The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-05-19
MISS WILDROSE.

Miss Wildrose was very young when
she made her earliest literary venture.
It was in long poem, OF such scope
and nature that at first no one was dis.
a girl not yet twenty. But she had
made no affection OF Disgusting herself
under silence or with pseudonym,
and the rector of the parish had heard
portions of 1.-THE Song of the Morning
Star" before its completion and when
this was known, and the first poem was
followed by another and yet another
kindred to it, the doubters were 81
lenced, and Miss Wildrose took her
place among the poets-o on the bench
with Milton, thought her family and
friends; on the humblest footstool of
ali Miss Wildrose herself thought. Sho
was content to he the lowest there ;only
TO be in the glorious company at all
was quite enough for her.
OF course the work wes criticised.
This great critic counted the number of
Saxon derivatives on rage, and hon.
ored or dishoaored her according to his
sum total, and that one weighed her
rhymes in the hair balance under glass
that is sensitive to the sound of the
falling snow. fake, and the other found
a real mares nest Of delight in lame
foot of the blank verse. But the peo-
pie liked the little books, and the pccu-
liar acknowledgment was such tx at Miss
Wildrose's head might have been turned
X her art had been less matter OF mo-
ment with her, or il Just at that time
sine had not met Raphael Stuart and
lo,-aI l. lsx.. .I,,,a - ha -,,aat;n1r
She had always lived in the village.
He came to her like being not only OF
the outside world, but of the world Of
art in which her dreams and fancie, lay.
For he was painter OF more than COM
mon promise IL not yet Of absolute per-
formance, and If poor as the traditional
painter ia, yet with too much love Of
the colors and harmonies and shapes Of
nature that belong to all who can see
them, to sigh for those heavier lu1uries
that belong only to the few. In time he
would like them, too, but just now he
had youth art and love. What more
could he wishp
Like most young artists, Europe was
hig goal, if ever be could sell onough
sketches to warrant his departure. And
BaS qoi dqmRSPR end ta TIE ERiaaaGe nlH hs
and this goal for how was he going
without Miss Wildrosep and in order
TO take wife with him he would have
to make twice rs many sales as he had
counted on before. Miss Wildrose's
little income from her books would mol
go q great way in their mutual purse
for tho sale OF tho best-llked verses is
not miraculous draught, and she had
really worn out various copies OF he,
books in the service CT borrowers, moi
buyers. Moreover, as Mrs. Stuart, she
could hardly make her way with TIE
same expcpseless simplicity as wher
only Miss Wildrose. Plainly old age
was likely to creep upon them both be
fore they could venture TO let theil
lives become one and make their vision
Of those old streets and galleries, those
summer seas and glacier tops. thing
OF real life.
This, however. did not seem so sad q
thing to- Miss Wildrose as it did tc
Raphael. She could go on singing hei
near anu rvaa.-" -',' - 49, ns ha,
the great strain that nature sings, and
here was Raphael all day and every day
beside her. But it troubled her al
length little to see his unrest. Per
haps she caught the unrest herself. Hel
work felt the trouble, and for time
sho feared she had lost the secret word
of her power she began to be as eager
as he for the impossible.
81 want my outlook opened" ht
cried, searching the blue sky with hi.
blrer eyes. "I want to see for mysel
how Raphael turned this line, how Vero-
nese blended those tints, how Rem
brandt flung that shadow. 1 want K
know what they mean by saying Turner
made color do the work of drawing.
want to see the great masters Of to-day
in their studios or afield. Iwant to set
Venice before some accursed steamboa
rips up her looking-glassos."
81 want to see the Euganean hills I,
said Miss Wildrose, casting her glance
dceamily along the fiat country wher,
mover hill was seen.
"And want my home, my wife, my
hearth" no said, and then for littl,
time the lovers happiness seemed only
high value of their art.
"If you could only be sent to Eu-
rope" said she, at last. "If you coult
be consul in some foreign town il
France or Italy, or in the East, or il
the north of Africa"
"If could go abroad and be paid fol
it," he said, laughing. "Ah, yes, il
could have the moon for my lantern r.
"But it is not impossible" she al
swered, with frightening smile
Now i consider it not at all impossible
I really think it may be compass,,l
Oh, Raphael, If it only hhouldi'
81 am afraid you are building cail,
and the kcaffolding is in the cloud
he said.
"L;sten, then. Isn't tie new sccse
tary OF state man of letters? Hand
in-glove with publishers aid author
A patron OF painters, 'oo?'
"a regular M@censs Ny darling
your wits are as bright as your eyes
Take me for clodl zee it all nov
you have illuminated it. Yes, yes,
coed case ought to be made out betwe,l
Ey prsdeutials and yours"
"Oh, I shouldn't want to figure il
It." she murmured, shrinkingly.
"Then you shall not. My little wife
shall stay on the dark side of the moon
till she wakes up and finds herself in q
eondola some sunset. with the moon In
the lagoons."
And it was not month before armed
with all-suflicient papess as he deemed,
Raphael Stuarfwas waiting in the secre
tary's ante-room 80 confident OF success
| that ha waa alraady eanvaa aaa;n =, Il, III.