The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-11-14
In LOVE WITH A PICTURE.


In LOVE WITH A PICTURE.
Ii was. in truth. a most beautiful por-
trait-a female hcad-periectly Greclan.
She might have been the Sybil. when
Apollo first beheld her. But cannot de-
scribe face: | never could examine
beauty analytically. as you would min
eral or a piece OF exquisite mosaic. | can
only say that | saw and felt it was very,
very lovely.
Ny poor friend Fletcher was in an &C.
tacy.
"f.ook at those eyes - said he; look
al those lips Now | never kissed girl
In my life 4: but if | could but see pair ot
lips like those. with blood in them,
know am sworn old bachelor, Moses !:
but do you really suppose il Is from ma
tune? Let Us see that catsilogue-No. ID
here il is. No. 73-'Miss Ellen Vincent
IT'S pretty name. isn't itg But did you
ever see 50 beautiful a faceT'
"Oh, yes" | answered, Ia thousand
times
"Name her. them
1 hesitated. In truth, could not. l
was compelled to yield.
We pursued our respective ways home {:
for the dinner hour had arrived. and had
no idea of sacrificing the substantial en-
joyment OF brace of partridges 10 the
more refined. perhaps. but. to my sordid
taste. less congenal one of gazing at "A
woman's lovely face.
NV reflections concerning my infatuated
friend were sOmbrc enough, as | pursued
nv homewarl walk. was bound To him
BY ties. stronger than those which unite
ordinary friends. We were the two only
old bachelors in the neighborhoOd, and
a wordy contest in defence OF our celiba-
cy. | had long regarded him a a firm
member Of our honorable but perSe-
euted fraternity. He had witnessed every
trial. he had overcome every temptation.
II was only week before that he assured
me no lady had ever made an impression
on his heart which lasted two hours after
he had left her presence. Julias. AmeliaS.
Sarahs. EIniiyS. Marias Janes-all had at
tackled him. and all in vain.
Yet. after all this. after having sustained
every contest. and having come off yicto-
rious in every encounter: after having
passed unscathed through the furnace.
seven times heated. 10 fall in love with a
picture,-a piece Of canvas, daubcd over
with paint and ola thing that any school
boy might spoil with his inkstand, Ii
was too much. Ii was like noble ship.
which. having crossed the ocean through
storm and tempest and having triumphant
~ bravcd thousand dangers Of the sea.
should be wrecked within sight of her i'm
tended haven. and upon an insignificant
shoal. which had not been considered OF
sufficient importance even 10 be avoided.
when | dropped in upon my friend the
next morning. | found him still raying
about the portrait. | rcmonstratcd-I at
tempted 10 reason with him. Alas how
little had reason to do either with his mala-
DIV or his disposition | reminded him Of
the many ilustrious men who had been
proud to enroll their names on the indy
Ing record of celibacy. Ii was all i'm vain.
| tried rilicule-but he was unmoved.
told him of the certainty with which mar
rage was followed by family quarrels and
petticoat government. II was void and of
noeffcct. Fletcher was crazy; more-he
was IN Iowa thousand times worse. for
there are plenty of lunatic asylums but.
alack for the boosted philanthropy Of the
are. who ever heard of lore asVl4n
How much time and how mucn money
have been devoted e. ameliorating the
condition Of those who are bercft of rca-
son. and vet nothing has been done for the
victims Of the tender passion, a. if a mans
brains were Of more Importance than his
heart.
Il fiNt tilHTt~~fN. stiiilN-A INV oliitf
calamity befell my friend. there could have
been some remedy. Had he broken limb.
il might have been mended: a broken
bone will knit together in nine days: had
he cracked his skull it might have becnfix
BY trcpce ming; but Fletcher was i'm that
peculiar situation for which there was no
presentremedy; he was out OF humanity's
reach.
But There was one consolation: he was
entranccd only with portrait. This was
Ear different from falling in love with
little witch in flesh and blood. The por-
trait could not talk: there was difference.
surely: il couldn'ttakc his arm OF a moon
light evening. and walk out of cverybody's
hearing: il could not receive long letters.
and write longer answers; in "A word. il
could neither marry, nor be given i'm
marriage" had forgotten all this while
that there was an original to that portrait;
Fletcher had not.
Some months passed away. and my
friend was as crazy a. ever. Time, indeed,
seemed rather 20 increase than 10 heal his
malady. One day he entered my room IN
great haste.
II am going said he. "to Brighton.
Immediately, and have come for you to 20
with me-
"why. in the name of common sense.
ARE you going TO Brighton r | asked
II have Just heard that Miss Ellen Vim
cent l. there. know the street and the
number. There can be no mistake
"And 50 you intend to call upon her.
with no other introduction than your own
impudence, Fletcher, this Is worse than
should have expected, even from you.
iwarn You now-as you regard your"
"Ohs you need not go on; anticipate