St. Landry democrat., 1882-06-17

| into her eyes, that We're, indeed, soft
and dark, not very unlike the Roman
Lady's s, though the resemblance did not
extend further. And thus it was that,
having lost no time in beginning the
picture, Nettie was now sitting before
him while [ have been telling you all
this. She was so pleased to think that
she could do anything to help him; and,
do you know, so earnestly were her
hopes bent on his success, in her love
and ambition for him, that every day
she added to her prayers the petition
that God would help him and bless his
work.
AS the exhibition was only three weeks
distant, and he had not very many leis-
ure hours for such work, Walter wasted
not moment, andlabored with such
industry that by the time the third week
had only begun he and Nettie stood be-
fore the finished picture-she perfectly
satisfied that no one could have done it
better, he nervous and anxious, seeing
was too fat and round, her eyes had a
stern, staring expression, and her hair
just had ridges all over it instead of soft
waves.
but just see how the eyes follow me
about, Walter" cried Nettie, proudly,
land you said that was something so
hard to get right; don't you see, if l
stand on this side she seems to be look
ing right at me, and now when 60 on
this side, it looks almost as if her eyes
moved. too"
"Yes, that is true" said Walter
more hopefully. Il have certainly
| succeeded well in that effect; and be-
lieve,'' he continued with sigh of re-
lief, taking it altogether, it is the best
picture I have ever madc''
1-'@s'''' Ishould say it is!'' cried Nettie, de-
cisively, and you will see," she added,
with beautiful trusting faith in her
dark eyes, "if it doesn't prove grand
| success
Everything in connection with the
picture and exhibition had been kept a
profound secret between Walter and
Nettie, to be a proud surprise for their
father and mother, if a success, and in
case of failure-why, the least said
| the better. And now, that it was fin
ished, they hung it in Walters room,
having united all their little savings to
buy as nice frame as they could for it.
Almost week yet must elapse before
the opening of the exhibition, and both
Walter and Nettie wished it had been
but day, so full were their hearts of
hopeful expectancy. Every night Walter
fell asleep gazing at the Roman Lady,
and his eyes turned with unfailing de-
votion on her first, when awakening.
Now, the only assistance employed
by their mother in her household work
was poor colored girl, who was what
is called half-witted' her vacant, ex-
pressionless face told how little of the
mind had been given her that teaches
one to act and think sensibly; but she
was very obedient and harmless, not
withstanding the queer, foolish fancies
that had given her the name, among
children, OF Cray Peggy" Once or
twice only, in her life. she had been
known to do strange things, and some
times seemed possessed by foolish fears,
making her timid and frightened of
things in which no one else could i'm
agine any cause for alarm.
It was one of Peggy's duties each
morning to clean and dust Walters
room after he had goneto school for the
day, and the very first morning after the
picture had been hung, she stopped
right before it, and gazed at it as if
spell-bound; again she turned away to
go about her work, but glancing back
nervously all the time at the face on the
wall with its great dark eyes, which
seemed to the foolish girl to be staring
fixedly at her, and following her wher-
ever she went. From one side of the
room to the other she. moved, the eyes
really appearing to move as she did, till,
with her usual duties only half per-
formed, poor Peggy hastily left the
room, glad to escape from the eyes that
seemed to disturb her SO. w, 5
The following morning it was just the
.same, only the strange impression of
fear had taken stronger hold on the fool
ish girl, and she hurried about, giving
only a frightened glance now and then
at the stern eyes that never seemed to
cease their close watch of her, and
away she sped, leaving a very imper-
fectly- -cleaned room.
The third morning came, and poor
Peggy acted as though she had really
grown desperate under the strange
spell of the picture. Once she clinched
her fist and shook it menacingly at the
innocent Roman Lady, but dropped it
again, quelled by the staring eyes.
Slowly she walked to the bed, half cry
ing now, and muttering to herself:
Il want that ar CONAN to stop starin'
at me;'' and, glancings back nervously
to meet only the same relentless gaze,
the poor silly girl seemed actually to lose
the little mind she had, and, rushing to
the hearth. seized porker sharpened at
one end, and without a moments de-
lay was again before the picture ex-
"Tll fix YER and the next