Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-09-23

or not | can work it out to the advantage
of DR.. James Brook and-shalI [ add it?-
to the confusion of Josiah Blagden, Es-
quire.
My plans were then rapidly matured.-
Morning, noon and night find me busy in
the old church. am hard at work Oh a
canvas in which the interior of the church
grows under my brush day by day. There
are no sounds of the "Kyr6e'' now, nor
are the jubilant strains of Mendelssohn
heard, as on bright sunny day not so far
gone by. Nelly does not come to practice
her old favorites as of yore. Blagden, I
know, hates music, and painters, as he
once expressed tin shocking bad taste
| are usually "a seedy lot" l remember Mr..
Josiah's white vest and cable chain, with
enough appendages attached thereto to
have set up small jeweler in a thriving
way of business. The aisle and gallery of
the church are now complete in my pic
ture, paint it as sit in the aisle; in the
distance you can see the altar and chancel
and the vicar who looks in upon me occa
sionally; 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 group passing down the aisle
from the altar-rails where the vicar can
still be seen at his post; and there is fig
ure standing alone and solitary in pew,
as if facing the advancing party. The
vicar cannot quite fathom the design. The
church he can understand; but the mean
ing of the picture puzzles him. 1 bid him
wait patiently for the solution Of the mys-
terry.
When my study of the church was COM
peted 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 Turning to my
picture. now progressing rapidly, 1 find
that there are heads of two elderly men,
and there is careful sketch Of a young
mans face likewise. There is fair girls
face and matronlY countenance, and
another face which seems not unlike that
of Miss Blagden. At last my task is COM
pleted The picture is a mere s'study,' -
but it is a careful study withal. The old
church you recognize at glance; the fig
ures-well, we shall see.
The vicar has been busily spreading a
report that have been painting pictures
of the church, and there is a curiosity to
see them. I now propose that one fine day
very few of my Northampton friends
shall come to see my work The circle is
very select. I have invited only Mr.. and
Mrs. Spalding, the great Josiah, Miss Blag
den, and Jim. 1.contrive, with diplo-
matte cunning for which have not before
given myself credit, that Nelly Spalding
shall be admitted to a private view She
herself has been all anxiety to see the pic
ture, and 1 pretend that by great favor
,she shall see it before any one else. Mine
| host of the Red Lion has prepared q nice
| little luncheon, even to some dry Pomme-
4 ry, which 1.-THE great Josiah"-as 1 have
been accust omed to call him, possibly from
the magnitude of his waistcoats- says he
dotes upon. I make a malicious and un-
kind but perfectly 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 [ wait my
guests. feel nervous and excited; why
can hardly tell, but confess to myself that
| shall be glad when my little symposium
IS over.
Here at last. They troop upstairs into
the large room where my luncheon is
spread. Mr.. Josiah is looking very large
day, There is an air of jubilant triumph
about him as he bustles about Nelly, as
sisting her in taking off her wraps and
saying "nothipgs" which are anything but
ssoft," as the great man expresses them.
To me his air is simply patronizing. Mr..
| Spalding seems to regard the near pros
pect of lunch with more evident satisfac-
ton than he does the prospect of an artis
tic treat. Mr.. Blagden suggests we had
| better step IN to see the picture-lunch has
evidently its attractions for sthe great
| JOSIAH" But [ tell him 1 wait Ir.
Brooke, at which announcement he sub
sides. Then suggest to Miss Nelly that,
with her mothers permission, she may now
have the picture all to herself for mo-
mentary peep. Mrs. Spalding, who is deep
with Miss Blagden in the mysteries of the
manufacture of rhubarb- jam, readily con-
Sents.
| Nelly follows me into the room where
my picture stands covered with crimson
cloth on my easel. I close the door and
unveil it. Nelly glances at it for moment
then growing deadly pale sinks half-faint-
ing-not into my arms, but into those of
DIR. James Brooke, who has most oppor-
timely come upon the scene. In speech
less establishment he gazes at me, but lie
too seems as if he were going to repeat
Nelly's procedure as he glances at the pic
ture. s'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 nae like an age. Jim
had employed the interval in fashion not
unfamiliar to lovers, believe. And when
she did open her eyes, it was to clasp jim
round the neck, and her words were but
few but decided: Jim, dear! can never,
never marry that man! will do whatever
you wish me to. But. oh! they have tried
me so!'
What is it in my picture that has so per-
turbed the lovers and brought Nelly Spald-
ing to her senses? Simply the interior of
the old church once again. A ray of sun
light streaming through chink in the
stained window falls on the sad, pale,