The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-07-26
HER GOOD FORTUNE.


ined the picture which she had just fin
ished.
The easel stood by the open window,
through which the scent of lilacs was
| borne into the low, old fashioned par
| lor. Her box of color-tubes stood on
the floor beside the easel. and the pal
| lette and brushes, with the paint still
moist and odorous upon them, lay on
table near by.
Yes" she said, with self-satisfied
| dimpling smile. 81 think it will pass
muster, mother dear. Confess now,
that / managed those bits of sunlight
and shade with the skill of an old mas
ter. And am l not represented 'as large
| rs life, only more so?''
"And what shall we call it, dearP"
| asked Mrs. Kendall, fair, brown-haired
widow, who looked very much like her
| daughter. '-
"'Under the lilacs,' l think" 1t
doesn't look very modest, suppose, to
paint oneself; but in the dearth of mod
Ell, was compelled to do So"
"As If prettier model could be de-
sired!" exclaimed Mrs. Kendall with
motherly pride.
Yes, it was very pretty model. and
very pretty bit of painted canvas.
Overhead hung great punches of the
fragrant lilac blooms, framing an ex-
quisite, smiling, girlish face. One hand
was stretched upward, and the loose
sleeve had slipped carelessly back, dis
closing the white rounded arm. Her
apron was almost filled with great odor-
Gus lilac punches. while she was just in
the act of plucking another. Over all
the sunlight streamed-warm, bright,
golden.
Il shall 60 to town with it myself"
said Nan, land make-oh, ever so
much money on it, mother dear! Then
we shall have new carpet; for this one,
though almost hidden by rugs innumer-
able, is undeniably shabby. And shall
get my piano tuned, and buy those new
waltzes Hetty spoke about last week,
and-and I'm sure l don't know what
all. l thank the fates that they have
decreed old furniture to be very stylish
and nice for I'm afraid won't get
enough to buy anything new in that di-
rection''
"Don't build too many air-castles,
Nannette," said her mother warming
ly, ''for you may be disappointed, after
But brave little Nannette's hopeful-
ness was not dashed in the least. She
had worked so long ON this picture; had
been 50 painstsking. Surely in the
great city, ten miles away, there must
be some one who would admire it and
buy it.
Not quite week later Mr.. Curtis
sauntered listlessly into one of the West
1 ,-.I, Il, Il InA
himself, with a dissatisfied sigh, at one
! of tho numerous small tables, covered
with whitest, softest damask, and gilt
tering with silver.
Business had been unutterably dull
during the past week, notwithstanding
the fact that it was early in spring, and
Mr.. Curtis's affairs had suffered more
| than a little. Hence his unwOnted per-
| turbation of mind.
So preoccupied was he that he did
not notice he had q vis-G-vis, till coffee
and rolls had been. brought him.
The cloud lifted suddenly from his
handsome forehead, and he glanced
| with deep interest at the girl opposite
hinl-Nannette Kendall herself. Curtis
| thought it was one of the most beauti-
| full faces he had ever seen-exquisite in
its modelling, perfect in its contour. Her
eyes looked sad and disappointed, as if
ready to drop tears.
Yes, Nan had met with great dis
| appointment She had been unable to
| dispose of the picture round which her
| hopes had centred so long, and now she
must return home even poorer than be-
fore.
She had walked about the city all
day, not quite despairing of success,
| until the approach of evening. Then,
| fearful lest her mother might be anxious,
| she had left the picture at kind-heart-
ed booksellers who had promised to
sell it for her if possible.
She had decided to take the five
o'clock train but she had missed it, and
now even her brave heart quailed 8
little at the thought of riding home
alone at night.
Faint for lack of food, she had enter
ed the cafe, never dreaming she was
| guilty of extravaganza unparalleled,
| as it was one of the most fashionable,
expensive restaurants in the city.
| Poor Nannette! her head was aching,
her nerves tingling; her eyes were ho1
with unshed tears of modification anc
disappointment. What a relief it wOulC
have been if she could have indulged II
a good hearty cry! But even that little
boon was denied her in this great, bust
ling, hurrying, noisy, selfish city. CHE
adiectives are Mans own.)
| Her repast finished, Nan put her hant
into her pocket for her shabby littl'
purse. The next moment she uttered
an exclamation of terror and dismay
The purse and money were botl
gone!
The waiter stood beside her with out
stretched hand, faint smile of incred
ulitv on his smooth countenance. Peo
ple who couldn't find their purses were
by no means rare.
..But l have lost itr' faltered poo
Nan, pale and trembling with genuin
terror and distress; ''or else someon
: has stolen it from me-my purse with
five-pound note in it. "
Curtis had heard every word. II
looked at Nan critically, and at tn
same time sympathetically The trou
bled look in the brown eyes was so pain
fully apparent thath did not for me
ment share the walters suspicion.
A brilliant idea came to him. Qulc
as thought he distracted tive-poun
note from his own purse.
Nan had not seen the action, but tn
ouick-witted waiter had.
. Il beg your pardon!' Curtis sal
quickly and courteously; 'but l thin
this must be the missing note. L foun
| it beside your chair just now. Doub
| less YOU have taken it out Of your purss