The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-16

preston of a celestial summers morn
ing, and the thermometer stood a
heavenly idleness. Mcdonald stood
with his maul-stick across his knees
drinking from Titian's picture. Al
artist, who had lounged in from tn,
next room, had hung himself by tht
crook of his arm over high peg, on hi,
comrades easel, and every now ant
then he volunteered an observation
to which he expected no particular
answer.
"When 1 remember how little beauty
have seen in the world" said Ingardt
(this artist, "I am inclined to believe
with Saturninus, that there is no resur.
rection of bodies, and that only the
spirits of the good return into the body
of the Godhead-for what is ugliness
to do in heaven ?"
Mcdonald only said: Hm-hm p'
"How will this little plain woman look
in the streets of the New Jersusalem,
for examplel Yet she expects, as we
all do, to be recognizable by her friends
In heaven, and of course, so have the
same irredeemably plain face. Does
she understand English, by the way
for she might not be altogether pleased
with my theory ?"
81 have spoken to her very often,''
said Mcdonald, "and I think English
is Hebrew to her-but my theory of
beauty crosses at least one corner of
your argument, my friend! 1 believe
that the original type of every human
being could be made beautiful without
in any essential particular destroying
the visible identity"
"And you think that little woman's
face could be made beautiful ?"
"I know it."
"Try it, then. Here is your copy of
Titian's Bella all finished but the
face. Make an apothesis portrait of
your neighbor, and while it harmonizes
with the body of Titian's beauty, still
leave it recognizable as the portrait, and
I'll give in to your theories believing
in all other miracles, if you like, at the
same time"
Ingarde laughed as he went back to
his own picture, and Mcdonald, after
sitting a few minutes lost in reverie,
turned his easel so as to get painters
view of his female neighbor. He thought
she colored slightly as he fixed his eyes
upon her; but if so, she apparently be-
came very soon unconscious of his gaze,
and he was soon absorbed himself in
the task to which his friend had SO
mockingly challenged him.
Excuse me, dear reader, while with
two epistles build a bridge over which
you can cross q chasm of month in my
story.
"To GREENE MCDONALD: SRI am in
trusted with delicate commission,
which I kkow not how to broach to you
except by simple proposal. Will you
forgive my abrupt brevity, if 1 inform
you, without further preface, that the
Countess Nyschriem, Polish lady of
high birth and ample fortune, does you
the honor to propose for your hand. If
you are disengaged and your affections
are not iwevocably given to another, I
can conceive no sufficient obstacle to
your acceptance of the brilliant connec-
ton. The countess is twenty-five, and
not beautiful, it must in fairness be
said; but she has high qualities both of
head and heart, and is worthy any mans
respect and affection.
can answer is requested in the course
of tomorrow, addressed to 'The Count
Hanswald, minister of his majesty, the
king of Prussia l have the honor,
etc., etc. HANSwALD."
McDonald's answer was as follows:
"To HIS EXCELLENCY, HANswALD, ETC,
ETC.: You will pardon me that 1 have
taken two days to consider the extra
ordinary proposition made me in your
letter. The subject, since it is to be en-
tertained a moment, requires, perhaps,
still further reflection n-but my reply
shall be definite and as prompt as 1 can
bring myself to be in a matter so impor-
tant.
my first impulse was to return your
letter, declining the honor you would
do me, and thanking the lady for the
&C mpliment of her choice. Ny first re-
Election was the relief and happiness
which an independence would bring to
a mother and two sisters dependent now
on the precarious profits of my pencil
And L first consented to ponder the
matter with this view, and I now con-
sent to marry frankly for this advan-
tage. But still l have condition to
propose.
Gin the studies I have had the oppor-
tunity to make of the happiness of
men in matrimony, L have
observed that their two worlds of fact
and fancy were seldom under the con-
troll of one mistress. 1t must be a very
extraordinary woman, of course, who,
with the sweet domestic qualities
needed for common life, possesses at
the same time the elevation and spiritu-
ality requisite for the ideal of the poet
and painter. And 1 am not certain in
any case whether the romance of some
secret passion, fed and pursued in the
imagination only, be not the insepara-
BILE necessity of poetical nature. For
the imagination is incapable of being
chained, and it is at once disenchanted
and set roaming by the very position
and certainty which are the charms of
matrimony. Whether exclusive de-
votion of all the faculties of mind and
body be the fidelity exacted in marriage
is question every woman should con
slider before making a husband of an
man. AS 1 have not seen
the countess 1 can generalize on the
subject without offense; and she is the
best judge whether she can chain my
fancy as well as my affections, or yield
to an imaginative mistress the devotion
of so predominant a quality of my ma
ture. l can only promise her the con-
stancy of husband.
"This inevitable license is allowed
NV ideal world and its devotions. that is