The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-12-04

have been struck by the fincncss OF i's
outline, and the thoughtlu oep'n :"
expression in the large bright eyes
which Attracted the notice OF az wno
Jaw him for the first time, although
no one could easily have guessed tnen
what he was one day to be. But just
q, that moment "Wild Davie, as
he WAS very Justly called. was busy
with very mischicvous piece
of sport, ifdeed-nothing less snan
the dressing up Of :" ghost 70
fr;ghten his playf. lIows. In the dark
recess at the end OF the corridor stood
a marble statue Of Ap.e llo the, Archer
with one arm outstretchea as II IN lno
very act of bending his L. 'ai Dom.
Outlined in its ghostly VIII. 'onuss
against the deep gloom behindit, 1t was
startling sight 1T the best of timesA
but beneath the skillful hands of our
hero it was fast growing into amonstcr
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 ey-
cry here and there. Upon the face he
fixed hideous 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 q little distance looked terri.
bly, like broad stain of blood. Around
the lower limbs he wrapped a piece
of yellow Chinese silk, twisted up so
as to look like coiling snake; and
then, by way of finishing touch. ne
placed at the monsters feet, small
lantern, lighting up all the CHASTITY de-
tails with weird. unearthly glare.
won't it make 'em jump" chuckied
he, as he stepped back to took ut the
effect of his work.
If any one had told Davic 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 lesson which would cure
him of playing such tricks for the rest
of his life.
Just then q loud voice was heard
calling ous 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 'sWild Davie'' went of like
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 f1ghtful 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 scrv-
ants, hurrying to the spot in alarm.
found Davie lying on the floor, halls
fainting with fright, in fiont of the
monster which he had himself dressed
up. All that followed may easily be
hold to see what had happened. the
Wonoers the ulSmdy, INC ScOlulnSS
heaped upon poor Dayie, and (hardcst
of all for him to bear) the loud laugh
of the other boys as they realized how
neatly he had been caught in his own
trap.
But there was one person there who
did not join in the laughter, and that
was quiet old gentleman with long
gray beard-at that time one of the
most celebrated artists in Britain
had just come down to the country for
q few weeks holiday.
'sThis boy has the eye of an artist"
said he, looking keenly at the terrible
figure. HE will be heard of yet"
And the old man was right. Not
many years later s'Wiid Davie" was
famous throughout all England as
David Scott, the painter.-DdUid Her,