The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-10-04
The Wrong Picture.

'ltttN ld't very pfellg ltcc, III
deed !"
| turned the little photograph upside
down, held it OFF at arms length to get a
perspective View, and scrutinized it close
ly with my eyeglasses.
Henry Wallis looked pleased, d man
naturally likes to have his 'intended"
admired and appreciated.
80 this is the Bessie Armitage | have
heard so much of. Really, Wallis, she
does credit to Your taste. \ blonde
suppose ?"
Fair as lily leaf, with blue eyes and
the sunnest golden hair, y
1t was all very we'll for Henry Wallis to
90 into ecstaclcs about his palld, fair
haired Bessie Armitage he had never
met the glances Of Cecilia Nernon's mag
nlilcent dark eyes.
Yet, after all, Henry was better off
than | was for he was securely engaged
to the dimpled, yellow tressed little OBJ
lect OF his affections, While | was yet, as
1t We're, iii outer darkness, uncertain
whether my peerless Cecilia returned my
ardent devotion, or whether she secretly
inclined toward that unprinciped fellow,
Hugh Tretol.
There is no sense in procrastinating
matters any further said half aloud,
as walked up and down the rather lin
tied domains Of my little study. "I have
been Il doubling fool quite long enough"
I'm afraid wasn't very aimabe mem
Der OF the domestic circle that afternoon.
''l think Paul is growing crosser every
day" said my sister, Struggling her little
plump shoulders. mamma, | wish you'd
speak to him.
But my mothel-bless her wise old
soul knew better than that. She only
looked at me over the rims OF her specta-
clos. and went on darning stockings.
Paul is worried with authorship, |
suppose" said she, apologeticaIIy. paul
will do wen enough if YOU only let him
alone
| went up to my room after dinner and
made al elaborate toilet but all the
pains bestowed upon it served only to
heighten the general effect Of my awk-
Wardness
row" quoth | to myself, abruptly stop
ping, with my cravat half tied
no; might be a coward, but | was
not such an unmitigated pOltroon as that
had begun the enterprise, and | would
carry it through if it cost Inc the last
drop Of my hearts blood. Moreover, |
had had an inspiration, An entirely new
and original method Of putting the mo-
mentuous query had occurred to me.
Hang Hugh Tre1oil !" | exclaimed
gleetully, half aloud, though there was no
ear to hear my ejaculation. "I'll win the
dark-eNcd treasure yet, i'll spite OF him !"
opened my writing case, ana carefully
took out little carte de visite wrapped
in tissue paper, and tendcrly laid away
with pink silk perfume satchel that
Minnie had made for me once. 1t was
Ceclia's picture she had allowed me TO
steal it away from her, with scarcely Il
remonsrrance a week before Then was
the time | ought to have proposed but,
like a timorous, doubling moon-cult, as
was, had let the golden tide of oppor-
tunity slip unnnproyed away from me
drew Bessie Armtage's vacant, doll
like lace from its envelope, and compar-
ed the two with Il thrill of triumph in my
heart.
'COlorless water beside crimson, spark
linz champagne. Il pale violet i'll the
shadow Of Il royal rose pearls eclipsed by
the fiery flash of diamonds :" exclaimed.
"llpnry Willls's taste may he very correct
and classical, but give me my radiant
brunette Those bcached out beauties
don't correspond with my ideal Of peliec-
tlun.
1t was lovely spring evening as en-
tered the wide gravelled path that led up
to the broad portico Of the Vernon man
sion. Mr.. Nernon sat there smoking his
mecrschaum
"Won't you sit down ana havea smoke ?"
he demanded Hospitality. Its I. real
luxury to he able 10 take Whit ont Of
doors after being shut up in the house in
the winter. Or may be you'd prefer 60
ing in to see Cecil p
Sensible old gentleman, he had not
forgotten his own young days. | intimat-
ed, not without considerable awkward
ness, that the special object of my visit
had been to F!Set Cecil"
well, she's in the parior, all by her
self" said he, good humoredly motion
ing me in, "Waik in-walk ill.,"
Cecilia Vernon was sitting in the par
lor alone, US her father had said, the
bright center of 4 cheerful circle Of lamp
light. \ bit of crochet work was wing
in her lap, and an open volume Of poems
poems that | had sent ler-was lying
on the table.
Cecilia Vernon was always lovely tC
look upon. in my signt; tonight, how
ever, she seemed more than ordinarily
beautiful.
sat down, and hegan hesi-atingly up
on the never failing topic Of the weather
\ proposal had seemed the easiest thing
in the world as walked along the deWy
hedges of the peaceful star lighted road,
contemplating it from afar off but now
that | was face to face with it, Alps upon
Alps OF difficulty and perpleXity seemed
to surround its accom- plishment. ! would
have given all that was worth to post
pone the evil day but twenty four hours
all but my self respect, and that was
imperllcd now.
Cecilia tried her best to keep the ball
of conversation in motion she introduce
ed new subjects, asked leading questions
and teigned deep interest in the most alb
stuse OF topics. But even Cecilia couldn't
talk on forever; and with a little sigh of
despair she relapsed into silence
Now was the erenttul moment of my
destiny.
"Cccila " said, softly.
She raised the liquid brown eyes tc
mine.
Il want to contide in yon tonight.
Have your permission to speak ;"
"Certainly, Mr.. Markham"
81 am very much in love, Cecilia, Ii
fact, my heart has long ago gone oct o
| my possession into that of -
stopped, with the fatal husky feeling
in my throat. Cecilia was blushing di-
vinely. ! drew my chair close to hers
with the sensation of a man who has just
pulled the string OF Il cold shower bath.
"Who is the lady 2. taltered Cecilia, as
if she didn't know perfectly we'll already
'Shall show you her picture, Cecilia 2
Miss Vernon inclined her head almost
to the level of my shoulder to look at the
| little carte De rtsite | drew from my pock
ct. skillIully drew one ;nln around hel
waist
"See, dearest
| Il; Il,