The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-11
Selttt STORY.
A PAINTERS STORY.


of age upon it street with old gabled
roofs, where the swallows had built nests
for years. going and coming a. they proba-
hly would to the end Of time Ii was
dark and cherries stree; for childhood to
grow happy over, and | think that IL gloom
oyershad0wed my childhood with pail
that dwarfed its powers. for a season at
least.
always wondered why my parents
bound me down TO the narrow limits Of its
precincts. and the still narrower minds If
IL inhabitants and even while child, |
resolved 70 cut the festcrs that bound me,
and launch away into the wholesale atn1os-
phere of the outside world
Painting VASES and wax-iell- was the
bottom rou3d Of the ladder whose summit
| resolved to reach, but never ia-thAt erssk-
ed. gloomy strccs. where ray Of sunlight
was rarity. and D r,sse- blossom would have
been curiosity had been On q holiiAy
visit. and returned TO my prison, feeling
cramt.ed and discuuientei. had genius,
and knew it. had made several sketches
in color, and Uncle Rugby. who kept iii-
tie print shop. had sold them for mc.
Uncle Rugby was the only friend ] had.
| told him all my dreams, my aspirations,
and my resolve to leave the Plsee a. seon
as possible.
Right. my boy. right = he said. There
i nobody but the poor old man left, and he
viii not ssrry bong He has few pennies
laid by, and when yeu go, my boy Inele
Rugby Is nat the one 10 put hlock IN
your way.
And 20 Il came to pass thai ! lefl nay
dingy shop in the crooked street. with few
pounds in my pocket, and started out into
the world that | had dreamed Of at night
in my narrow attic, and studied by day over
my wax dolls
/ Uncle Rugby said 10 me; Ny boy,
/ end 4 good master in the art. attend 10 Il
studiously, and you viii make your marx
Nv father and mother we're poor, and
did not live in Severncross; and therefore
they knew nothing of my whereabouts,
only that CHAD left my doll-painting and
+. the master to whom was apprentiessd.
A glorious September evening Tall
hills dipped in purple gloom, and behind
their massiye lines, guild red and amber sun
set.
/ had worked hard my success was all
that could expect; my pictures were ad-
miFed, and some of them graeed the walls
of art galleries.
/ was Young fellow now, and had a
drawing-elass in northern city where |
was residing for n period To recover my
health: for hard labor had weakened my
constitution.
A quaint old city il was, with castle
and cathedral which the sur lights up IN a
beautiful blending of eolors and shade. A
strange, dreamy old place, with beautiful
sunsets and old legends hanging about it.
How wondered was talking about
who2-Clarisse NenieF She was mem.
Der of my class. fancy / can see her
now; the sparkling depths of her tender
eyes; her brown hair twiBed back from
her forehead, as upon the golden September
twilight
She had come to me after my class had
retired, with piece of eoloring-the shad-
ow of clouds upon water. The light and
shade were exquisitely perfect in her little
sketch, and | told her so.
s0h, thank You, thank you, Mr.. Beyer
", she said, looking up with great seri
business. IL was afraid YOU would laugh
at il
mo. indeed, l answered.
-Do YOU think | shall ever excel?
would give the world to paint VIII you
help me?"
remembered the boy who painted dolli
in the crooked street at Sevencrossi and
this ray of sunlight that had fallen acros:
his life. rippling down into the depths o
his heart, and warming ii into a grea
love.
'.You have only to command me, Mis-
Venier. | answered .'You shall excel, i
my assistance be of any avail.
"How can ever repay you for YOU
kindness, she said placing her little hanC
in mine, and drawing so near to me that
felt her breath touch my cheek.
would have held her in my arms then
but j waited
'sYou can repay me, | said.
"How p
Il VIII ten you soiie Vlhei 'iihe- 81"
swered
Her brow flushed with the faintest tin
of rose as she withdrew her trembling hand
helped her through many happy, happy
hours in her studio overlooking the beauti
full river; how often bending near to he
! till her soft brown hair swept my cheek
J until could look deep into her tender eye
) - 1 n
She came nearer to me, and dearer to my
heart than life taught her to paint un
til she excelled her tutor She taught M
; to love until my art was forgotten.
She was the daughterof Lady Mary We
nier, who was passing the summer in thi
city. which | shall not name.