St. Landry democrat., 1881-10-01

elderly iron-founder. | know that most
Of my readers will say that Miss Spald-
ing should have settled the matter for
herself, and have given Mr. Blagden to
understand that his attentions were
unwelcome and hopeless. But, as [
remarked before, we are not all cast in
one mold; and the most loving natures
may sometimes be coerced by what
seems to be their duty into se!f-sacri-
/ fee of the most unreasonable kind,
and which can only entail misery in the
end
So things went on at Rockhampton,
with diplomacy at Mount Grove and
despair at No. II High street, where
DR.. James Brooke announced his will
lngneSS to relieve the afflicted daily
from ten to eleven a. m, and from
six to eight p. m. | had been sitting
. cogitating over matters one evening at
the Red Lion-Jim having been called
to a distant part of his parish-when
an idea, founded, | believe, on a quo
tation from an old French author, oc-
cured to me. The quotation was to
the effect, that ''When moral suasion
fails from any cause to change an opin-
ion, it is lawful to appeal to the most
trivial OF our emotions. Happy idea.
thought |. | shall see whether or not
can work it out to the advantage of
DR.. James Brooke and-shall | add it?
Ito the confusion of Josiah Hagden,
Esquire.
My plans were then rapidly matured
Morning, noon and night find me busy
in the old church. | am hard at work
on canvas in which the interior of the
ediiice grows under my brush day by
day. There are no sounds of ohe Ky
rie'' 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 ia
vorites as of yore. Blagden, know,
hates music; and painters, as he once
expressed tin shocking bad taste
are usually "a Seedv lot Iremembe
Mr.. Josah's white vest and cable chain,
with enough appendices attached
thereto to have set up a small jeweler
in 4 thriving way of business. The
aisle and gallery of the church are now
complete IN my picture. [ 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 OCCASION
ally, says it is as like as can be- He is
curious, however, to know the nature
of the figures | have sketched roughly
m. There is group passing doWa the
aisle from the altar-rails where the
vicar can still be seen at his post and
there is figure standing alone and SOL
itarv in a pew. as if facing the alvanc-
ing party. The vicar cannot quite
fathom the design. The church he can
understand; but the meaning of the
picture puzzles him. | bid him wait
patiently for the solution of the mys-
terry.
When my study of the church was
completed, l went home to the Rel
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, | find that there are heads of
two elderly men, and there is a careful
sketch OF a young man face. likewise.
There is a fair girl face and a matronlv
countenance, and another face which
seems not unlike that of Miss Blagden.
At last, my task is completed. The
picture is mere " study but it is a
careful study withal. The aold church
You recognize at a glance; the figures
Well, we shall see.
The vicar has been busily spreading
a report that have been painting pict-
ureS OF the church, and there is curiosi-
tv to see them. | now propose that
one fine day a very few OF nv Rock
hampton friends shall come to see my
work. The circle is very select. I
have invited only Mr. and Mrs. Spald-
ing, the great Josiah, Miss Blagden and
Jim. | contrive, with q oil plomatic
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 picture, and pretend that by great
favor she shall see it before any one
else. Mine host of the Red Lion has |
a nice little luncheon, even to
some dry Pommery, which 'sthe great !
Josiah''- have been accustomed to
call him, possibly from the magnitude
Of his waistcoats says he dotes upon.
make malicious and unkind but per-
[ectiy just mental suggestion that III /
early life 1.-THE great Josiah was bet
ter acquainted with the merit of 'alf-
and-,al : than dry champagne. Nine
host has done his best; and now 1 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. slIsEs.
Here at last. They troop upstairs
nto thel large room where my luncheon
S spread. Mr.. Josiah is looking very
arge 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
but . soft, as the great man
expresses them. To me, his air is simply
Mrs. Spalding is gracious
Is usual: and Mr.. Snaldinp seems tn re-