Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-15
Gales aud Sketthfs.
THE ONLY PUPIL.

I WOludH. HiSC HtsAt e>A1N - ~-~-
| little figure, when her father died.
One after another her elder sisters had
married and left home: and Lizzie kept
[ house for her widowed father and forgot
the lapse of time
The Two old servants considered her a
mere child, and she was always the young
est at the rare family reunions. Her faith
/ er had advised, praised and scolded her
as though she had been in her teens to the
I last
He was so old when he went quietly to
| sleep for the last time that people had
thought Elizabeth would be prepared
| for her loss - but she was not, and after
the first great grief and the shock OF leav-
/ ing the old home, when the property was
divided and the house sold. she found
that another change had befallen her.
/ She was no longer Miss Lizzie. the
I Youngest daughter still at home, but a
middle-aged spinster living in boarding
/ house.
Often when she had hurried upstairs
/ and shut the door of her room she had
thought to herself that she could not en-
dure this condition of things much longer.
but, after all. she dreaded to make a
change.
She was exactly in the condition to jump
at anything which offered occupation and
interest. when the postmau one day
brought hera circular, gilt edged and rose
tinted. bearing these words:
.'Mr Buckle respectfully desires to
make known to the public the fact that he
is about to reopen his classes in water
color painting, English school, next Mon
day. Terms most reasonable. Early ap-
pication desirable. as the number of pupils
will be limited. Studio. No. -
street y
1t was an attractive looking card and as
Miss Elizabeth read it an idea came into
her mind Why should she not take les
sons in water-color painting?
She would enjoy the work. She could
afford it, 1t would pass the time. She
could perhaps sketch from nature next
summer
A little thrill ran through her at this
thought She got her bonnet and mantilla,
her parasol and her gloves, and taking
the card with her, hurried to make appli
cation for A place in the class before it was
too late, for it was now Saturday after
noon.
She found the number easily. A large
building with many rooms and at the very
top of the house four engravers. lady
"desinger on wood,' and Mr.. Buckles
name on neat door-plate.
Miss Elizabeth, quite breathless by this
time, applied her knuckles to the pannels
and after little delay and some creaking
of boots on a bare floor, the door opened
and middle-aged gentleman, with a few
gray hairs in his whskers and bald spot
on his head, appeared. with palette on
his thumb and brush in his hand, and
bowling politely requested the lady to en-
ter
"Mr Buckle ?" Elizabeth said with an
interrOgative reflection
The gentleman bowed again.
81 received your card" said Miss
Elizabeth. 81 think I should like to join
your class, if it is not full"
at is not full as vet, madam replied
Mr.. Buckle. land should be delighted to
receive you as pupil.
He opened a portfolio as he spoke.
My work" he said; perhaps you'd
like to look at it,"
The portfolio was full of sketches in
water color of English scenes. cottages.
lanes. old women gathering fegots, ladies
walking in old parks.
They We're not great but they were very
good. Miss Elizabeth was delighted.
How kind of you to take class" she
said. beaming. "Such an artist as you
are"
Mr.. Buckle bowed again. He evidently
preferred bowlng to speaking.
I'm sure I've seen your pictures in the
academy" she said: land admired
them"
Mr. Buckle blushed violently and bowed
again.
How modest" thought Miss Eliza
beth.
very reasonable. She paid it on the spot,
received little list of necessary paper,
colors. etc, and went away.
Sunday passed slowly, despite its three
episodes of church going. she awaited her
first lesson with such impatience.
At last the hour came. She climed the
sairs again, and entered the door of the
room on which the name of Buckle ap-
peared. A long pine table and six cane
bottomed chairs, an easel, and some can
vases and portfolios, furnished the ROOM
A South American hammock was twisted
into coil and hung over some pegs. A
planket portiere hung on a rod within the
door. But there was no one there but
Mr. Buckle.
sam l too earlyp" Elizabeth asked,
glancing at her watch. II see am the
first"
"Oh no. indeed" replied Mr.. Buckle
at is the other pupils who are too late.
We won't wait for them"
He began his lessons at once, and Miss
Elizabeth was absorbed in her work. An
hour passed-two.
The lesson was over. Ne pupils had
arrived. tG ft-f- I'll
Ladies are seldom as prompt as you
are" said Mr.. Buckle. "Any time will
do to begin; any time. They delay. They
procrastinate. It's pity"
at is surprising to me that they are not
more anxious to avail themselves of such
advantages" said Miss Elizabeth. hardly
able to tear herself away from the con-
temptation Of the blue sky, with white
clouds that had grown under her brush.
II have had delightful lesson"
Again she waited with impatience.
Again she climbed up the long stairs.
Again there were no other pupils present.
Again none arrived.
But this time brown root grew under