Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-01-12

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 the
touch of Moses's rod2
ayes, Hester, rest. Iknow it makes you
smile--a lazy man like me. But not an-
other stroke OF work shall my paint-brush
do until"
"Until what, Sir2'
"Until have found the model for sun
shine ="
He was standing close to her now, and
the bright winning smile that won the
hearts of all who knew him woke an echo
In Hester's heart, for the clouds lifted a lit
tie, and she smiled back at him.
"When do you think you will find her ?"
81 fancy see her coming in the distance
even now"
"Whom is she likeH"
"Did you ever read Tom Moore, Hes
ter?"
Poor Hester the only poets she had ev-
er studied were such cheerful singers as
Milton and Cowper and DIR. YOung-yOl-
umes lent her by the minister, who would
NOT nave hllONtO n llhb Nihtth ny NV
merry Irish bard in his house.
She shook her head.
"Well, my Sunshine will he like young
Nourmahal, the Light Of the Harem. Dark
eyed like an Eastern beauty, with clouds
of dusky chestnut hair, she shall possess,
not
"A beauty forever unchangingly bright,
Like the long sunny lapse Uf a summers days light,
But that loyeliness evef in motion, which plays
Like the light upon autumn's soft shadowy days.
Shall read you the poem, Hester2
A glean of pleasure shot up into the dull
eyes, and the girl answered with half
breathess accent that showed the deep po-
etic nature underneath the cold exterior,
81 should like it so much"
Then afler that, every day when supper
was concluded and those weary dishes
back again in their places, Hester would
out on tie old porch, and Henry Spencer
would read her Moore's lovely melodies
and stories until twilight forced them 10
close the book. Sometimes he would coax
her away frCm the old farmhouse TO wan
der over the hills and watch the golden glo
ry of the sunset as it faded away into shad-
owy night. Then he would talk to her of
other supsets, other lands, where those
same sunbeans glinted over icy peaks or
shone on the warm surface Of a tropical
sea. Through his wonderful descriptions
he pushed aside the narrow bands that en-
compassed Hesters life, and led her into
new word of beauty. And the girls heart
gradually grew light with the brightness
reflected from the artists own sunny ma
ture. She began TO talk-this quiet Hes
ter, heretofore 50 silent because there were
none to listen 10 what she had TO say. Sue
was no longer dull and stupid. Bright and
sweet we're the merry fame es that fell from
the smiling lips. The shadow went out Of
her eyes, and the lines of care smoothed
hemselves away from her forehead.
There was wonderful change coming
slowly over Hester. Under the artists
skilful moulding, the weary girl, oppress-
ed with the dull routine of disagreeable
duties, was becv ming brilliant, beautiful
woman. Life was no longer a dreary
thing 10 be endured with patience, but
a rich heritage full OF glorious possibilities.
And Hester was happy. She thought she
u
was only wandering in the path familiar to
all maidens since the time when Eve loved
Adam.
One day she asked the artist If he had
found the model for Sunshine"
He smiled and answered "Yes."
"Who is she?"
"To morrow you shall see."
In the morning Hester knocked at the
studio door, anxious TO SEE the face whose
portrait should be the companion piece for
her own.
"Where is she?', asked the girl as she
looked around the shabby room that con-
tanned no other woman's form but her
own.
You shall see her presently" and Hen
ry Spencer smiled as his glance met Hes
ter's puzzled look.
Then he rose from the great old fashioned
arm chair where he had been sitting and
taking her gently by the hand, seated Ter
in his own place. Resting one arm on its
ugly leather back, he bent over her until
the sunny blue eyes looked into the depths
Of the dark ones bereath.
II did moi find the model for 'SunshiRe,'
Hester; l created her. Up here among the
mountains, where even the breath OF the
summer wind Is cold and chill, / found a
lonely woman who had lived a life of un-
suitable labor amidst uncongenial compan.
ions until a dreary shadow OF perpetual
gloom lowered round her brow and settled
itself in the depths of her dark eyes. But
Of late the shadow has lined, chased away,
1 dare to think, by the sunshine Of love.
Look, Hester at the reflection in that little
cracked mirror yonder. Do you see the
fair, sweet forehead, so calm and quiet, and
the lovely eyes bright with the glittering
light of happinessH There is the model
for Sunshine Now, Hester lin your lips
to mine, and.tell me that she is my own
mine to shine around my life, my heart,
my home. Tell me darling, that have
found my model and my wife,"
No answer came from the tempting lips
beneath him, but as his own rested on them
they returned the kiss.
Sunshine" was not painted-a wedding
interfsred. But at the great exhibition that
autu mn there was picture called "Shad-
ow."
A bystonder remarked, "I heard 1t was
a portrait Of Henry Spencer's WIFE"
But another who had seen the bride, re-
piled, "What nonsense P'-Harper'S Week
W