The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-06-06

BY ANTHONY E. ANDERSON.

BY ANTHONY E. ANDERSON.
Nan Kendall held her pretty
brown head on one side, and critic
ally examined the picture which sht
had just finished.
The easel stood by the open win
dow, through which the scent of Ii
lacs was borne into the low, old
fashioned parlor. Her box nfcolor
tubes stood on the floor beside the
easel, and the palette and brushes,
with the paint still moist and odor
Gus upon them, lay upon a small
table near by.
EYES," she said, with a self salts
fed, dimpling smile, using the mahl-
stick to aid her as she enumerated
the good points of her picture, Il
think it will pass muster, mdher,
dear. Confess now that / mSh4ge
those bits of sunshine and shade
with the skill of an old master. And
am / not represented as large as life,
only more SOP"
Sand what shall you call it,
dear?" asked Mrs. Kendall, a fair,
brown haired widow, who looked
very much like her daughter.
"Under the lilacs," l think. 1t
doesn't look very modest, l suppose,
to paint ones self, but in the dearth
of models, / was compelled to do
So"
"As if a prettier model could be
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 exquisite smiling, girlish face.
Her hand was Stretched upward,
and the loose sleeve had slipped
back, disclosing the white,
arm.
Her apron was almost filled with
great, odorous lilac punches, while
she was just in the act of plucking
Over all the sunlight streamed,
warm, bright, golden.
81 shall go to New York with it
said Nan, land make-oh,
ever so much money or it, mother,
dear. Then we shall have a new
for this one, though almost
hidden by rugs innumerable, is un-
deniable shabby. And / shall get
my piano tuned, and buy those new
waltzes Hetty spoke of last week,
and. I'm sure, l don't know what
all. / 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 direction"
Don't build too many air castles,
said her mother. warn
ingly, 'for you may be disappointed
after all"
But brave little Nannette's hope
fulness was not dashed in the least.
She had worked so long on this pict-
ure. had been SO painstaking. 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
Van Tasscl sauntered listlessly into
one of the down town cafes, toward
dusk. and settled himself, with dis
satisfied sigh, at one of the numer-
ous small tables, covered with the
softest damask, and glitter
ing with silver.
Business had been unutterably
dull during the past week, notwith-
the fact that it was early in
spring and Mr.. Van Tassel's affairs
had suffered more than a little.
Hence his unwonted pertuberation
Of mind.
So preoccupied was he that he did
not notice he had Wis a Wis, 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 him-Nannette Kendall
herself
Curtis thought it was one of the
most beautiful faces he had ever
seen, exquisite in its modelling, per-
feet in its contour.
Her eyes looked sad and disap-
as if ready to drop tears.
Yes, Nan had met with a great
disappointment. She had been un-
able to sell the picture round which
her hopes had centered go long. and
she must return hone poorer than
before.
She had walked about the city all
day, not quite despairing of success,
until the approach ofevening. Then,
fearful lest her mother might be
anxious, she had left her picture
with kind hearted 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 quail
ed little at the thought of riding
home alone at night on the cars.
Faint for lack Of food, she had en-
tered the cafe, never dreaming she
was guilty of extravagance unparal-
leled, as it was one of the most fash
expensive restaurants in tie
city.
Poor Nannettei ! her head was ach-
ing, her nerves tingling, hef eyes
were hot with unshed tears Of NOR
tification and disappointment. .
What . relief it would have been
If she could have indnleed in q good,
hearty cry. But even that little