The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-10-28
Shall read Won the poem. Hester 2

Shall read you the poem, Hesterr
A CLEAN of pleasure shot mp into the
duh eyes, and the girl answered with a
halt GREATNESS accent that showed the
deep poetic nature underneath the
cold exterior, Il should like il so much
Then, after that every day, when sup
per was concluded and those weary dish
es back again in their places, Hester
would come ont on the old porch, and
Henry Spencer would read her Moore's
lovely melodies ard stories until twilight
forced them 10 close the book. Some
times he would coax her away from the
cid farm house to wander over the hills
and watch the golden glory of the sun
set as it faded away into shadowy night.
Then he would talk 10 hor of other sun
sets, other lands, were these same sun
beams glinted over icy peaks, or shone
on the warm surface Of tropical sea.
Through his wonderful descriptions he
pushed aside the narrow bands that en-
comprised Hes,er's lite, and her heart
gradually grew light with the brightness
reflected from the artists own sunny
nature. She began to talk-the quiet
Hester, heretofore so silent because
there were none to listen 10 what she
had TO say. She was no longer dull
and stupid. Bright and sweet were the
merry iancies tina, fell from the smiling
lips. The shadow went ont of her
ewes, and the lines Of care smootbed
themselves away from her forehead.
There was wonderful change coming
slowly over Hester. Under the artists
skillful moulding, the weary girl, OPP
pressed with the dull routine Of disagree
able duties, was becoming q brilliant
beautiful woman. Life was no longer Il
dreary thing to be endured with patience,
but rich heritage full of glorious pos
sibiities. Aud Hester was happy. She
though, she had fonnd "A friend-did not
know, this inexperienced Hester, that
she was only wandering in the path
familiar to all maidcns since the time
when Eve loved Adam.
One day she asked the artist ifhe had
found the model for Sunshine.
He smiled and answered Yes
who is she 2
TO morrow you shall see.
In the morning Hester knocked al the
studio door, anxious to soc the face
whose portrait should be tho compan-
ion piece for her own.
where is she 2 asked the girl, ~ she
looked around the shabby room that con
tanned no other woman's form bat he'
own.
You shall see her presently, and
Henry Spencer smiled as his glance met
Hestcr's puzzled look.
Then he rose from the great oli-faeh-
toned arm chair where no had been sit
ting, and taking her gently BIZ the
hand, seated her in his own place. Rest
ing one arm on its ugly leather back, he
bent over her until the sunny bue eye-
looked full into the dark ones beneath
Il did not fni the model for Sun
SHINE Hester; created her. Up here
among the mountains, where even the
breath of the summer wind is cold and
chill, found lonely woman who had
lised life of unsuitable labor amidst
uncongenial companions until dreary
shadow of perpetual gloom lowered
round her brow and settled itself IN tho
depths of her dark eyes. But of late
the shadow has lifted, chased away, and
dare 10 think, by the sunshine Of love.
Look. Hester, at the reflection in that
lil:le cracked mirror yo' der. Do You
see the fair, sweet forehead so calm and
quite, aud the lovely eyes, bright with
the gittering light of happiness Z There
is the model tor Sunshine Now, lift
your IFS TO mine, and tell me that she
is my own-mine TO shine around ny
life, my heart, my home. Tell me, dar!-
ing, that have found my model and
my wife
No answer came from the trembling
lips beneath him, bat rs his own rested
on them they returned his kiss.
Sunshine was never painted-a we'd
ding interfercd. But ut the great eX-
hibition that autumn there was picture
called Shadow
A by-staadcr remarked. Il heard ii
was portrait OF Henry Spenccrs wife.
But another who had seen the bride,
replied, What nonsense " - Harper'S
Weekly.