Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-02-09

guest of young Rothay, his college
| chum. He had been struck by Ellen's
appearance more particularly because
| it seemed to him that he had met her
somewhere before. We all know that
there are times when a Eovei scene
presents itself to our mind as an old ac-
uuaintance; we seem to recognize the
surroundings as if we lad visited the
place in previous state of existence.
| That hin and that river appear to our
eyes like old friends, although we are
conscious we have never visited the
neighborhood before.
It was some such feeling rs this that
now occupied Walter Blakely. He
| pondered long upon the subject, but
! gave it up at last; and went out to meet
the post. He encountered the letter
carrier in the village, and received his
packet of correspondence. He recog-
nized one particular handwriting, and
opened that envelope first. The letter
contained an ofier-an engagement as
artist to an Illustrated paper. He Was
to travel, to see new countries, and to
send his sketches home. Would he
undertake the journey for year?
Would he not2 He did not hesitate a
moment. He had no ties in London
near enough to detain him. The short
space accorded for preparations was
amply sufficient for him. Co? OF
course ne would go; and he st once
telegraphed his answer in the Affirma-
tive.
But no sooner had he dispatched the
irreyocable message than the thought
occurred to him, how was he to finish
his picture? Not the portrait Of the
fair unknown-that was nothing--but
the large picture at which he had been
working for some weeks, intending to
send it to the "Grosvenor," or per-
chance to the Royal academy. He had
hoped to finish this picture, and its
title, already fixed in his mind, was "By
Mount; and Stream, and Sea-" He
had almost finished the first :ableau,
taken from an old experience ofhis own
the rescue of young child from a
Gag whereon she had decended and
from which the child was unable to re-
turn. The picture was intended to
represent the first dawn of affection
in the heart of the rescurer. The sec
ond was his meeting the girl, now
grown up, at picnic; his declaration
of love and acceptance. The third was
to be the scene of the wreck, where he
carries ashore the dead body of his be-
throthed, drowned on her way to
warmer climate by the wintry sea.
These ideas had presented themselves
very wildly to Blakely, and rs he walk
ed home he half regretted his impuls-
i've determination. How was he to fin
ish his pictures And yet, how could
he give up certain employment? 1t
would be grasping at the shadow for the
substance, and he reluctantly made up
MS mind to adhere to his new engage
ment.
He sauntered thoughtfully homeward,
and was about to enter the park gate
when he perceived two ladies approach
ing from the house. He naturally
stepped aside to permit them to pass
through, and to his great delight and
establishment perceived that the young
er of the two was the beautiful girl he
had that morning encountered. He
raised his hat; the elder lady acknowl-
edged his courtesy by a slight inclna-
ten of the head, the younger took no
notice of him at all; and he passed on
to the house burning with curiosity to
know who the visitors were.
But in this laudable endeavor he was
foiled. 1t so happened that a certain
Mrs. Clayton and her daughter had
called at the same time as Mrs. Vivian
and Ellen. The native servant had
mixed the people up, and when young
Blakely inquired who the visitors were,
the footman answered glibly enough:
Mrs and Miss Clayton, and"
Thank YOU" replied Blakely not
waiting for the conclusion of the SEN
tencc. "Claydon l wonder what her
Christian name is? Pm sure Pve met
her before to-day. What fine young
girl she isl | will make Il point of
getting an introduction at the archery
meeting tomorrow. Pm half in love
already"
1t so happened that the next day and
the day following were wet. On the
third day Blakely was obliged to return
to London. But during these two wet
days he had made great progress with
his academy picture, AS he called ii.
Wisely utilizing the material at hand,
he had improved upon his sketch of
the stream in the park, and had paint
ed the young and pretty Miss Clayton
as the heroine Of his romance. The
young artist took pride and delight in
dwelling upon this portion of bis pic
ture. The girlreturned again and again
to his mind; he recalled every feature,
and, as writer will at last become
quite attached to character of his own
creation, so Walter Blakely formed
romantic and altogether unreasonable
affection for young lady he had only
seen twice in his life. He had already
ascertained that Miss Clayton was rich,
and of "sweet disposition" and, so
far as Mrs. Rothay could tell, quite
heart whole. Love at first sight is UNI
usual, but by no means SO unusual as
some people believe, and Blakely had
worked himself up to a high pitch of
devotion for the absent and wealthy
beauty,
He went to town and made his ar