Smyrna times., 1875-10-06
The Model for Sunshine" /"

The picture was finished, and the painter
stood for q moment before it with the |
quiet, satisfied air of a man who knows his |
work is we'll done.
"Come and look at it, Hester. Tell me
what you think of Shadow"
The tired sitter rose from her chair and
came round in front of the easel. Wearily
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 a gleam of brightness in their
shadowy depths; only that earnest, patient
look full of gloom and darkness.
"Does it please you, Sir?'
ayes, Hester-and you?"
81 think it is like me-" answered the
girl, signing. Then she gathered up that
mass of dark hair that the painter had
disarranged to suit the purposes of his
picture, and turning slowly away, asked
him, " Do you need me any longer!"
Not to-day, thank you"
farmhouse parlor that the artists ingenuity
had converted 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, because they were quiet. But
this burden of life pressed sore upon Hes
ter's shoulders, and the lash that drove her
on from one arduous duty to another never
rested.
| Hester's home was an old farmhouse in
New England, perched upon a bleak New
Hampshire hill. Her only companion was
the invalid step-mother, whose bitter tongue
stung her quivering soul with wounds no
less hard to bear because the instrument
that inflicted them was so contemplate
Her father was a good man, but cold and
hard as the rocks that surrounded his
humble dwelling; and Jim, the only Other
member of the family, was a thoughtless
boy, whose mischief and carelessness made
, Hester many an extra hour of labor.
In the shadow her life had lain, this CIR
with the low, broad forehead, behind which
: was stored an education that would have
enabled man long ago to achieve comfor
, and independence. Here in this old brown
farmhouse she lived and worked, -un
S warmed by love, uncheered by sympathy
9 until the GOODNESS and gloom settled int,
, her dark eyes, dulled their beauty, ant
9 cut deep burrows in the fair pale forehead
}, Hester Deane was twenty-four. The neigh
e bors said she was thirty, she had been
0 lonely old maid so long. Hester bowed he
!, head and did not contradict them.
G This was the girl whom Henry Spencer
d the famous portrait-painter, met as he wa
e wandering among the trout streams of Ne,
n Hampshire. Her shadowy face, draped i
:. the dull gray twilight, met him one nigh
d as he was returning to his lodgings, an
e the desire seized him to fasten its du
beauty on his canvas and take it back wit
e him to the city. An introduction was a
is easy thing among these honest countr
g folk, and he was soon established as
r lodger at the old farmhouse, where ever
Ks chance was seized upon to add to Il
90 scanty living that was wrung with SO muc
he labor from the stubborn SOIL
as Poor Hester shuddered when in fami
IS. conclave the question was decided to "tal
ne a lodger," for she knew how much it wou
ed add'to her care. Then when the demar
ne came upon her to sit for her potrait, Hest
rd was bewildered. Where should she fiji
the timer But she did find it, and tho
er long sittings gave her the rest she so mu
ch needed. She was less tired-poOr Heste
nd although she knew it not.
ny Now the picture was finished, and Heste
lat first thought upon its conclusion was
us weeks ironing that yet remained dar
'ry and wrinkled mass in the great cloth
nd basket. Thus it was that she turned
no wearily away from the fair portrait of h
DC self in the parlor to face this burden of |
he congenial labor that waited for her in
ing kitchen.
ND Henry Spencer looked after her as /
'ek passed out of his sight, and over the gen
face of the artist came an expression
out tender pity. Then he looked at the pict
gm- the fine eyes, with the dull cloud in th
ldi- depths-and the fancy came to him,
she will paint another picture, and-call it s
are shine.'"
ing AS Hester was standing at the kitcl
adv door that evening the artist came and Y
his place by her side, Hester, / wal