Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-07
4 MODERN PYGMALION.

Johnny Lapton was very enthusiastic
young man. Whether literature, art or
music, he ravcd about ail and dabbied in
al Fortunately, lie was not dependent
upon am one Of them for his daily bread,
or Johnny might have been reduced to n
dry crust He held small government
appointment, where the pay was pretty
good rs times go. Solc scraped his violin
and daubed his canvases and wrote his
little verses with a gay and careless heart.
The summer had come, and Johnny was
to have his holiday. lie determined TO
spend it abroad, not with crowds of tourists
nor in the most beaten tracks, but to strike
out little for himself. He was tired of
being petted (or patronized, as he called it,
by all his acquaintances, for there was
something so fresh and youthful about
Johnny I.upton that people were led to
treat him at once in friendly, not to say
familiar, manner This Master Johnny
resented. His very name was perpetual
ANNOYANCE to him. He preferred TO be
called Mr.. Lupton, or Lupton, or even Jack
BY his intimate frieuds-but it was no use
every one called him Johnny, and Johnny
he was likely 10 be till the end of the chap
ter.
SO he determined to assert his personal
dignity, and 10 travel alone. After much
consideration he fixed upon innsbruck as
his headquarters, whence he could make
excursions into the Tyroi lie directed his
luggage Her Lupt0n, in the most osten-
4,tf.
at the least, to get rid Of the sound of the
obnoxious johnny"
He was 50 pleased with Innsbruck that
he seemed likely 10 spend all his holiday
there. The people were very friendly, the
town was picturesque; but it was not only
these charms that enthralled Mr. Lupton.
" have said that be was very enthusiastic.
The fact was, lie had seen picture in the
museum which 50 captivated his youth
full fancy that the romantic young man was
becoming second Pygmali0n. 1t is true
that he had not painted the picture, as the
Greek sculptor had heWn his statue, but he
vas equally in love with an inanimate OBJ
iect.
The lady OF his dreams was dark. crowned
with a diaden Of starry jasmine, and
levels round her neck. Her velvet dress
hing in heavy folds. and from her waist
HING dagger in = lighly-oTnamented
sheath. Buy the lady did NOT look murder
Gus. Her full red lips were smiling and
her ewes soft, as ii welcoming lover. The
sky behind her was blue, ike the sky of
sunny Italy; and in her hand she held 4
bunch Of orange blossoms. Her name,
however. was German. In n corner Of the
picture one read, CarlOtta, Gratn Won
WerdenfeIs.n Yhis was the lady who kept
Johnny Lupton in InGspfuck
10 baS .b-oir,ai rNarniSsiDD n CoI,y in
the museum, and day after day saw him
there endeavoring TO transfer the fair
features 10 his canvas.
But he was to be driven away sooner
than he expected. One evening as he was
standing in his accustomed place, gazing i'll
rapt admiration. he was reused from his
reverie by q slap on the back-yes, an an
nistakabie, jovial slap on the back.
He turned round with outraged dignity
in every feature which turned into conster-
nation when he saw the man. It was the
greatestFbore in the office Flight was the
only possible course. Johnny gazed round
like hunted animal. How was he 10 get
away
All, Johnny, me bhoy delighted to
see ye I've Just been longing 10 see a
craythur that could understand the lang
wdge. Drawn q picture, too. toine,
s;rappin' wench Not SO good looking Is
philippine Welzer, though. Come and
have a look at her now"
I'm SICK aud tired of philippine Wei
yer and everything connected with her. and
50 you'll be if goa stay here more than
day. What are your plans? Where are
you going
Och I'm just undecided. III be
guided by you
PRAY, don't think Of such thing! Pray
don't count upon me! Besides, IN goinS.
I'm of to-aay-turning ny steps home
ward. yuu know. In fact quilting out his
watch, ] must be of a once
You don't say 50, now
Hastily scram5iius together his belong
inss. cutting short his friends regrets with
indecent haste. giving one last lock At Car
l0tta Won Wericnlels. Mr. LuP'ou rushct
from the museum. his friends S,entoriAn
tones re-echoias atcr him through the
rooms
% Good b., johnny,
Before the sun had set be was ~ PaTten-
J,;-chen, charming little town in Bavaria.
He was amused az his own pgecipitatc
f1i.bt He need not have come 50 far.
Why had he not stopped al 5eeteld or Nit
tenwald both Wild. inteIes inr places.
However, The inn at PaTtcnEirchen seemed
comfortable. and there "eTc plenty OF
7,-,.,nts-ag excursions to be nada; 50 he
resolved 10 carry out bis original plan OF
exploring the villages Of the fyrol.
Sui poor J0hHny's plans seemed destined
to be frustrated.
Running down the wide wooden stair
case Of thciau, bis foot slipped His hands
were full-he could not save himself-he
fell heavily q sharp point Of the carved
balustrade running into, or dangerously
near. his eye The pain was intense, AMI
the wound hled pr0,Csely. IN IN instant
group sympataizins people were lament
ing around him:
Ach au lci5c Zet3 Ach lie aruc Eng
ianderi7
Meanwhile, Frau Werner, the landiady,
instead Of SAYING OH. and All" had
sent for Jhe doctor.
He came at once, shook his head graveiv,
bsndaged poor Johnny's eyes, and con-
DENIED him TO darkness for week.
Here was pretty thing-h.S eye dam
aged, perhaps Tor l;ie aud-who knows?
(such Is the sympathy between The two
delicate organs, the other enc might fol-
low suit and he would eventually become
totally blind. And all had happened IN
moment, only o few minutes ago. ard he
was starting, uUinjGged and lisut-hcarted,
for a stroll around the place.
Johnny reflections were not very OK
hilarating as the do-joT and the landlaly
guided him upstairs again, and the pain in
his eye kept btn awake al night Next
morning. however youth and good health
asserted their sway, ana johnny began 10
take more hopeful view Of things. The
question vas how 10 amusa himself
He propoulded his officially to the per
son who brought him his coffee and was
answered by q sweet voice full Of sympathy.
Johnny was struck by Tie tones-they " re
soft and yet - cle2g.
Are YOU her diIghtar?'
mo" answered the soft, low voice, I'm
Lolita"
"Ohp' he said md then stopped. The
name did net give much information, but
Il was the name of tie Countess of Wcrden-