Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-07-23
BELLA DONNA.
BY A. ID. S. BURNS.
rrrom peterson,s Magazine. !


right TO be admiring one of his
pictures if he wishes to-"
ayes, of course; but he was
standing by the window in exactly
that position when we passed by
fifteen minutes ago. just see how
perfectly rapt he is. One would
think he expected the picture to
come to life like Pygmalion's
Galatea. He painted some lovely
wood.scenes awhile ago, and he let
me see them all, but he has been at
work on something lately which l
haven't been able to catch a glimpse
of. / haven't a doubt but whatits
some absent lady-love. 1t wasn't
80 awtully afraid of him I'd go up
TO the door and ask him to let me
admire it too. Or, why don't you
20. Bella? He wouldn't refuse you.
| know you persist in calling him a
stranger, but Pm sure we've met
him times enough this summer to
feel pretty well acquainted. You
90 up to the door and put on your
sweetest smile,-or nO-just raise
your great black eyes at him with
that same wondering look You have
on now, and he couldn't refuse you
if You asked him for his money or
his life"
"Doa't, Alice" and Bella turned
away, contracting her fair, low
brows impatiently. The undisput-
ed beauty of this village girl was
the pride of all the tOwnspeople in
this little summer resort of Meadow
lake, as well as the surprise and
admiration of its summer tourists.
Bella had accepted the blessing from
childhood as one does the gift of
good health or cheerful dlspOsl-
ton, but it wasn't pleasant to be
continually reminded of the fact.
Her complexion was a decided
blonde, with hair of that fiossy
gold in the cOloring of which Ma
ture had not been assisted by the
latest art in bleachery. The round
ed curves of her face and its ex-
quisite coloring made a picture OF
which any artist might have been
proud had he designed 1t upon can
vas, while her eyes,-ah these
were the features after all, which
made one stop to look at her again.
a perfect blonde with eyes like
Goals :" you would exclaim in sur
prise. But Bella DOane's eyes were
not black, her friends would assure
you, though it was true those splen-
didly dilated pupils did almost en-
tircly hide the little margin of pur-
pie IRIS. These wondering eyes
we're fixed just now on the artist in
the window, who had suddenly
thrown a cloth over the mysterious
picture on his easel, and emerging
from the opposite side OF the build
/ ing, had started through the wood
path toward the brook with an
empty water.bucket in either hand
"There he goes down to the
spring." continued Alice. "The
idea of building a studio in this
out.of.the.way place, and having tc
20 half a mile for drink of water
Well, Pm going home through the
fields. l suppose couldn't induce
you to 60 that way, Miss PrOpriety
for fear of meeting Mr.. Waring on
the way. If it was that handsome
young cousin of his, Mr.. Thorne
the one who monopolized you al
the party last night, 'twould bt
different, wouldn't it Well, good
by. Pm one of the kind that like'
the old bachelors"
Bella tauntered alone up th'
road, thoughtfully, swinging heT
broad hat by its white ribbons. Al
she reached the studio door sh'
paused and looked up. 1t had been
left aiar, and q furtive glance in
side showed her that the room wa
vacant, and that the easel with it
cloth-covered picture stood tempt
ingly near. She glanced arount
her-nOt a person was to be seen
The tall form of the artist had dis
appeared among the trees, and Alic
was ont OF sight. Her heart bea
fast with her own presumption a
she took a step nearer the door,
"But no, no; 1 mustn't" she whi'
pered, turning quickly away. ~
would be very wrong-and ye
@ She hesItated, wondering a
her strange, unwonted curiosity
"I shall never have another chanc
like this. What harm can it do
No one will ever know"
She bounded up the steps wit
timid eagerness, entered the studi
and raised the cloth from the cal
vas. For several moments sh
stood before it trans6xOd wit
wonder, like the woodland nymp
who first discovered her own llk'
ness in the brook. Then crimso
blush spread over her face, and he
head drooped with wonderln
embarrassment as she recognize
the unmistaFable fact that it wa
her own sweet face which wa
: looking out at her from the canv'
through those marvellous, tho'
questioning blue eyes. Btneai
= the picture were the words, trace
indistinctly with the artists brusl
Q aBetlG UOand.n