The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-10-25

your discovery. Dot make public the
fruits of my late industry, beg"
what's 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,n the
young man persisted, much discom-
posed. & that really must insist
mo, you mustn't insist nor apollo
glze;" and Bertha's voice was SUPPORT
ed by chorus from the curious group.
"You're genius, you know. Now,
are we all heree First comes a study
OF foliage, and next the old bridge over
the creek. Very pretty. Foliage again
-rocks-moon shadows; how peculiar
those are! how light oh, how lovely!'
and she paused, enraptured by an ex-
quisite little color sketch of convol-
vuli.
"Oh, beautiful!n and "Mr. Kenneth.
how could you deny us the pleasure of
seeing thatP" were the outcries that fol-
lowed. -5- -..r
The maker of the sketch deigned no
answer, but looked sufficiently annoyed
as he stood in the door with folded
arms.
Kenneth's a lucky dog,n said a
young officer who had Just sauntered up
to the door with Alice. ssEvery thing
of his is perfection,
cit isn't the work, but the fellow that
does it, commented dandy by Bertha's
side.
"Oh, now we come to the character
studies! Here's Goliath to begin with,
and an Airy Fairy Lillian on the opposite
page. What a contrast! And oh, here's
the funniest charcoal study of toads!"
A laugh rose and grew as head after
head bent over the page. But it was
checked by an exclamation from Bertha,
who had turned leaf:
"Why, here's a St. Cecilia, and, as l
live, it's the image of Miss Cuthbert!"
Every eye sought the governess's
face, as she stood by the balnstrade gaz-
ing out at the moonlight with absent
eyes. Confused BY the general notice,
she said, hastily 80, met" and glanced
from the picture upheld by Bertha to
the face of the artist. The latter met
her look with another, half eager, half
deprecating, and dark red flush rose
to his cheek as he tried to stammer a
formal apology.
''l can not excuse the liberty l have
taken, but can beg Miss Cuthbert's
pardon. Her attitude and expression as
she sat at the organ the other evening
struck me and haunted me until made !
a sketch and christened it ST. Cecilia"
i" Excellent! That heavy coil of hair,
that sweep of drapery, and that absorb
ed look are all perfect /
"And so like her!''
"Mr. Kenneth must have made quite
a study of the lady's face and figure,''
Alice Fleming said, with a somewhat
derisive smile. ''He ought to have
vote of thanks''
''But am afraid Miss Cuthbert, on
the contrary,is displeased with me-" the
proprietor of the sketch-book remarked, |
1T
"Indeed no." the governess fastened
to say. 81 am very glad you thought
my face worth sketching. 1t has never
been so much honored before.''
"She owes you more substantial
thanks, Kenneth, {" said Mr.. Finnis, with
a laugh. "She ought to take the very
attitude you have depicted, and repay
you by giving us song. All, Miss Cuth-
bert, don't say MOI"
The governess shrank back. 1,t
"You must excuse me. I'm not in
5he mood for singing.' 43]
Must one be in the mood?',
"Pray oblige Mr. Kenneth, Miss Cuth-
oert,'' said Bertha, maliciously.
81 really can not.''
"When she says she can not, she
means she will be urged"
The importantly, half Joking, half
serious, was continued, until Alice Flem-
ng, who was already annoyed by the
'flair of the portrait, quite lost
patience. y,F
" never before,n she said coldly,
'have seen Miss Cuthbert attempt the
ole of the prima donna in society. She
loes it very well; but really think we
lave had enough of it.'' |
Utter and amazed silence followed
his speech. No one knew what to say.
Amy Cuthbert crimsoned to the tenn
lies, and walked straight to the piano, +
hard to keep back the tears
hat threatened to overflow.
Still possessed by the sadness and ex-
lausted by the excitement of the after
loon, the effort at singing had seemed
But no sooner had she
ouched the keys than she became con-
cious of an imperative desire-almosta a
ecessity-of expressing her mood in
music: Stopping abruptly in, light
relude, she tossed aside the sheet OF
music before ger. Only a few days be-
ore she had get to music little poem ),
hat had str1ssk her fancy, and now,
Without naturalization She shnnan 10 :.