The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-30

QeI DTObn6F wanted.
And Elsie herself was persuaded to
think 30 through Maggie's strong repre-
needed q deal of such urging before she
gave consent to sit as O. model before
the artist. It was hard to get her to
to look when she should, and
assume the proper expression Of eager
ness, half childish, half womanly.
which Cinderella may be supposed to
have worn, watching the preparations
for that dearly anticipated ball. The
long sunny curls would drop over those
shy eyes OF hers and the bashful color
burn in her checks whenever she met
Wilson's gaze, and as, Of course, he
was obliged to look at her often
enough else how could he paint herr
you may imagine that the picture made
slow progress In completion. Maggie
laughed to herself as, day after day,
she saw how few touches had been
added to the Cinderella, while, never
theless, the sittings were by no means
shortened. She laughed to herself
when, being called out OF the studio
sometimes for household duties, she
would come back and find Wilson's pal
let laid aside entirely and he turned
round from his painting, neglecting
1t altogether, while he talked animated
ly with Miss Elsie. True, her work was
not by; her fingers flew up and down
the seams as rapidly as ever, and she
did not make much answer to any
thing the artist said. But Maggie noted
the signs Of the times in the glow Of
pleasure that would often steal over her
fair face and the light that flashed and
softened 50 gloriously In her eyes some.
tlmes-a light born Of emotions which
the girl herself had not yet begun to
realize.
Maggie laughed, but che kept all her
merriment to herself. She would not
interfere to mar what her woman's eyes
told her well enough needed no help
from her. She did not even say @ saucy
thing to Wilson. and for this self-con-
troll we. must give her infinite credit.
The mischievous words burned upon
her tongue many u time, but she let
them cool off, and he, far-seeing man,
thought only how very guarded and cir
cumspect he had been that even Mag
gte's quick eyes could not see the influ-
ence that WIS daily gaining stronger
upon his heart.
However, the Cinderella came to q
terminus by and by; the last touch
had been bestowed, the last CLEAN
upon the soft, bright hair, the last
sweet rose tinge to the young face. The
picture stood completed, and very
charming in it's unique simplicity.
ut 10 very lovely" said Maggie, "and
the likeness is perfect" They were all
standing before 1t one afternoon, the
sunset rays were lingering around it,
shedding q special halo upon the Cinde-
rella's golden hair and beautiful face.
The likeness WAS perfect, indeed. even
to the half wistful, half eager express
sion on the faces Of both. But the
eagerness faded presently away from
Elsie's eyes, and only the wistful, sor-
rowing look remained, auivering upon
her lips and dropping her long eye
lashes. She turned away from the pic
ture silently and sat down busily to her
work. Wilson WAS strangely silent, too,
for him, and Maggie watched him hold
ing book in his hand, which he did
not read, with half wondering, half
fearful expectation in her heart. She
got up quietly by-and-by and stole out
OF the room, for the stiffness was grow
ing oppressive to her, and some pre-
sentiment told her that they two were
sufficient for themselves now, and
heart to heart would speak soon, need
ing no mediation from her.
The studio was breathlessly still for
minutes after she had left. Elsie's head
dropped very low and her needle flew
with blind speed through her work.
She thought those heart beats throb-
bling 80 wildly, thronging so tumultu-
ously that they almost exhausted her
breath, must be resounding through the
room as audibly as they echoed In her
own ears. She did not know that an
other heart near her was beating as
strongly, fluttering as timidly as her
own. For Wilson Barstow was young
still, unsophisticated In worldly wis
dom, and his first, strong love In his life
stirred and bewildered him as IL he had
been timid maiden.
He laid his book down presently, and
went over to the couch where the young
girl sat. She did not shrink from him
as he took q seat by her, though 1t was
the first time he had ever done 80; but
her face grew white, and her hand trem-
bled 80 that she could not guide the
needle. 1t was all In vain that she
called herself weak and foolish, and
struggled to regain calmne ss and self
possession the futtering pulses would
not be still, and she could only sit pow
erless and trembling awaiting her des-
tiny, ;,
before, and now the low.spoken word
thrilled to her heart and sent the blood
in a vivid rush to her cheeks again
don't you know what want to say to
you?"
How could she answer the eager, pas
sionate question ? She could not speak,
she could not look up; for heavier and
heavier dropped the lid over those sweet
eyes, and great tears filled them and
sobs swelled up to her throat-the only
utterance she could find for this blissful
dream of love and joy and happiness,
which seemed too sudden, too strange,
too wonderful for any reality.
Don't you KIN ow that I love you,
Elsie % and his hand prisoned in a
close grasp the little one lying power
less before him. Then, growing bolder,
for it was not withdrawn, "does not
your own heart answer to the love I
offer you fully, freely? Tell me. Elsie?'
he pleaded. And there is little need to
tell how the pleading was answered 80
to his own satisfaction that not words
and looks merely, but tenderest
caresses set soon the seal to this com.