The Red Cloud chief., 1882-07-06

Is would not do 20 tell o9 Tho
that had ON To them.
Walter Was not ready for breakfast
next morning. strange To say. and
.ettic. with n face sill sad and troubled.
went To his oo to see what could de-
tain him The poor boy looked pale
and sick
Il don't wan; sny breakfast, Nes;ie."
said be. jus; tel mother that | hare a
had hesdachc. and would Ike 20 lie still
n lille longer"
All. Seuse knew well enough ~ha; Il
thai was making Walter III; Whist
If he should break hi. heart. and never
he well again, She had Rad 81 such
and the thought was more than
che could bcar. Scarcely tasting her
own breakfast. she wcn, absentlF
through her SATURDAY morning duties,
followed closely by the longing thought
that she must do something 10 help
Walter. Had not the busy mother been
50 enRros-ed with her many cares. she
would have seen something was wrong
from the little girls face.
But suddenly. in the yery act O! wash
ing the dishes. / new. hopeful! idea
rushed into Nct;ie's troubled brain. and
the very moment the issS was done.
she few upstairs again 10 Wal
ter's room. and crep; in -oitly. Worn
out with grief and a restless night. be
was now sleeping heavily. and STOPPING
very quietly. Nettic drew the picture from
under the bed, and softly left the room.
Only a few squares distant. she had
often noticed the sign of an artists
studio. and had sometimes secn beauti-
iui pictures in the window below.
Waiting for nothing more than her bon
net, away she burned. carrying the pre-
cious picture in her arms, till arriving
at the steps which led TO the artists
rooms. she FASTENED up and, almos;
GREATNESS, knocked a, the door.
Nettie was naturally a very timid
little girl. and when the strange gentle
man answered Immediately her knock.
it seemed for a moment az though all
her senses few from her. and she STAN
mcred out:
Please, sir. can you. do you think
you can-do anything for 4 lady that
ha, had her eyes punched ou,?"
IL was very evident, Notwithstanding
the g~entleman's kind and gentle face,
that il was difficult for hin 10 keep from
smiling at this funny question. but he
said encouragingly:
Come in. my little girl, and let us
see what is the matter"
Netiie felt a 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. 81 see your
picture has met with an accident''
90. 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
sympathizingly:
What were the ewes hke?'
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 Tor usg"
Wen try" vas the kind answer.
and, taking Q piece OF canvas, he skill
fully cut two pieces the right size, and
Is Skillfully. with strong mucilagc. fast
cned them in the right place on the
back Of the canvas. Now them said
he. turning 10 Nettic. Just sit still
while | see what | can do"
Never had Nettie's dark eyes looked
So beautiful n row. with the glad.
eager hope beaming in them, making
them soft and bright. And after a
silently worked. a thoughtful look in
his gentle face. he called her 10 come
forward and see the picture.
d. what n wonderful change had
come over the Roman Lady, There were
the ewes now in which only a close OBJ
server could detect ANYTHING peculiar,
and no longer with the wide. staring ex-
preston that had before spoiled them.
but soft and beautiful; a few skillful
touches of the artist-brish had entirely
altered the full, round look OF the pretty
face. and changed ridges in her hair to
soft waves.
Nettie claspcd her hands in IN ectasy
of delight. 90. SIR she cried. Il
don't know how 10 thank you. and |
haven't any money now; but. il Walter
sells the picture. | know he viii pay you
all YOU ask"
Never mind about that. my little
girl" replied the artist, kindly; but
tell me. has Walter ever had any one 10
teach him painting?'
No, sir; no one at ALL" answered
Nettie. HE just loves it so, he tries it
all the time BY himself"
We'll. suppose YOU ask him to come
to see me. sometime said the artist,
and scarcely waiting longer than 10 say
another earnest thank YOU away Net
tie hurried.
She had been absent about two hours
when again she crept softly into Wal
tcr's room. and TO her surprise and de-
light, found him still sleeping. Climb
Ing n~oiseleSsly upon n chair. she hung
the lady in her former place. and then
sat down beside Walters bed. Already
he was stirring. and. with n groan.
opened his eyes; mechanically they
turned, as if from habit. 10 the wall
where they had rested SO often during
those hopeful DAYS; and now, with n
great start. he sprang up in bed. ex-
claiming: ..Whv. Nettie, what does il
all mean. have | been dreaming?' And
then. with sparkling eyes and glowing
cheeks, Nettie told him her story, end
ing with the artists kind message.
And the Roman Lady took her place
as proudly as any on the following Mon
day morning in the great hall. and will
you believe il, was actually bought. not
for a very great sum. but by a lady who
said: Il want that picture jus, for the
earnest. beautiful ewes"
But better than all this. Walter went
To study with the kind artist. and when.
in time. he. too. became a tine painter.
he and Ne;tie used often to speak of the
good that had come from what seemed so
great an evil TO the dear Roman Lady.
". i. Observer.