Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-01

mgrilv. "what is it-what do you
ncan?'
30 Walter. the Roman Lady-has-
has had her eyes put outm
Walter paused only an instant, star.
ng at Nettie in speechless amazement,
and then. dashing past her into his
room, his own face the next moment
was rejecting the impression OF hers.
"Who could have done it," he cried,
at last finding voice. Who has ruined
my picture? Oh. Nettie. who, who
could have done such a thng?'
81 have thought and thought" said
Nettie, dejectedly. land i know it
could be no one but Crazy Peggy; viii
30 and speak to mother about it at
once"
She was turning to leave the room
when Walter caught her, almost ruiely,
by the arm ''Stop!' he cried. II will
not have you say anything about it;
father and mother never cared about
my paintings; everything and everybody
is against me; | will never, never try
again. and l don't want ever again to
hear of my picture"'
Poor boy, grief and anger had taken
full possession of him. and sezing the
unhappy Roman Lady he hurled her
under the bed out of his si~ht. then
threw himself face downward on his
pillow.
Nettie did not know what to do; the
calamity seemed so great, destroying so
suddenly their lOng-cherished hopes,
that there appeared no room for com
fort or cheer. But she could not sec
Walter in such grief without tryng to
do something for him, and ku"yling
down beside him she said gently:
''Do try to think it all best, Waller; !
have prayed so much to God to let ,ou
succeed that do not believe He mems
it all to be failure; perhaps some good
may come of it that we can t see.'
"Oh, Nettie, please hush!" cried
Walter, almost CRYING in his comfortess
grief; "you talk so foolishly. and 1
don't want to hear any of your own
fancies; you see the harm is done and
can't be undone, then what's the use of
talking OF some good that we can't See."
Poor little Nettie felt, indeed. that it
was useless to try to comfort Walter
just now, and while trying still to cling
to her trust in Gods promised help. her
own little heart could but feel how for
lorn hope it seemed to looked for good
from such apparent failure. She wished
she could talk with her mother about it,
out Walter was a peculiar boy, and
when he said q thing was to be kept
quiet, he always meant it. and Nettie
knew it would not do to tell of the
trouble that had come to them.
Waiter was not ready for breakfast
the next morning, strange to say. and
Nettie. with face still sad and troubled,
went to his room to see what could de-
tain him. The poor boy looked pale
and sick.
Z" don't want any breakfast, Nettie,"
said he. "just tell mother that have a
bad headache. and would like to lie still
little longer"
All NetIle knew we'll enough what it
was that was making Walter i'll; what
if he should break hi, hea t, and never
he well again! She had read of such
things. and the thought was more than
she could bear. Scarcely tasting her
own breakfast, she went absently
through her Saturday morning duties.
followed closely by the longing thought
that she must do something to help
Walter. Had not the busy mother been
so engrossed with her many cares, she
would have seen something was wrong
from the little girls face.
But suddenly, in the very act of wash
ing the dishes, a new, hopeful idea
rushed into Nettie's troubled brain. and
the very moment the task was done.
away she flew upstairs again to Wal
ter's room, and crept in softly. Worn
out with grief and restless night, he
was now sleeping heavily. and STOPPING
very quietly. Nettie drew the picture from
under the bed, and softly left the room
Only few squares distant, she had
often noticed the sign OF an artists
studio. and had sometimes seen beaut-
ful pictures in the window below.
Waiting for nothing more than her bon
net. away she hurried. carrying the pre-
cious picture in her arms, till arriving
at the steps which led to the artists
rooms. she fastened up and, almost
breathless, knocked at the door.
Nettie was naturally a very timid
little girl. and when the strange gentle
man answered Immediately her knock,
1t seemed for moment as though all
her senses flew from her, and she stam-
mered out:
"Please, sir, can you, do you think
you can-dO anything for lady that
has had her eyes punched out?"
1t was very evident, notwithstanding
the gentleman's kind and gentle face,
that it was difficult for him to keep from
smiling at this funny question, but he
said encouragingly:
Come in; my little girl, and let US
see what is the matter"
Nettie felt little better at this kindly
invitation, and entering the room,
turned toward him the unfortunate
Roman Lady.
"Ah, see." said the artist, another
smile playing around his lips, but which
he kindly tried to hide. ~ see your
picture has met with an accident?'
20, yes, SIR" cried Nettie, eagerly.
"Walter, my brother, had painted it
for the exhibition. and now that this
has happened. he is in such trouble that
he says he will never. never try again
The good man looked at the troubled.
eager little face before him. and asked
synipathizingly:
What were the eyes like?"
"Like mine. SIR" answered Nettie
eagerly; just like mine; sat for Wal
ter while he painted them. o. sir, do
you think you can do anything for us?"
"We'll try" was the kind answer,
and. taking a piece of canvas, he skill
fully cut two pieces the right size. and
as skillfully. with strong mucilage. fast
ened them in the right place on the
back of the canvas. "NoW Them said
he, turning to Nettie. "just sit still
while see what can do
Never had Nettie's dark eyes looked
so beautiful as now, with the glad.
eager hope beaming in them. making
them soft and bright And after 8
short time. during which the artist had
silently worked. thoughtful look in
his gentle face, he called her to come
forward and see the picture.
o, what wonderful change mad
come over the Roman Lady! There were
the eyes now in which only S close OBJ