Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-12-12

fist of renown. Even royalty had
been pleased to compliment her upon
her art.
For the last month one of Helen
Armstrong; paintings had been on
exhibition at the Academy of Design,
and crowds had been drawn thither
to see this last work of the celebrated
artist. The subject was simple, moth
ing new, yet visitors returned again
and again to gaze at it.
1t was the last day of its exhibition,
when lady and gentleman, the gen.
tleman leading little girl of perhaps
three years by the hand, passed into
the room where the picture hung.
"Oh, isn't it too bad that there is
such a crowd; / wanted to seeit, )" eX-
claimed the lady. To which the gen.
tleman replied:
ave will look at the other pictures
first and come back again; perhaps
there will not be such q crowd then"
An hour or two later the gentleman
and lady returned; then the room
was almost deserted, except for few
strangers here and there. 1t was just
about time to close the gallery.
For few moments they stood in
silence before the painting then a
little voice said:
"Baby wants to see, too, papa"
Stoopingdown the gentleman raised
the pretty, daintily dressed child in
his arms.
After gravely regarding the picture
for a second, the little one asked:
as "a mad, pappa?"
81 am afraid one was, pet" came
the low answer, as Edwin Bennett
softly kissed the fair cheek of his lit
tie girl. Then his gaze returned to
the painting.
A stretch Of yellow sands, dotted
here and there by huge boulders and
piles Of snowy pebbles, against which
the ovrhanging cliffs looked almost
black. Gentle little baby waves rip
pling in toward the shore, while ma
jestic, purple-hued silver-edged clouds
seemed floating en- masse toward the
golden, crimson-barred sun that flood
ed the sky and water with its warm
light.
In the centre of the picture, where
the beach formed a curve resembling
horseshoe, was an old boat, turned
bottom upward some few feet of
the figure of young man, apparently
walking hurriedly away. Although
the face was not visible, the gazer felt
that the man suffered, that the glori-
Gus sunset was this day as naught to
| him. Perhaps it was in the tightly
, clasped hands, the veins of which
stood out like great cords, or may be,
in the mans apparent total disregard
: of his surroundings.
To the right of the picture was the
, figure of young girl, trailing para.
} sol in the sand, as she appeared tc
: move slowly in the opposite direction
} from her companion Only a little
/ bit Oft delicately shaped ear and q
r mass of glossy braids showed from
! beneath the shade hat, but one could
: readily believe that the pretty gir!ish
| figure belonged to an equally attrac
g tive face.
About halfway between them,
| traced upon the sands, were the
L words, "Fame versus Love-"
: "Is it not lovely, Edwin" ant
Mrs. Bennett laid her hand upon he
: husbands arm as she added:
= "Yet how sad it somehow seems
t / can't help feeling sorry for them
S ] wish l could see their faces; / fee
as if wanted to turn them round
r Clasping the little hand that resteC
n so confdingly on his arm, Edwin
e Bennett inwardly thanked God 70
t the gift of his fair young wife, as h
e said:
s "Come, dear, they are commencini
e to close up. Baby's tired, too"
: CESS, mes tired. Baby wants t
tiss mammal lisped the child, hold
ing out her tiny arms.
/, Husband and wife failed to motto
lady who stood near, gazing at
is painting. AS the pretty young moth
" er stopped down to receive her baby
l. kisses, which the little one lavishe
:: on cheeks, lips and brow; a deel
" yearning look gathered in the strang
# lady's eyes, and she turned hastil
away.
er go Edwin !" exclaimed his wife, 8
a. they passed the silent figure in black
y wouldn't it be nice if baby shoul