Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-09-06
The PICTURE.
II was lust N the Shadow Of tht

\ It was lust IN the SHADOW Of the
ruined wall which lowered above
the blue shining waters Of the r iver,
and when the tides was bigh
sdropped down the long, trailing
hvy vine to kiss she laughing waves
7they sat, two women! One, with
bier arm resting upon a brokenscol-
umn. her dark Dyes with the mem :
Eory Of the lon ago stirring their
bbrilliancy into life, gazed, afars ont
atthe foatingclouds, her face 3 sad
refestlonsof inc past;r while the
other, many yesFs younger, shalf
h1He0 at her feet, and With q smile
upon her fed lips, andsthe Hight OF
Ehope in her glorious @eyes, played
with'the light mess upon the Bank
lbeside her.
1T was perfect picture; for the
Twilight crept in and fell across
the foreground just enough to bring
the wondrous beauty into relief.
To the artist eyes of Ralph Ber'
tram, who, wandering down the
river bank, came upon them, it was
d perfect harmony of light and
shade-an exact subject for a mas
terpiece. Then and there he sat
down and sketched, until the dark
ness shrouded the whole and shut
it from his view. He took his
sketch hcmc, and for hours sat and
gazed upon it, cnraptured with the
glorious beauty of the faces. Who
were they, or rather who was she?
Who was the girl with her dreamy,
happy face, and dark, melting eyes,
with their hopefulncss and trust F!
When morning dawned. he went
down again to the rivers bank, and
watched and waited for hours; but
they never came. He inquired Of
every passer; but no one knew
them. One would say: "Ah, yes,
[ have seen them-two women, one
old and sad, the ether young and
happy. l Go not know their
names."
Another would declare he was
never aware of their existence; and
TINS Ralph found his search vain
one. He went on working day and
night upon his picture, and at last
it was complete; and when he went
up to his studio in the city, and
placed it there, his friends held up
their hands in admiration and
worshiped it; and before many day IS
it found place in the most re-
nowned art gallery, and all the
world went crazy over it.
Thus Ralph Bcrtram became
celebrated; and orders came upon
him faster than he could fill them.
He became the lion of the season;
and far and near his praises were
sung. But to him 1t was as nothing
when thoughts of his beloved ttpic-
tture came; and hour after hour he
sat and gazed upon that beautiful
face like one entranced.
= 81 believe, Mr.. Bertram, that
you are positively in love with that
young face ~ said a belle, as she
came upon him in the gallery
;sWas it from lite o. your own
imagination that you painted it z"
8ssFrom litcp' g @s~
"Impossible /! It must have been
a dreami No Irving woman was
ever blessed with-such beauty"
eyes, one -
The lady went away, and before
night one half the world declared
him crazy.
must be so, for no woman
akcF possessed HNEl reaF beadtyA 1t
was dream, nefeAlfaliucinatfon!"
BeFtram heard it all and laughed,
tPerHiiance the day 0night seoh1e
when he could bring this wondrous
beauty before them and convince
them; aud with this.hope he labored
and sought her far and wide.>
Itwas a cold, bitter might, and
round the corners the wind swept,
bringing with it ftful gusts of
hard, cutting sleet, and penetrating
to the bore every unfortunate being
who chanced to be abroad. Bertram
came briskiy down the street from
his studio, warmly wrapped in
heavy coat, with vision of his
pleasant rooms before him, and
lightly humming an opera. He had
turned from the principal street,
and was walking along where all
wassqniet, when he suddenly came
upon two women, who stood near
theiron railing in front of the
house.
"Mother,o said one, cit is but
little further. Do try to keep up ]
Here, lean pporr me- Mot3sr
mother pc 49, {
She was vaily tryingsto snppSIt
the sinking form, bat not all her
strength could preyent her from
falling. And Bcfrafff spra'fg for