The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-03-04
OLD CHINA.

Orion, that dIlda peeped 6nrOu2n ner
lattice window as the Count de L. rode
by. She did not dare to put her pretty
head further ont, for her father, though
only poor workman in the Widow
Gouffer's pottery, was very careful of his
daughter, and French girls, at the best,
had very little liberty Of action; but, as
she said to herself:
ssAh, if he could only see my face he
would be as much in love with me as
am with himp
At midday the workman came In to
his dinner, andsHilda stood and served
him and he ate and talked to the woman.
ssWho do you suppose was at the fac
tory TO- day?" he said. seThe Count de
l.. He has given an order, condi-
tlonally-that is, If the work suits him
and the Widow Coulter has ordered a
sample plate painted. Of course Henri
Il is to paint it. heard Madame
Coulter say that she would have the
handsomest girls face possible to dis
cover painted upon it. Eth? What is the
matter, Hilda?"
Poor Hilda had started and given lit
tie scream, and the tankard of ale which
she held in her hand had fallen to the
ground.
o dSAOoo
NV 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 blushing 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 prettiest girl in
Orion. I am the prettiest girl in Orion,
Madame; will you put my face upon this
plate?"
ssWhat a conceited childr' cried the
Widow Coulter. "Come to the fire; let
me look at thee. Well, thou art right,
though, and thou shalt be paid well for
sitting"
"I do not care for the pay, Madame, .
said the girl; s'let that be as you choose;
but dare not let my father know what
I have done. Command him to bring
me to You tomorrow, I pray, as though
You had only heard how beautiful
was"
saThou 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. thought
I had kept the pretty face well hidden,
and now it must be on q plate. Come,
then, and behave thyself."
And Hilda demurely followed her
father, and for many hours of many
days sat for her portrait in Madame
Gouffer'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,
putting the rare work of true artist
npon the china plate, from which princes
might one day sup, and as he worked the
girls beauty penetrated his heart. Ere
the plate was finished that heart was lost
to her, and he sought her father and
Asked her hand in marriage.
The workman returned to his home
trembling with pleasure.
to his wife. ssThink of it, Rosene, our
child there, simple as you see her, is
born to good fortune Henri liz, an
artist, no workman, who coins gold with
those pencils of his, has offered to marry
our daughter"
The mother lifted up her hands in de-
lighted astonishment; the old grand
dame dropped her spindle, but Hilda
tossed her head.
ga great compliment, truly" she
cried. "a painter of pottery, y man 45
years old. Do not be SO rejoiced, papa
and mamma; wait until the count shall
have seen the plate. Then, indeed, I
shall be fortunate, for he also will offer
his hand to me. You will see am right
mo man can look on me without falling
in love with me. am the prettiest girl
in France"
ssThe vain little witch has lost her
Wits" cried her grandmother.
But a CLEAN came into the mothers
eyes.
s'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! NeverP' he said.
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-ofered his hand and heart to the
WOEhIuaA utuSAbeI. I10 pTOIUlS6Q TO
pension the family, to do great things
for them all.
Old Louis felt as If he were in dream.
He could only express his sense of the
great honor, his sense of his own un-
worthiness to be the father-in-iaw of
nobleman.
The painter, little while before SO
grand q person in his estimation, was no.
body now. In vain he pleaded in vain
he kne1t before the father of his lady love
as well as at her feet What did they care
for his broken heart? At last he was
silent. The count desperately enamored
hastened the bridal.
In the r1cnesI lace, the most gorgeous
cloths of gold and silver, and the rarest
velvets, the bride, who had worn wooden
shoes and short woolen petticoats, knelt
at the altar and arose a countess. -Four
white horses conveyed the brides carri-
age to her future home, and she was led
o boudoir of unutterable magnifcence.
There over the toilet table hung the
plate on which Henri had painted her
face; the plate which won her husband
who adored her, q title and all that
wealth could give.
Here for q few moments she was left
alone. She sat before her mirror, gazing
into its depths, delighted with her own
beauty, rejoicing at her good fortune,
full of romance also, for she was in love
Ia 4 o3,aS&