St. Landry democrat., 1886-10-09
he SCARED HIMSELF.

he SCARED HIMSELF.
The Story OF Thoughtiess Boy Who Aft.
erwards Became q Great Painter.
Afternoon was wearing toward even
ing in the west of England, and dark
ness was already beginning to creep
over the shadowy chambers and long
narrow passages of sn old English
country house, although it was still
broad daylight outside. Darkest of all
was deep recess in the wall at the
end of the great corridor in the third
story, where boy seemed to be hard
atwork upon something that appeared
to require all his attention.
Had there been light enough to see
have been struck by the ineness of its
outline, and the thoughtful depth OF
expression in the large bright eyes
which attracted the notice of all who
saw him for the first time, although
no one could easily have guessed then
what he was one day to be. But just
at that moment "Wild Davie,' as
he was very justly called, was busy
with very mischievous piece
of sport, matchmaking less than
the dressing up of "ghost" to
brighten his playfellows In the dark
recess at the end of the corridor stood
marble statue of Apollo the Archer,
with one arm outstretched as if in the
very act of bending his fatal bow
Outlined in it's ghostly whiteness
against the deep gloom behindit, it was
startling sight at the best of times;
but beneath the skillful hands of our
hero it was fast growing into a monster
that might have scared General Grant
himself.
Leaving the long white neck stand
ing out bare and spectral against the
darkness, he folded black cloak
around the body, letting the cold, dead
whiteness of the marble peep out ev-
cry here and there. Upon the face he
fixed nideous red and black mask
with staring eyes, while over the ex-
tended arm he hung white cloth with
a crimson handkerchief pinned to it,
which at little distance looked terri.
bly, like broad stain of blood. Around
the lower limbs he wrapped piece
of yellow Chinese silk, twisted up so
as to look like a coiling snake; and
then, by way of finishing touch, he
placed at the monsters feet, a small
lantern, lighting up all the CHASTITY de-
tails with weird, unearthly glare.
"Hon't it make 'em jump chuckled
ne, as he stepped back to took at the
effect of his work.
If any one had told Davie at that
moment that he was playing very
cruel and cowardly trick, which had
frightened many children to death and
scared many more into hopeless idiots,
he would have been greatly surprised
and shocked; for, with all his thought
lessness, he was thoroughly kind
hearted. But all that he thought of
was the fun that it would be to himself,
little dreaming that he was just about
to receive a lesson which would cure
him of playing such tricks for the rest
of his life.
Just then loud voice was heard
calling OUT from the foot of the stair:
..Davie! Davie! where are you?
Come along, quick; we're going to
drive round by the lake, and watch
the sun set over the mountains
And "Wild Davie" went off like a
shot,
The drive lasted so long, and there
were SO many things to be looked at
on the way, that by the time they got
home again our friend Davie had for
gotten all about the frghtful SEN
tinel that he had left standing at |
the end of the upper corridor,
and went racing along it at full speed
TO get to his room. The next moment
q howl of terror startled the whole
house, and three or four of the serv-
ants, hurrying to the spot in alarm,
found Davie lying ON the floor, half
Fainting with fright, in font OF the
which he had himself dressed
1p. All that followed may easily be
imagined the rush of the whole house
hold to see what had happened, the
the dlsmay, the seedlings
leaped upon poor Davie, and (hardest
If all for him to bear) the loud laugh
If the other boys as they realized how
neatly he had been caught in his own
rap.
But there was one person there who
lid not join in the laughter, and that
vas quiet old gentleman with long
yray beard-at that time one OF the
most celebrated artists in Britain