Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-10-11

| HeaVeD, no one Woulu ever kuoW VI
it, this idyl of dead summer, thil
idyl that she would bury in the sun
set of her thirtieth birthday!
Is it easy for woman to see thu
glory fade from her life--to look for.
| ward brayely over waste of gray
cherries years that brighten only al
the dawn of heaven breaks upon their
close ? You who think it easy would
have wondered at Amy Cuthbert's
haggard face as she sat with the dusk
gathering around her, gazing out al
the distant hills, aud confronting thai
prospect of
"Long, mechanic pacings TO and fro,
| And set, dull life, and apathetic end"
1t was late when a knock at hel
door was followed by the delivery o.
a message
sIf Miss Cuthbert is not lndisposed
Mrs. Fleming would be glad to have
her come down. Miss Bertha cans
sing without her accompaniment
Rousing herself with an effort, the
governess was astonished to see
moonlight already silvering terrace
and lawn. The afternoon had long
passed, and merry voices below told
her that, as usual, the Flemings' hos
pitable parlors were filled with guests
How could she go down? But me-
chemically she had said Yes to the
servant-maid SO as mechanically she
rose and dressed, removing as far as
possible the traces of tears, and say
ing bitterly to herself, as she cast a
last glance at the pale face reflected
in the mirror, what does it matter
how / look?'
The maelstrom of gay life surged
around her as she reached the hail.
Bertha Fleming, followed by noisy
party, rushed in from the terrace,
waving a book over her head.
'Oyez! Oyer! Come here and i'm
prove your chances. I've purloined
Mr.. Kenneth's sketch-book--the same
he refused to exhibit
The owner of the book, who had
been running over light air at the
pIdHOp opi any W MS icCt
sPray, Miss Bertha was the vexed
remonstrance which he tried hard to
make polite. don't take advantage Of
your discovery. Don't make public
the fruits of my late industry, beg.
whats the use of begging, Mr.
Kenneth? After being shameless
enough to steal the book from the
pocket of your blouse coat, you might
know / would also disregard your
prayers
But the sketches are so poor, the
young man persisted, much discom.
| posed, that I really must insist
mo, you mustn't insist nor apollo.
| gize : and Bertha's voice was sup
ported by chorus from the curious
group. you're genius, you know
Now, are we all here? First comes 9
study of foliage, and next the ole
bridge over the creek. Very pretty
Foliage again-rocks-moon shad
ows; how peculiar those are how
light Lob, how lovelyI and she
paused, enraptured by an exquisite
little color sketch of convolvuli.
| oh, beautiful = and sMr. Kenneth
how could you deny us the pleasure
of seeing that p were the outcriel
that followed.
The maker of the sketch deigned
no answer, but looked sufficiently an
noyed as he stood in the door will
folded arms.
'Kenneth's lucky dog said {
young officer who had just sauntereC
up to the door with Alice. Every
thing of his is perfection
1T isn't the work, but the fellow
that does it, commented dandy BY
Bertha's side.
ooh, now we come to the charac
ter studies Here's a Goliath to be-
gin with, and an Airy Fairy Lillian
on the opposite page. What con
trast And oh, here's the funniest
charcoal study of toads =
A laugh rose and grew as head az
ter head bent over the page. But il
was checked by an exclamation
from Bertha, who had turned leaf
'Why, here's st. Cecilia, and, as
live, it's the very image of Miss Cuth
bert =
Every eye sought the eoverness's
face as she stood by the balusEadt
gazing out at the moonlight with alb
sent eyes. Confused by the genera
notice, she said, hastily, OF me !" and
glanced from the picture upheld BY
Bertha to the face of the artist. The
latter met her look with anothe r, hal
eager. half deprecating, and darl
red flush rose to his cheek as he
tried to stammer formal apology
Il can not excuse the liberty l have
taken, but can beg Miss Cuthbert''
pardon. Her attitude and express
ion as she sat at the organ tho othel
evening struck me and haunted me
until made sketch and christenet
it St. Cecilia
Excellent 4! That heavy coil o.
hair, that sweep of drapery, and tina
absorbed look are all perfect
| sAnd so like her !.
] sMr Kenneth must have made quite
a study of the lady's face and figure,
Alice Fleming said, with somewha
derisive smile. He ought to have
vote of thanks.
| But / am afraid Miss Cuthbert, or
the contrary, is displeased NTH me,
the proprietor of the sketch book re-
marked, doubtfully.
Indeed no. the governess hasten
ed to say. Il am very glad you
thought my face worth sketching. Il
has never been so much honored be
fore
She owes you more substantial
thanks, Mr.. Kenneth said Mr.. Fin
mis-, with laugh. She ought Il
, take the very attitude you have de
picted, and repay you by giving us {
song All, Miss Cuthbert, don't sa,
no i
The goyerness shrank back.
You must excuse me, am not il
a mood for singing
sMust one be in the mood p
sPrays oblipe Mr.. Kenneth. Mis-