, 1881-03-04
OLD CHINA.


head further out, for her father, though
only n 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.
'Ah, if lie could only see my face he
would he as much in love with me as l
am with him.
At mid-day the workman came in to
his dinner, and Hilda stood and served
him and he ate and talked to the woman.
who do yOu suppose was at the fac
tory to dav?" he said. The Count de
L. He has given an order, cOndl-
honally-that is, if the work suits him
and the Widow Coulter has ordered
sample plate painted OF course Henri
L is to paint 1t. l heard Madame
Coulter say that she would have the
handsomest girls face possible to dis
cover painted upon it. Eli? 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.
t 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
ont 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 u 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 5 -.
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. l am the prettiest girl in Orion,
Madame; will you put my face upon this
plate? ?"
What Il conceited childi' 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; ''let that be as you choose;
but l dare not let my father know what
have done. Command him to bring
me to you tomorrow, 1 pray, as though
you had 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.
lone must obey the MISTRESS" said
Louis, "but l detest the idea. l thought
had kept the pretty face well hidden,
and now it must be on a 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
Goaher's own presence; for the lady was
as careful of her workman's daughter as
though she had been a rich mans child.
1t was Henri L who painted it.,
putting the rare work of 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 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.
"What pretty face can do?" he cried
to his wife. ''Think of it, Rosene, our
child there, simple as yon see her, is
born to good fortune. Henri l., 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.
''A great compliment, truly" she
cried. "A painter of pottery, u man 45
years old. Do not oe so rejoiced, papa
and mamma; wait until the count shall
have seen the plate. Then, indeed, 1
shall be fortunate, for he also will offer
his hand to me. You will see 1 am right
no man can look on me without falling
in love with me. / am the prettiest girl
in France"
''The vain little witch has lost her
wits, cried her grandmother.
But a 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 I secure it
for my grill Neverr' 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 aetually-though this is not fairy
ta1e-offered his hand and heart to the
workman's daughter. He promised to
pension the family, to do great things
for them all.
Old Louis felt as if he were in a 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 a
nobleman.
The paintsr, little while before so
grand person in his estimation, was no.
body now. In vain he pleaded in vain
he knelt 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
fastened the bridal.
In the rlcnesr lace, the most gorgeous
cloths of gold and silver, and the raresi
velvets, the bride, who had worn wooden
shoes and short wooden 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
GA boudoir of unutterable magnifcenee
There over the toilet table hung the
plate on which Henri had painted her
face; the plate which won her husband
who adored her, title and all that
wealth could give.
Here for few moments she was left
alone. She sat before her mirror, gazing
into its depths. delighted with her own