The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-05
Remember, it is only one chance in a


US all, especially when it comes to doing any
thing original"
But poor Deb's creative faculty was sadly out
of fix Just at this critical time. She thought
she had pretty and artistic designs in her head;
but they would not 60 down on canvas, or, if
they did, seemed so commonplace and ugly she
was quite out of patience with them.
Ony few days remained before the cOmpeti
ton took place, and all the girls but herself had
their designs ready; good, bad, and Indifferent.
She shut herself up in her room one day, with
grim determination, Its now or never" she
said, If | can't do it to-day, might as well
give it all up-prize, Munich, Gertrude, and alln'
She sat down before her easel, and feverishly
and nervousy took up her brushes, mixed her
paints, and began to sketch One canvas after
another was tossed aside, and she was just about
to give up in despair, when, at last, design be-
ganto take a rather promising shape.
A soft tap came upon the door Come in
mamma dear. oh what is the matter with
you, dear| she said springing up III quick
alarm, for Mrs. Danas face was very white and
drawn with pain.
1T is my old heart trouble again, nothing
serious l hope. If l could only lie down and be
perfectly quiet for few hours, think [ should
be better. The children are very troublesome
and noisy this afternoon, they have been shut
in so long with this rainy weather. 1t has
cleared off now and came to see If you would
drive them into the country and keep them out
of the house until tea time But you are busy,
Debby, so never mind, I'll manage some other
way"
She shut the door and wentinto her own room
Debs face grew white, too. The last afternoon
"a decent design almost sketched in. If she
went away now all would be lost!
She stood quite still moment and her lips
moved softly, then the color came back into her
cheeks, she laid down her brushes, hung up her
apron and followed her mother.
''Never mind Habout the work, mamma DEAR
let me fix your pillow and make you comfortable
then I'll pile the children into the carriage and
take them to the woodsy place l found the
other day There's a brook for the boys to
wade in and no end of flowers for Kittie, Posey
and the baby"
My precious daughter, how much you help
me-"
''Td really be little brute if I did not try to,
mamma, considering what an angel of goodness
you always are to me-" But she turned quickly
away that her mother might not see her wet
lashes
1t was quite dusk when the merry, tired party
came jogging home. They were all crowned
with oak leaves. Even Moses the steady old nag,
had little branches of oak stuck behind his ears
Debby gave the children their suppers of
Snow white milk and crusty rolls,
undressed the little ones, heard all the prayers
and tucked the children into bed. When she
had sung good night hymn for them she went
into her mothers room.
81 am quite myself again, daughter; quite
rested, and have just Weakened up from most
refreshing sleep. Did you have pleasant
time!'
Debby knelt down on the floor, cuddled her
head on the pillow close to the dear mothers and
told her about the afternoon
'And, mamma, l do believe have a design in
my head at last that will be something like what
l wanted to paint / will go to work on 1t early
in the morning and it may not be too late yet.
The day had come for the awarding of the
prize. The studio, prettily decorated with flow
ers and FERNS was crowded with the anxious
girls and their friends. The designs were
placed IN a row where the light good and
covered with curtain which was drawn aside
when Mr. Elton entered the room. He walked
slowly past each one, examining it critically
through his gold eye glasses and talking in
low tone to the teacher. After he had looked at
all in turn and re-examined each one, he went
into another room with Mr. Love while the girls
friends crowded up to pass their Judgment upon
the work exhibited. Mr.. Lowell returned and
stood upon the little platform. The room became
very still. Not a girl but what had spent
the $500 tenatimes over in her mind Who was to
be the fortunate one to spend it in realityl
Mr.. Elton desires me to say that while all
the designs are commendable and show much
originality and beauty, he is especially pleased.
with No. 8, and awards the prize to it,"
The room swan before Deb's glad eyes. 1t
was too good to be true. No 8 was her design
The girls congratulated her with sweet good
will ana AIR. Elton shook hands with her.
sit carries re back to the happiest days of
my life, when lived on farm with my mother
You could not have GoBe anything to suit me
better"
Of course everybody was not pleased with it.
'Such simple thing" they said, inst half so
fine as Mary Downss, nor SO artistic as Bessie
Leland's." Yet iii its very simplicity lay the
charm which had caused it to touch Mr. Elton S
heart
In the foreground was rough stone wall,
painted in beautiful greys, touched here and
there with the tender green of MOSES and
lichens. Behind the wall rose a thick of
regal hollyhocks, the foliage frightened here
and there by the deep wine colored, canary -hued,
pink, delicate white and red flowers"
'How did you come to think of such an odd
and oldfashioned thing, Debby?' said her
mother
81 got the idea for it the day took the chill
dren into the woods; it touched me, somehow,
and painted it, but scarcely dared to hope it
would take the prize | am glad it did,
though, but wish the other girls could have
had prizes, too"
1t was settled that Deborah should go abroad
in September. She did not want to go until
after Hugh her twin brother, had spent his
cation at home.
The summer went swiftly by, until at last the
time came when Debby's trunk was packed, her
state-room engaged by telegraph, on the steamer
City of Lyons, and the next day she was to 60 to
New York with her father and set sail for Eu-
rope. She went out in the afternoon to say
goodbye to her cousins and aunt. II may stay to
tea and come home with Sam afterwards, if Sue
is not going out" But Sue had an engagement
for the evening so in the early twilight Debby
came home again. The house was quite de-
serted Neither her mother nor any of the
children were about She was tired with her
packing and her walk; so, instead of going up
stairs she threw herself upon the Sofa which
stood behind the curtains in the bay window,
and fell asleep She was awakened by voices
near her
''My dear boy, it quite breaks my heart; but
l don't see how it can be helped Your father
has heavy bills to meet this fall and cannot spare
you the money though you know, Hugh, how
gladly he would do it if it were possible
II might get along with less, mother. If can
only finish the work this year, Mr.. Seeley will
take me with him to Mexico next September,
but he insists upon my graduating first"
Gould you not stay out of school year and
earn money enough in the store to take you
through afterwards"
''Yes, can do that, but will miss the Mexico
chance; and that is a great thing you know"
..There is waY Hugh. but hate to sneak Of