The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-03-17
Carradine's Love.


struggling boy, just entering on thai
race which must be run by every aspirant
to art and its honors. there happened tc
him something which neither time MOI
toll bad ever been able TO tfface from bis
memory. As he was passing along the
streets a wreath of fragrant roses sudden
ly fell on lis head, and, looking up in
wonder, he beheld, reaching out from
the embroidered draperies of an over
hanging window, child, with fairy-llke
proportions, with gr,at, cark eyes, and
long, curling black locks. who stood
smiling and throwing lin kisses from
her curved lips colored like pome-
granate. While she still gazed a nuTfe
had como forward and drawn the child
away; the curtains we're closed, and lie
saw the little creature no more.
Such was the vision that the artist lad
carried so long In his memory; in his
memory only, for he hal no second
glimpse of the child. That very day an
accident had occurred which kept him a
prisoner in his room for some weeks, and
when next lie went out the house was
empty, and placard with great hnrng
letters announcing it for sale stared him
in the face, from the same window in
which the little wliite-robed eli had stood
waving her hand and smiling to bin. In
course of time other faces appeared there,
but they were strange fuces. and among
them was never the one for which lie
looked.
Now, MS Carradine sat painting alone.
he thought of all this; of the struggle
that had ended at length in success; of
his hard unIriended boyhood, and of the
beautiful child with her fragrant rose.
crown, which had seemed almost like
| prophecy. That rose.wreath, dry and
witbered now, was all that was left to
him of the fair vision, but when this
morning in turning over an old port
iolio, be had come upon it by chance, it
spoke to him ofthat by-gone d.y just
AS eloqHently as when its blossoms were
fresh and full.
Eight years ago. he said. thought
fully, letting the sIrivelled circlet slip
through his fingers slowly. She must he
near lG now-if she lives. i? No, do
not doubt her living, preseucs-some-
where. wonder where she is now, al d
what she is like at lG?"
With that, he placed the wreath be-
side his easel and began to'paint. The
face, as it grew on his canvas, presented d
a young girl in the dewy morning binsh
of first youth, with shadows in the u eat
dark eyes and half smile about IL Q
bright curved lips, like Nu embodied
summer sun shower. 1t was thus that
tn artist pictured bis ideal of the child
woman, whose iufautile look and smile
fer eight long years had been his own
dream OF love.
: CNrradine had not had an easy life.
An orphan from his earliest years, poor
aud unfriended, he had s'riven hard for
the means 10 crafty t at Inherent idola-
try for art which was always clamorir g
to find expression in form and colo-ing.
He had fought and lie had won; but
now, at &c, he stood in the place which
he bad gained for himself almost as much
. alone Mt the very heart as ho had been
eight years before, when the child's Gift
came to him as IA prophecy.
1t was not that he was friendless
There were men who liked and sought
him. women who would have gladly
taught linn to forget his loneliness il
their affection. But though his nature
responded readily to any kindness. there
was one chord, deeper than all, thGt re
mained untouched; and, from the sweet
est glauces, his thoughts went back t.
tie unknown child that had smiled dowI
on him go long ago.
r The ideal head became his great sourc,
d of enjoyment, and, dreamy softnes
Y shaded his dark gray eyes, as line b.
line and tint by tint took him back int,
G that past. which. all lifeless as it was
! SEEMED to him, in those moments, mt 7
real than the busy present. Yet now, il
n reviewing that one bright vision of ii
memory it was not s, much the lovei
child that he saw, in fancy, as the b, au
tiful girl whose face, with fuller dept
AMI sweetness, looked out at him IA, L
i his own canvas.
c Iustinctively, he hardly knew why. b
IS hisliked 10 work on this picture in an
" other presence, and he devoted to it OF ]
nis hours Of solitude. So 1t happeIe
" that il Was nearly finished when, by 81 m
chance. friend discovered hln bel din
. over it, too absorbed TO notice any al
= preach. As the door opened, CdrIadin
,t rose hastily, turning his easel to the wal
so as TO conceal the face upon it. Thi
little strategem, however, was deslne
Vi to be OF no avail. H,ving been marke
i, by the Intruder-one of those cordia
well meaning people, good-rntured TO
degree, but with little d.licacY of pel
:, ception the action at once aroused b
lv curios ty.
n, "Aha, master painter" be said. with
laugh, "let us see what il is that yo
ce work at by yourself till it steals ava
your eyes ANA ears. Only one peeF"
as With that, he laid his hand on II
frame, and, receiving no forbiddiu
- word from Cnrradine. turned it rount
- The next moment hs WAS loud in b
praise.
TX "But who is it, Carradinei If it is
NJ portrait tell me where to fpd the origi
.ht al, Rnd will if it is q seven days jou
ed neyT
"e CArradine smiled.