The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-03-25
tInjine.

| A little rustic oil ureSses III the dark
ened parlor accompanied the rising Of tn,
curtain to reveal the final tablcau of tn,
evening.
rnesc was but QUE figure, that Of the
young girl, not more than seventeen, whC
stood apparently under fall of water
artfully contrivcd of spun glass, with a
slight motion Her face was very fail
and beautiful, with the rare combinatier
of golden hair and large black eye-lashe:
and finely penciled dark eyebrows. The
features we're delicate and regular, the
mouth especially, being sensitive and
winsome as baby's.
The slight, graceful figure was cover
ed with robe of sea green silk, ovel
which fell folds Of rich white lace, looped
with clusters of sea-weed, tiny shell:
pearls and corals A light wreath of sea.
grasses and coral caught tho hair from
the tiny ears, and fell, with its wavy
golden profusion, far below the slender
waist. The round white arms reaching
up, as if toying with the water, were ol
great symmetry and beauty, and the tiny
hands were soft and white as an infants
The curtain fell-rosc and fell three
times in answer to the applause. The
| picture was too fair to lose.
WHO is she ? Raymond Christie
asked, bending his stately head 10 level
with Blanche Bryne's.
She is a schoolgirl yet Blanche an.
swered; so you will see her no more
after this evening, until she comes out,
in two or three years. She is visiting my
cousin Belle; ther are attending the same
seminary, and will probably remain at
Mayvile during the summer vacation
Then we shall meet her again.
No. She and Belle we're allowed to
take part in the tableau as a special favor
but Aunt Margaret entirely Jisapproves
of children in society Now = And
Blanche laughed lightly; don't dare to
say you want to paint her, as she appear.
ed tonight
Raymond echoed the laugh, and color
ed little at the implied sarcasm,-Ie
was an amateur artist of no meanmerit,
and rather disposed to bore his friends a
little on the subject. Had his father
been thoughtful enough to spend his
magnificent fortune as well as to make it,
doubtless Raymond Christie would have
PPSSppuiaarr, and not cnergetic,he was content
to amrse himself with art instead Of Civ.
Ing it the undivided worship proficiency
demands had studied in Italy how.
ever, and the boudors of mis- lady friends
were decorated with exquisite little cab
met pictures in dainty iramis, proofs of
his spasms of industry, and exhibiting
much power and genius that only requir-
ed study and necessity to give the world
a truly great artist.
Come, Blanche he said, coaxngly,
'bc good natured, and ask Mrs. Bryne to
allow the children to finish their evening
with US. want one more look at that
exquisite face
Am | not always good natured p an
swered his betrothed. You shall see
Undine again, Ray. But be a good boy
first. Ask somebody to dance while
find Aunt Margaret.
The tableaux having proved success
and the party promising to be a granC
affair, Mrs. Bryuc was in gracious MOOD
and Blanche only named her request tt
have it granted.
So at the conclusion of his duty dance
Mr.. Raymond Christie was presented tc
Miss. Jessie Waivers, who still wore he
quaint and graceful dress.
The artist eye paid homage to the al
most faultless beauty, and the heart o
the young artist was awaked by the chill
dixie grace and purity Of the schoolgirl
mind
IIo had heen votary Of fashion for tel
years, had Travelled at home and abroad
had met beauty, wit, talent, accomplish
ments, with all the glitter of wealth, tn
culture of education, the refnements o
society. lie had taken into the depth
of his noble heart the penniless but beau
tiful Blanche Bryne, and was loyal in it
every throb to his betrothed. Yet neve
in his life had strange face,a new voice
touched him as did the face and voice, %
Undine, as he called her in his hear
from that evening to the bitter end. III
dancad with her, and wondered if mer
feet could produce the peculiar hoatin
grach Of every movement; he talked wit
her, leading hert rom one subject to ouoth
er, to wonder at the childlke innocenc
and childlike wisdom of her answers
When they parted he had a strong de
sire to press his lips upon the pure brow
and bless her sleep as we do that of ba
bies and little children
Tell me about the lovely child, Blar
+ che, he said, as he sat with his betrothe
: in the wide, old-fashoned porch, of Mr.
, Bryne's country-seat.
Il know very little, Ray. She is a
orphan from infancy indeed her mothe
! ! was widowed before Jessie was borl
and died month after. She will hav
wealth, but is without near relatives.
Let US paint her Blanche? You ma
keep the picture till fall.
5 Then you will reclaim it,
Yes,with the owner and all her beon,
ings.
= Mrs. Bryne, always willing to pleai
her niece appointed room to Rays us
aud an ilnpromptu studio was arrange
!. where Jessie stood for Undne.
IS Can heart give all its purest, best d
voted ,unknowing its own offering ,ungue
> sed by the object?
Il She was only school girl, this grac
q ful, lovely Undine recluse, until 81
entered seminary at fourteen a drear
$, er; poet without the gift of words
child-woman,w who kept aloof from all bl
"a her one chosen friend-Belle Byrne. 81
had talent, but no capacity for study tn
did not interest her. She played Il
- piano with such finish and perfection
style that it could scarcely be credit
~ that she could never learn the notes, b
ar relied entirely upon her ear. She sal
rs Rav,nnrI M riptio aail ba povar Ia, 70;