Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-05-03
L0ST-FIvRsDOLLARS.

ished. s..sass 1ss.ssss
The easel stood by the open win
dow, through which the scent of Ii
lacs was borne into the low, old-fash-
ioned parlor. Her boz of color tubes
stood on the floor beside the easel,
and the palette and brushes, with the
paint still moist and odorous upon
them, lay upon = small table near by.
EYES," she said, with q self-satis-
fed, dimpling snaile,a using the mahl-
stick to aid her as she enumerated
the good points of the picture, 81
think it viii pass muster, mother,
dear. Confess now that l manage
those bits of sunlight and shade with
the skill of an old master! And am
/ not Represented @as large as life,'
only more sop w..
"And what shall you call it, my
dear?'' asked Mrs. Kendall, fair,
brown-haired widow, ,!who looked very
like her daughter.
Z" Under the Lilacs,' 1 think. 1t
doesn't look very modest, l suppose,
to paint enes self but, in the dearth
of models, 1 was compelled to do So"
Gas if prettier model could be
DESIRED" exclaimed Mrs. Kendall
with motherly pride.
Yes, it was pretty model, and a
very pretty bit of painted canvas.
Overhead hung great punches of the
fragrant lilac blooms, framing an ex-
quisite, smiling, girlIsh face. Her
hand was stretched upward, and the
loose long sleeve had slipped care
lessly back, disclosing the white,
rounded arm. Her apron was almost
filled with great, odorous lilac bunch
es, while she was just in the act Of
plucking another. Over all the sun
light streamed-warm, bright, golden.
II shall 60 to New York with il
myself" said Nan, land make-oh,
ever so much money on it, mother
dear! Then we shall have new car.
pet; for this one, though almost hid
den by rugs innumerable, is undenia.
bly, shabby. And I shall get my
piano tuned, and buy those new
waltzes Hetty spoke about last week
and-and Pm sure I don't know
what all. l thank the fates that the,
have decreed old furniture to be very
stylish and nice for I'm afraid
won't get enough to buy anything
new in that direction"
Don't build too many air-castles
Man," said her mother, warmingly
''for you may be disappointed, afte
ALL"
But brave little Nannette's hope
fulness was not dashed in the least
She had worked so long on this pic
ture; had been so painstaking. Sure
ly in the great city, ten miles away
there must be some one who woul'
admire and buy it. i ) ~ :
Not quite week later Mr.. Curt
Van Tassels sauntered listlessly int
one Of the downtown restaurants, to
ward dusk, and settled himself, wit
a dissatisfied sign, at one Of the nu
merous small tables, covered wit
whitest, softest damask and glitterin
with silver.
Business had been unutterably du
during the past week, notwithstand
ing the fact that it was early in th
spring, and Mr.. Van Tassels' affair
had suffered more than . little. Henc
his unwonted perturbation of mind
So preoccupied was he that he di
mot notice he had a vis-a-vis, till co.
fee and rolls had been brought him.
| The cloud lifted suddenly from h
handsome forehead, and he glance
with deep interest at the girl opposit
l. y
him-Nannette Kendall herself. e
thought it was enc of the most beal
tiful faces he had ever seen-exqui
ise in its modelling, perfect in j
contour. Her eyes looked sad an
disappointed, as if ready to dro
tears.
Yes, Nan had met with q great di
appointment. She had been unab
to dispose Of the picture round whit
her hopes had eentered so long, al
and now she must return home eve
! poorer than before.
She had walked about the city {
day, not quite despairing of success
until the approach Of evening. The
) fearful lest her mother might be an
ious, she had left the picture at
kind-hearted booksellers, who hi
promised to sell it for her if poss
BILE. She had decided to take the
, o. clock train, but she had missed
and now even her brave heart quail'
, at she thought of riding home alol
at night on the cars.
Faint for lack Of food, she had 9
} tered the cafe, never dreaming 8
! was guilty Of extravaganza unps
ralleled, as it was one of the me
! fashionable, expensive restaurants
r the city.
Poor Mani her head was achin
her nerves tingling, her eyes were b
! with unshed tears of modification a
q disappointment. What a relief
. would have been if she could have
/; dulged in good, hearty cry. B
even that little boon was denied b
e in tins great, busting, hurryin