Then You will reclaim it"
YES. with the owner and all her he
longingS.
Mrs. Byrme. always willing to pleas
l,., ,.;,.., ,,n.iutaI :, r,nm fnr Raw