Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-07-29


the June day came back to us; that
the daisies must be in bloom in the
fields; that spring was over the
land.
sYou could not have done better. .
| said. expressing involuntarily nv
appreciation of his work. am
always glad to see genius reoogniz.
ed; and l hope l am not selfish
enough to grudge any man-muoh
less friend like Jack-the cred G
: that is due. Aud yet for the life of
me, could not help thinking that.
8 IN spite of its truthfulness. he had
made Gretta the centre figure. whiIs
all the Others revolyed around her.
1t may have been only the natural
order OF things; and yet the knowI.
: edge of it caused me to be chary of
8 enthusiasm.
! No; could not better it, he
! answered, speaking slowly, as
though endeavoring to pass crit,
cism on his own master piece. Il am
glad you like my Bohemia. And
then he turned it this way and that,
studying the effect and letting the
light fall uponi at various angles to
bring out every tone.
How well you have put us all in
there, Mr.. Bertholet 7 Gretta said
at last, beamin ely. 1t was the first
time she had spoken. How yiyidly
you must remember Could you 90
back into the past and paint all
your life from memory, and make
it as real as that.
My life goes no further back than
that day. l have no wish TO paint
anything before that he answered
o1tist.l " a." aasd .ouvd watrnlbg' the
| girls face, and how trlumphaas 20
looked ~ her plainly.speken admi-
ration.
Her checks flushed at the sudden
confession, and she gathered up her
cloak and escaped 10 the open win
dow without another word. | felt
strongly Inclined TO box her pretty
ears for leading him into such
thoaghtless betrayal of his feelings;
and tor ence, | was honestly serry
for Jack. Poor fellow 1t is hard
to cherish hopeless passion But
there she stood at safe distance,
looking blushingly unconscious of
any wrong, and idly pulling to
pieces rose some one had GRO 9ped
upon the sill; and all | could do
was to take no notice of this little
by, play, as l fingered to praise his
work ; TO thank him for his kind-
ness in allo wing ia 10 see 1t, and to
express the hope that success might
attend his labcrs.
That evening told Duke | want
cd to indulge in an unwon;cd piece
of extra Vagance. We had passed
very happy summer with oCr artist
trieGds, and 1t would be nice thing
TO carry away some memento of
the past | wanted to buy Jacks
Bohemia. II would not only DO
gratifying my cwn taste to have
such a well-exeoutcd work in my
collection it would likows9 aid and
encourage Jack to fresh endeavors.
Now Duke is always iniulgent as
far as money matters are concerned,
AND fSlt pretty certain of eucoess
when | commenced my plan. |
FASTENED to Mr.. Bertholet, and beg.
glng him TO look upon mo as friend
who always had his best interest at
heart bssought him to name what
be considered fair price fer Bohe-
maj To my unjounded surprise,
he declined tC part with II upon any
consideration. No sppeal, no offer
which | could make, had the slight.
est effect. lie could motor would
not-part with the picture for any
price; and | had to submit 70 sse-
ing it carried away by express tho
next morning, with Jack perched
on the top of the box containing it,
bowing and smiling good. bye TO us
all.
Mrs. Davenshire was delighted TO
get Gretta homo again, and praised
my molherly care, and poured into
my ears the distraoting fears rho
had felt lest some plebeian suitor ia
that Bohemian land might have
captivated her darling's fancy. l
never told her OF the might have
BEEN | wondered sometimes why
Jack did not call upon ia, as ho bad
asked permission to do; but tho
daye and weeks went by, and we
heard neshing of him.
One evening, note OF invitation
was brought in, which upon open
ing, proved TO be from cur summer
acquaintance - Mr.. Blondin. lie
begged tho privilege of escorting US
TO the studio OF an artist irieud--
Dsspard-whose collection was &c
knawledged to be the finest in the
city and whose latest picture bad
recently been awarded prize by
foreign and resident critics, and
would be on exhibition Mt the studio
on the evening mentioned. Perhaps
Miss Gretta and her mother would
consent to be of the party; he
should be most happy TO present
them etc.
Mrs. Davenshire was delighted.
Society lions were her pride, aud to
be formally presented TO this ia
nous Despard, whose studio wac
well known ID be the rendezvous Of
the most talented artists and finest
critics in the city, was an unlocked
for boaor. And such triumph for
G:etta think her fond heart
warmed toward me then as it lad
never done before, fer being the
medium of SO happy an invitation.
We were whirled GU. to tho stu
do in DR.. Blondin's carriage Mrs.
DAvenshire was Respondent in vel
vet and diamonds; Gretta looked
Ike some fairy princess in sheeny
white elk aud pearls. Davenshi.e
Square sent out its yonth,its beauty
aud it wealth, 10 honor the horored.
The long saloon wac one blsze Of
light as We stopped at its entrance
AN attendant swept back tho
crims0 velvet curtains and ushered
I'd into tho august presence of the
gres. artist himself, who, in blouse
and cap, advanced TO receive us--
there was av instant's pause TO take
| in the dazzling surroundipps. and