The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-02-03
OLD CHINA.


that Hilda peeped through he- lattice win
! dow as the Count de L-rode by. She did
not dare to put her pretty head farther out,
for her father, though onlya poor workman
in the Widow Goutfers pottery, was very
careful of his daughter, and French girls,
at the best. had very little liberty of action;
out, as she peeped at him she said to her.
self:
''sAh, if he could only see my face he
would be as much in love with me as am
with him..
At midday the workman came in to his
dinner, and Hilda stood and served him
and he ate and talked to the woman.
"Who do you think was at the factory to-
day?" he said. 1.-THE Count de L..
He has given an order, conditionally-
is, if the work suits hlm-and the Widow
Coulter has ordered a sample plate painted.
OF course, Henri L--is to paint it. I
heard Madam Coulter say that she would
have the handsomest girls face possible to
| discover painted upon it. Eli? What is the
| matter, Hilda?"
Poor Hilda had started and given little
scream, and the tankard of ale which she
held in her hand had fallen to the ground.
1T was only mouse that ran across my
feet and frightened me-" said Hilda, but
her cheeks were burning.
That night after all the work was done,
Hilda hooded herself carefully, and stole
out of the house, and along the road to the
dwelling of the Widow Coulter, and asked
to speak with her alone Hilda stood blush
ing before a tall, grave lady dressed in the
widows garb of the day, who looked upon
her kindly and asked her business
Madame, replied Hilda, my father is
one of your wOrkmen-Louis S.. To-
day he told me that on the specimen plate
which you are about to make for the Count
de L -, you had intended to paint the
face of the prittiest girl in Orion. I am the
prettiest cir! in Orion, Madame; will you
put my face upon this plate?"
""What cenceited child" cried the Wild
ow Coulter. "Come to the fire; let me look
at thee. Well, thou art right, though, and
thou shalt be paid well for sitting,
81 do not care for the pay, Madame, u
said the girl; ''let that be as yeu choose;
but dare not let my father know W hat !
have done. Command him to bring me to
only heard how beautiful was" - .
'Thou art certainly very vain, but to-
morrow will send for thee"
And Hilda courtesied herself away.
On the morrow the message came.
Zone must obey the MISTRESS" said
Louis, ''but I detest the idea. I thought
bad kept the pretty face we'll hidden, and
now it must be on plate. Come, then,
and behave myself"
And Hilda demurely followed her father,
end for many hours of many days sat for
her portrait in Madame Goufer's own
presence; for the lady was as careful of her
workman's daughter as though she had
been rich mans child.
It was Henri L-who painted it, put
ting the rare work Of a true artist upon the
china plate, from which princes might one
day sup, and as he worked the girls beauty
penetrated his heart. Ere the plate was fin
ished that heart was lost to her. and he
sought her father and asked her hand in
marriage.
The workman returned to his home trem-
bling with pleasure.
aWhat a pretty face can do?" he cried to
| his wife. think of it, Rosene, our child
there, simple as you see her, is born to
good fortune. Henri l., an artist, no
workman, who coins gold with those pen
ellis of his, has offered to marry our daught-
er" ,r.:;-i-,.
The mother lifted up her hands in de-
lighted astonishment; the old grand dame
dropped her spindle, but Hilda tossed her
head. .r 80.
"a great compliment, truly she cried.
"A painter of pottery, a man As years old.
Do not be SO rejoiced, papa and mama;
wait until the count shall have seen the
plate. Then, indeed shall be fortunate,
for he also will offer his hand to me. You
will see am right-no. man can look on
me without falling in love with me-. am
the prettiest girl in France" ;,,.,. -.
1.-The vain little wretch has lost her wits, y
cried her grandmother. 80
But CLEAN came into the mothers eyes.
''Let us wait, as she says" cried she.
But Louis grumbled IAN offer like that,
an honor like that, and secure it for my
girl! Never!'; he said. .gt..r. 49,.
= However, he changed his mind, The girl
was right about the power of her beauty.
The count inquired as to the face on the
plate, heard it was portrait, and actually -
though this is not fairy tale-offered his
hand and heart to the workman's daughter
.i-"l e. .'.j.t, ,,.tE4E .E'G.t!4. Il