Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-10-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE MODEL FOR " SUNSHINE. ;

think OF shadow"
The tired sitter rose from her chair and came
| round in front of tho easel. YEARLY she pushed
the hoavy weight Of chestnut hair OIL her pale
forehead, and ga2ei long and earnestly into the
dull dusky eyes Of the picture. They wero like
her own, never gleam of brightness in their
shadowy depths only that earnest, patient look,
| full Of gloom and darkness.
'Does it please you, sir 2"
'Yes, llester-and You Z"
" think it IL like me, answered the girl,
| sighing. Then she gathered 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 longerY''
Not to-day, thank You"
Hester Deane went away from the old farm.
house parlor that the artists ingenuity had con
| verted into temporary studio, and proceeded
| to take up the burden OF ifesagain. 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 canvass happy, because they were quiet.
But this burden of life pressed sore on Hester's
shoulders, and the lash which drove her on from
one arduous duty to another never rested.
Hesters home was an old farm house in Now
England, perched upon bleak New Hampshire
| hill. Her only companion the invalid step
mother, whose bitter tongue stung her quiver-
| ing soul with wounds not less hard to bear be-
contemplate. Her father WAS good man, but
cold and hard as the rocks that surrounded liis
| humble dwelling aud jim, tho only other mem.
Der of the family, was a thoughtless boy, whose
mischief and careessness made Hester many all
extra hour OF labor.
In this shadow her life had lain, this girl with
tho low. broad forehead behind which was stored
| ali education that would have enabled n man
| long ago to achieve comfort and Independence.
Here in this old brown farm house she lived and
worked. unwarmed ~ love, uncheered by sym.
pathy, until the coldness and gloom settled into
her dark eyes, duled their beauty, and cut deep
burrows in the fair pale forehead. Heeter Deane
was twenty-four. The neighbors said she was
thirty, she had been lonely old maid 80 long.
Hester bowed her head and did not contradict
them.
This was the girl whom Henry Spencer met
ar he was wandering among the trout streams OF
New Hampshire. Her shadowy face, drsped in
the dull gray twilight met him one night as he
was returning to his lodgings and tho desire
seized him to fasten its dull beauty on His can
vase and take it back to the city. An introduc.
ton was an easy thing among these honest coun-
thy folks, and lle was soon established AZ lodger
at the old farm house. whero any chance was
seized upon to add to the scanty living that WAS
wrung with 80 much labor from tue stubborn
soil
Poor Hester shuddered whom in family con-
cave the question was decided TO !" take a odg-
er," for she know how much it would add to her
care Then when tho demand came upon her to
sit for her portrt, Hester was bewldered Where
should she find the time and those long sttings
gave her the rest she 30 much needed. She was
less tired-poor Hester although she knew il
not.
Nov the picture was Gnished aud Hester b
first thought upon its conclusion was the week I.
ironing that yet remained damp and wfinkled
mass in the great clothes basket. Thus it was
that she turned 30 YEARLY from the portrait Of
herself in the parlor to face this burden of un-
congenial labor that waited for her in tire
kitchen.
Henry Spencer looked after her as she passed
out of bis sight, and over the gentle face OF the
artist came an expression of tender pity. Then
he looked at the picture-the fine eyes with tho
dull clouds in the depths-and the fancy came to
him, " will paint another picture, and call it
Sunshine
AS Hester was standing at tho kitchen door
that evening the artist came and took his place
by her side. Hester, | want companion
piece for Shadow Will you help mo find a
model 2"
"Will not Bessie May do, Sir p
The artist shook his head as he thought of the
belle Of the neighborng village, with the crimp'
ed locks and simpering smile No, no, Hos
ter not Bessie"
II do not know any othor, Sir r
"There is no hurry ; | shall find her if you
will help mo. But mean to rest for while
first "
Hester looked at him. Ilest What did he
know of work, this prosperous man, whose
brush was the magic wand that brought golden
shower around him, like the water that rushed
from the rock at tho touch of Moses rod
"Y Yes Hester, rest | know it makes YOU
smile-a lazy man like nc. But not another
stroke of work shall my pant-brush do until
/" Until what, Sir.
until have found the model for Sun
shine = "
| lie was standing near her now, and the bright
winning smile that won the hearts OF all who
know him woke an echo in Hester's heart, for
the clouds lifted LITTLE, and she smiled back at
BIN.
"When do you think you will lind her 2"
81 fancy see her coming in tile distance ever
now
"Whom is she like 2"
"Uid you ever read Tom Moore, Hester y
| Poor Hester the only poets she had ever stu
| died were such cheerful singers as Milton and
| Cowper and DIR. Young-voumes lent her by the
minister, who would not have allowed the pres
ence of a line written by the merry bard in lii
/ house.
| She shook her head.
| 'Well, my Sunshine will be like young Nour-
| malia, the light of Harem, Dark-eyed like al
| Eastern beauty, with clouds of dusky chestnut
hair, she shall possess, not
| "A beauty forever unchanglngly bright,
Like the long sunny lapse of summers day iight
| But that loveliness ever in motion which plays
| Like the light upon autumns shad0wy days.
Shall read you the poem, HesterY
| CLEAN OF pleasure buOU up llluO ttlo ullil eyes
and the girl answered with half-breathesH ac
cent that showed the deep poetic nature unde
| the cold exterior, 81 should like it 80 much"
Then after that, every day when supper wal
concluded and those weary dishes back again IL
their places, Hester would come ont on the oil,
porch and Henry Spencer would read he
| Moore's lovely poems and stories until twilight
forced them to close the book. Sometimes III
would coax her away from the old farm-hous
to wander over the hills and watch the goldel
glory of the sunset rs it faded away into th
shadowy night. Then lie would talk to her o
other sunsets, other lands, whero these sam
sunbeams gliutod over icy peaks or shone o.
the warm surface of tropical sea. IiirouSi
| his wonderful descriptions llc pushed aside lh
narrow bands that encompassed Testers ME
| and led her into a new world OF beauty. An
the girls heart gradually grew light with Til
brightness reelected from the artists own sum
nature. She began to talk-this quiet Hester
, heretofore 20 silent because there were none
listen to what she had to say. She was no long
er dull and stupid. Bright and sweet were til
{ merry fancies that fell from her smiling lips
The shadow went ont Of her eyes, and the line
/, of care smoothed themselves away from he
forehead.
I There was a wonderful change coming slow
Y over Hester. Under the artists skillful moult
ing, the weary girl, oppressed with the dull rol
: tine OF dsagroeable dutief, was becoming bri
y liant, beautiful woman. Life was no longer
: dreary thing to be endured with patience, but
rich heritage full of glorious possibilities. Al
Hester was happy. She thought she had fonr
a friend-she WAC only wandering in tho la