, 1886-06-29

like 1.-The rest OF us; but her face has not
p~erished-there 1t is on the canvas. AS
long us the colors last 1t Will never cease
to be n striking, and to most people, "A
charming picture. |, for one. had not
forgotten it, and here, in Winnipeg oil
all places in the world, was the same
face
| do not need to tell you that it was not
quite the same face; for, rs | said, the
woman OF the Dresden painting died long
ago. But it was a face of a rare type,
and the girl in my friends drawing-room
reproduced it exactly. Now no words OF
mine can do as intellectually not in a
few touches. This is where the painters
have the advantage of us. For when u
really great artist gives the world n por-
trait he makes features expression
and soul III | may use the world together
so as to tell n harmonious tale that the
whole man stands before us. So when say
that the girls face was oval, the forehead
of that kin which is best suited by nav
ing the hair brushed back from 1t and
then massed above it, with perhaps a tiny
curl escaping at either side, the eyebrows
arched high above the soft hazel eyes, the
nose neither Greek nor Roman, but n
happy mixture of both, the mouth small
and firm and shaped like the very bow OF
Cupid, the cheeks rounded and tinted with
warm color, | can not but feel that have
given n somewhat wlifeless catalogue OF
certain details, and not n complete pre-
sentiment. How can | describe the charm
of tits grace; its vivacity, the look oil
wonder, struggling with humor in the
eyes, Yet you can see all these ana mucn
more Mt n glance in the Dresden picture.
The extraordinary resemblance was
helped even by the way in which the girl
xuua ,1rouuoL Tho xxhifa column Of her
neck was exposed save where n row OF
amber beads partly hid it; the square
bodice she wore was of a dark rich ma
terial, the skirt OF the same, but slashed
across with n broad band of lace.
It was almost possible to believe she had
stepped out of that century-old painting
An elderly gentleman was talking to
her-perhaps paying her some pretty com,
pilmen.' 4 ios sls P% RRihr5a smile. | asked to
be introduced, and found she was as in
teresting and agreeable as could be wished.
She was enthusiastic about Canada. She
told me she wa a newcomer to Winnipeg,
indeed, to the Dominion. Perhaps | might
laugh at her, but she felt she must come
out to the northwest. She did not know
what it was, but she was sure she had a
mission out here. There were plenty OF
fine young fellows at the Dalston's that
evening, ana wondered II her mission
was IN the room. She looked forward
with pleasure TO the winter. VI course IL
was cold, very cold; but the skating and
the toboggahing ana the show-shoeihg
Then the sleighing-how splendid it must
be to glide along over mile upon mile OF
smooth snow, with the bells tinkling IN
the keen, clear air. She was delighted
with her Canadian friends; the girls were
so bright and Jolly, the men such good
fun And on she prattled in u way that
was altogether very winning. was com
PEELED to leave the party early, ana though
l did not see my Dresden lace IN winnipeg
again, ! did not forget 1t.
Two years later was meditating a holl
day trip. II was the middle OF summer,
and had been hard Mt work for many n
month and needed some change, The ques-
ton was, where to gor Should | betake
myself to Ontario-the charming voyage
across the lakes in one of the delightful
&. 7. X. boats was very tempting. There
was the United States, n tremendously
wide field: what point should make for
While thus he.itated events took the
trouble OF coming to n decision ont OF my
hands
one morning a letter came with the
calgary stamp an the envelope, ana the
handwriting was quite unknown To me
This was what was sad In 1t:
Dear MIR. Stephenson' Perhaps you
have forgotten me, but shall always re
member your Kindness TO me on a certain
occasion. You were good enough TO lend
me $40, though was n complete stranger
without any clam upon you can't LOT
get that nave tried TO Keep up some
sort oil acquaintance with you, Tor nave
/ rpnu everything Won have written since |
saw you. NOW am about TO be married
and ! am very anxious that you should be
associated with that important step III my
NE. 10 come out mere 10 me means good
deal OF expense ana takes up some III
But II you can get away from your duties
in the city for a fortnight or three weeks,
you VIII perhaps allow me TO make the
money all right. II you nave never been
out here you VIII be pleased to see the
country ana, II you ike you can go on to
the mountains; can assure you, at any
RATE oil a royhl tlme when you are with
me- can hardly say how disappointed
l VIII ne II you are unable TO come
Please telegraph IL you Will come Very
gratefully yours, EDWARD DAVIES
Here was a holiday, but it was even
more delightful TO be in this
KIND OF way what II pleasant feeling
TINS unexpected letter gave mel Or course
/ t~elegrapheh my acceptance oil Mr..
Davies oncr.
W or three weeks later took the
western train from winnipeg, sped past
Portage Ia Prairie, lying amid its yellow
ing wheat fields; ON across the long, green
levels OF the plains, with settlers huts
rising here and there; through the sand
hill country, with its stunted trees and
marshy hollows; along the valley of ASSN
iodine, where Brandon stands; on to
Regina, and on and on westward for a
connie of DAYS. till we come ia the land of