Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-01-24
SELECTED STORY
A NEW YEARS RECEPTION.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

>
Tom Reynolds house, the library was The
contest. The deep cushioned arm chairs
the heavy walnut bookcases, the soft thick
carpet and warm crimson curtains. and the
low open CRATE, always ruddy in winter
cold, united to make it tempting spot TO
quiet hours of thought and study.
| The doctor himself did not much frequent
it !; being middIe-aged man with large
practice, quiet reading hours were luxury
he rarely enjoved. But the room was ia
vorite with Stella, the doctors niece and
ward, the heiress of poor johns money!
as the doctor would say. when speaking Of
his only br other and child.
Here. on cold December day, haf burr.
ed in deep crimson lined chair, Stella sat
with a book in her hands, her eyes fixed
upon a portrait o. er the fire place, and her
thoughts buried in day dream
The portrait. smiling down upon her, had
been birth day gift to her uncle, and was
a life like copy Of her own perfect facs and
tall, slender figure. The soft brown eyes
and golden. tinted brown hair were faithful
ly reproduced, but the portrait had an ap.
RrdI dDCC VI CdIuu tudt was AlIUSctuct
wanting in the face looking up to it. The
''dear FIVE hundred friends in society had
pronounced the likeness absolutely perfect,
and upon Miss Reynolds desk was more
than one order for the artist to test his skill
upon other faces as fair. But society knew
the heiress only as cold, naughty and unap-
proachable.
The face that looked pale against the dark
chair, had no pride, no GOODNESS in it. In
the large brown eyes was mist of unshed
tears. the sweet mouth was quivering like
that of a grieved child, and in the heart Of
the fair girl was the unspoken sorrow of a
strong, deep love, that seemed given where
there was l. response. Wooers had come
and gone since Stella was introduced"
but the young heart recognized no king till
Wayne Esterhazy, young unknown ar
fist, came to New York to make fame and
fortune
He the orphan son of an old friend of Dr.
Toms, and the kindly physician had coaxed
Stella to sit for her portrait, ''to give the
young fellow start, Stella" he had said
So Wayne Esterbazy bad established his
easel in the coy library, and Mrs Cosmer,
Stella's dear friend, bad come to play pro-
priety, and the portrait had been painted.
But, alas and alas ! as the handsome
young artist, with his great black soul.lit
eyes and bis ow-toned musical voice, paint
ed, be talked. And Stella listened, and
found no commonplace compliments, no
comments upon the last ball of the next
tete, but mind broad and deep, full Of
great noble thoughts, of grand aspirations,
brain stored with we'll chosen reading
and memory where travel and observation
had lett pictures of rare beauty.
Mrs. Cosmer yawned sometimes, but
Stella only sighed when the sitting was over,
hoped for the next one. She had not
fathomed her own heart to find why those
hours in the library were the happiest of her
bright young life. Size never blushrd when
she spent such careful moments before her
mirror, adjusting the white lace dress and
wild roses 10 which she was painted
'sOf course one does not wish to be a
perfect fright in PICTURE she said to her
SELL, when she took off her chignon, aud
visited tue wild roses among the loose nat.
ural curls falling upon her sboulo ers.
But one morning, Wayne Esterhazy rose
from his seat, white as death, and annouuc,
ed his task completed Mrs. Cosmer struck
attitudes Of admiration, the artist bowed
gracefully and retired, and Stella wondered
why the world seemed dark and blank.
But there was, still hope. The paint.
lug was not paid for, and Uncle Tom must
be made to understand the artist would still
oe welcome guest in their house. The
portrait was framed, presented, and hung
up in the library. Orders we're left for the
artist with Stella The weeks wore away,
one alter another, and the artist meyer re.
turaed. DR.. Tom. after reason bic delay
undertook to hunt him up, and failed. He
had lett the hotel where be had boarded,
and no one knew his whereabouts.
When he seemed absolutely lost, Stella
awoke to the truth, and knew that, I'm.
sought, her heart had gons from her.
There bad been no word of love from the
young artist to the beautiful heiress, and
yet, with that unerring Intuition Of true
love, Stella felt that where she had giver
her own heart, she ha0 won noble, true
one.
So, sitting looking at the portrait tina
was to her the memory OF happy hours ane
deep sorrow, she thought of the face taker
out from her life, of the voice she nigh
never hear again, and her eyes were lumin
GUS with tears as she unused.
Upon her sad reyerie came step and
voice, familiar and dearly beloved, and sh
sprang from her seat to welcome her uncle
"Stella." be said, drawing her down be
side him upon sofa, f'look me in tn
face
The large brown eyes were raised at ono
frankly, but rather wonderingly.
They call you cold and naughty" b
: said, caressing her hand, and looking fons
=, ly in her face, shut believe you have
warm, true heart"