Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-09-29
THE PICTURE.

ivy vine to kiss the laughing wave-they
sat, two women One, with her arm
resting upon broken column, her dark
ewes with the memory Of long ago stir
ring their briliancy into life. gszed sfsr
oat q the floating clouds, her face sad
reflection Of the past; while the other
many years younger, half knelt at her
feet, and with a smile upon her red lips,
and the light Of nope in her glorious eyes.
played with the light moss upon the bank
beside her.
1t was perfect picture for the twi-
light crept in and fell scross the fore
ground just enough to bring the wonder
Gus beauty into rellef.
To the artist eyes Of Ralph Bertram,
who. wandering down the river bank.
came upon them, it was a perfect har-
mony OF light and shade-an exact sub
iect for masterpiece Then md there he
sat down, and skptched until the dark
ness shroudpd the whole end shut II from
his view He took hi. sketch home. and
for hours sat md gazcd upon il eurap'ur-
ed with the glorious beauty or the faces
Wh1 are they, or rather. who was she
Who wa. The girl with hor dreamy, hap-
pv fnce, and dark, melting eyes, with
their hopcfulness and trust?
Whom merning dswned be went down
agsin 10 the rivers bank. and watched
and waited for hour, bnt they never
came Ha inquired Of every passer hut
no one knew them. One would ssy.
"Ah, vos, hsve seen thrm-tso women
one old snd sad the other Young and
happy 30 not know their nsmos"
And another would declare he wss new
er aware of their existence; and thus
Ralph found bis search vain one.
He went on working day and night
upon his picture, and at last It WAS com
plete and when he went up to his studio
in the city, and placed il there. hi. friends
held up their hands in admiration snd
worshippcd it and before many davs It
found place in the most renowned art
gallery, end the world went crazy over it
Thus Ralph Bertrsm became celplrst-
cd ; and orders came upon him fa 4ter han
be could Gll them He became the lion
Of the season and far and near his prais-
es were sung But to him it was nothing
when thoughts Of his beloved picture
came; and hour after hour be sat ard
cazod upon that beautiful face like one
entanced.
" believe Mr., Benram, that you are
positively in love with that Young face -
said belle as she came upon him in the
gallery. "Wae it from life or your own
imagination that painted it ?"
From life -
impossible! It must have been a
dream NJ living woman was blessed
with such beauty"
d" Yes, one -
The lady went away, md before night
one-bslf the world was jealous OF his pic
ture and doclafcd him crHzy.
81 must be 50, for no womsn ever pos
sossed such rare beauty II wn~ drosm
mere halueiootion I"
Bertnm hos'd Il all ard 'sugbcd. Per-
chance the day might come when he
could bring this woudrous beauty before
them and convince them :; md with this
hope he labofed and sought her far and
wide.
1t WAS a cold, bitter night. aud round
the corners the wind swept, bringing with
it ftlul gusts Of hard, cutting eleet. and
penetrating TO the bone. every unfortu
nate being vino chanccd to he abroad .-
Bertrsm came briskly down the street
from his studio, warmly wrapped in -
heavy coat, with vision Of his pleasant
rooms before him, and lightly humming
M opera. He bad turned from the prin-
/ cipal street. aud was walking along where
all was quiet, when be suddenly came
upon two women, who stood near the iron
railing in front Of the house.
Mother" said one, 1T is but little
further. Do y.to keep up Here, lean
upon me ! Mother, mother I"
Sine WAS veinly trying to support the
sinking form, hn. not all her strength
could prevent her from falling. And
Bertram ,plang forward in time to re-
ceiye her in his strong arms as She fel
back.
" Mother, oh. my mother !" was the
wild, despsring cry.
" Don't be alarmed, Miss She ha'
only tainted. My abode is here, clo,e a
hand, and if you viii assist me, | vii
take your mother there"
The young weman obeyed him withou
II word, and with her assistance Ralph
bore the senseiess torm to hi, apartments
There was 10 light within the room, auC
after placing the lnauimatc form upon TO-
soia he lighted the gas. As the soft IA
dance ,hone through the room, he sp an;
back with m exclamation OF surprise al,
delight. His pictures The nee OF hit
idoiiled one A the sound, The youuge
started up and looked toward him. How
besutiful she WAS, with her hat ia In,
back and the damp waves OF chesnu
hair c,inging TO her broad white forehea,
and the great lustrou< eyes fixed on hin
in wonder! Bertram could not spea k
" My mother !" she began with quiv
Ing lips.
Pardon me forgot mysolf."
And he brought wine, cordials, and la
bored until the blood stole back in ittl
hushes, and the dark eyes opened. Fo
several moments she did not seem to an
derstand the strange surroundings bu