The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-10-28
THE NOBEL RnR .SrysHINE.,

who knows his work is well done.
Some and look at il, Hester. Tell
mo what You think of SHADOW
The tired sister rose from her chair
and came round in front OF the easel.
YEARLY she pushed the heavy weight
of chestnut hair off her pale forehead,
and gazed long and earnestly into the
dull, dusky eyes of the picture. They
were like her own, never glcam OF
brightness in their shadowy depths
only that earnest, patient look full OF
gloom and darkness.
Docs It please you, sir 7
yes, Hester and you?
Il think it is like me, answered the
girl, sighing. Then she gathered up that
mass of dark hair that the paiater had
disarrangcd to suit the purposes OF his
picture, and turning slowly away. asked
him, DO you need me any longer!
Not to-day, thank you.
Hester Deane went away from the old
farmhouse parlor that the artists ingc-
nuity had coverted into a temporary
studio, and proceeded TO take up the
burden of life again. They were very
happy hours, those she passed in that
shady old room, while the magic touches
of The painters brush transferred her
pale features to his canvas - happy be,
cause they were quiet. But this bur,
den of lite pressed heavily upon Hester
shoulders, and the lash that drove her
on from one aduous duty 10 another
never rested.
olH h0 =
in Kew England, perched upon bleak
New Hampshire hill. Her only com
pany was the invalid stepmother, whose
bitter tongue stung her qnivcring Sonl
with wounds no less hard To bear be-
cause the instrument that inflicted them
was SO contemplate. Her father WAS :,
good man, but cold and hard as the
rocks that surrounded his humble dwell
ing aud Jim, the only other member
of the family, was thoughtles, boy
whose mischief aud carrleSsness c-ad'
Hester many an extra hour of labor.
In the shadow her life had lain, thi,
girl with the low, broad forehead, be-
hind which was stored an education IN 4
would have enabled man long ago to
achieve comfort and independence. Here
in this old brown farm house she lived
and worked, unwarmed by love, I'M
chcered by sympathy, until the GOODNESS
and the gloom settled into her dark eyes,
dulled their beauty, and cut deep fur.
rows in the fair, pale forehead. Hester
Deane was twenty four. The neighbors
said she was thirty, she had been II lone
~ old maid so long, Hester bowed her
head and did not contradict them.
This was the girl whom Henry Spen-
Ger, the famous portrait painter. met a.
streams Of New Hampshire. Her
nhadowy face, draped in the du'l, gray
twilight, met him one night as he WAS
returning 10 his lodgings, and the desire
seized him TO iasten it's dull beauty on
his canvas and takc IT back with him To
the city An introduction was an easy
thing among those honest country folks,
and he was soon established IN u lodger
ut tho old farm house, where c.ery
chance was seized upon TO add 10 the
scanty living that was wruhg with SO
much labor from the stubborn soil.
Poor Hester shuddered when in family
conclave the question WAS decided 10
take lodser,' tor she knew how much
il would sdd to her care. Then when
the demand came upon her To SIT Tor her
portrait, Hester was bewildcrcd. Where
should she find the ti"Ie? But she did
find It and those long sittings gave her
the rest she SO much needed. She was
less tired-poor Hester although she
knew il not.
Now the picture was finished, and
Hester's first thought upon its conclus
ion was the weeks ironing that yet re-
manned a damp and wrinklcd mass in
the great clothcs.basket. Thus it was
WAS that she turned so YEARLY away
from the tair portrait OF herself in tho
parlor TO face this burden of uncongenial
labor that waited for her in the kitchen.
Henry Spencer looked after her as she
passed out, and over the gentle face OF
The artist came an expression of tender
pity. Theh he looked at the picture
tie fine eyes, with the dull cloud IN
their depths - and the fancy came To
him, q will paint another picture, and
call it Sunshine
As Hester was standing in tho kiich.
en- door that evening the artist came and
took his place by her side. Hester,
want a companion piece for Shadow.
Will you help me find u model 2
will not Bessie May do, Sirg'
The shook his head as he thought
Of the belle of the heishboring village,
with crimped looks and simpering smile
mo, no. Hester not Bessie
Il do not know any other, SIR"
There is no hurry ! shall find heI
IT you will help me. But | mean &c
rest for awhile first
Hester looked at him. Rest! What
did he know of work, this prosperou.
man, whose brush was the magic wand
like the water that rushed from the rock
nj the touch OF MoSes's rod
yes Hester, rest. | know il makes
yen smile-a lazy man like me. But
not another stroke of work shall my
paintbrush do until
Until what, sirT
"Until have found the model fol
Sunshine
tie was standing close to her now
aud the bright, winning smile that won
the hearts of all who knew him wax,
an echo in Hester's heart, tor the cloud,