The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-10-14

chancel and the vicar, who looks in
upon me occasionally, says it is as like as
can be. He is curious, however, to know
the nature of the figures have sketched
roughly in. There is q group passing
down the aisle from the altar-rails where
the vicar can still be seen at his post
and there is q figure standing alone md
solitary in pew. as if facing the adj
vancing party. The vicar cannot quite
fathom the design. The church he can
understand; but the meaning OF the
picture puzzles him. 1 bid him wait
patiently for the solution of the mys-
terry.
When my study Of the church was
completed, / went home to the Red
Lion, and there painted in my figures.
There was little need for models, for my
sketch-book was full of studies. Turn
ing to my picture, now progressing
rapidly, L find that there are heads of
two elderly men, and there Is careful
sketch of n young mans face likewise.
There is n far girls face and a matronly
countenance, and another face which
seems not unlike that of Miss Hagden.
At last, my task Is completed. The PIC
ture is mere study" but it is care
full study withal. The old church you
recognize alta glance the figures-well.
we shall see.
The vicar has been busily spreading
report that have been painting pictures
OF the church. and there is curiosity to
see them. l now propose that one fine
day a very few Of my Northampton
friends shall comes to see my work. The
circle is very select. Ihave invited only
Mr.. and Mrs. Spalding, the great Josiah,
Miss Blagden and Jim. contrive, with
diplomatic cunning for which L have
not before given myself credit, that
Nelly Spalding shall be admitted to
private view. She herself has been all
anxiety to see the picture, and L pretend
that by great favor she shall see it before
any one else. Mine host of Red Lion
has prepared nice little luncheon, even
to some dry Pommery, which "the great
Josiah as / have been accustomed to
call him, possibly from the magnitude of
his waistcoats-says he dotes upon. l
make a malicious and unkind but per-
fectly just mental suggestion that In
early life :" the great Josiah was better
acquainted with the merit of "'alf-and-
'alf" than dry champagne. Mine host
has done his best; and now L wait my
guests | feel nervous and excited |;
Why, can hardly tell !; but confess to
myself that shall be glad when my lit
tie symposium is over.
Here at last. They troop upstairs
into the large room where my luncheon
is spread. Mr.. Josiah is looking very
large to-day. There is an air of jubilant
triumph about him as he bustles about
Nelly, assisting her in taking off her
wraps and saying nothings" which are
anything but "soft, as the great man
expresses them. To me, his air is simply
patronizing. Mrs. Spalding is gracious
as usual and MIR. Spaldlng seems to re-
gard the near prospect of lunch with
more evident satisfaction than he does
the prospect of an artistic treat. Mr..
Bladgen suggests we had better step in
to see the picture-lunch has evidently
its attraction for " the great Josiah. !"
But tell him / wait DIR. Brooke, at
which announcement he subsidies. Then
L sugguested to Miss Nelly that, with
her mothers's permission, she may now
have the picture all to herself for mo-
mentary peep. Mrs. Spalding, who is
OF the manufacture OF rhubarb- jam,
readily consents
Nelly follows me into the room where
my picture stands covered with Grim
son cloth on my easel. close the door
and unveil it. Nelly glances at it for a
moment; then growing deadly pale sinks
half-fainting-not into my arms, but into
those of DR.. James Brooke, who has
most opportunely come upon the scene.
In speechless establishment he gazes at
me, but he too seems rs if he were
going to repeat Nelly's procedure as he
Chances at the picture. For heavens
sake, Regy," says jim in hoarse voice,
"cover that picture up!'
Nelly opened her eyes in a moment OF
two, which seemed to me like an age.
Jim had employed the interval in fash
ion not unfaml liar to lovers, believe.
And when she did open her eyes, it was
to clasp jim around the neck, and her
words were few but decided Jim,
dear L can never, never marry that
man [ will do whatever you wish me to.
But oh they have tried me so p
What is it in my picture that has SO
perturbed the lovers, aud brought Nelly
Spslding to her senses Z? Simply the in
terror of the old church once again. A
ray of sunlight streaming through q
chink in the stained window falls on the
sad. pale, fearful face of newly-made
bride. The brides face is Nelly's own
and the pompous bridegroom is Josiah
Blagden, the artistic treatment of whose
white waistcoat and chain has cost me no
end of pains. Behind bride and bride
groom comes the figures of Mr.. and Mrs.
Spalding and in the dim distance the
vicar is seen still standing within the al
tar rails. But the central figure after
the bride herself is the young man,
pale, motionless as statue, who stands
in pew and whose ashy gaze is fixed on
the bride. The face of the man in the
pew is that of James Brooke. The pic
ture tells its own story to Nelly Spald-
ing. 1t places the possibility of the flu
tpra before her ewes az she has never
dared to picture it to herself. 1t
reflects in all its naked truth the fate to
which through her indecision she may
commit herself and Jim. And it tells
its story so well that art conquers diplo-
macy in decision, and aids love in its