Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-25
MISS GLEG'S NEGATIVE
q" Most through, Cleo p

Most througa, Cleo?
" Yes, almost In ten minutes I shall
have finished Tbeyo1ag person addressed
Is sitting with he. back 70 her sister, and
all the face and half Of her head is hidden
By the hoodof a retouching frame She is
leaning forward, her eyes on the mega
tive before her, and her def, dainty finger:
are making swift, magic strokes on the
work under her hand "In ten minute.
MORE the sweet musical voice repeats,
and when I've done shsll place before
you- astonished gaze something too utterly
lovely, nay Lady Jane"
Then Janet Heath lifts her mead YEARLY
fzom the cushions OF her Invalid couch,
and sighs impatiently Cleo's quick ear
catches that sigh instantly.
Are you il pain, jamie p
d" No; net particularly. Only think,
dare not read aloud to you any more.
begin to think that comical genius, Sir
Boyle Roche, vas exceedingly correct
when he said that the greatest of all
cslamities was generally followed by one
much greater. Il seems 80, actually. Oh,
deaT. derl Why doesn't some good for
tune befall Us now, wonder2 Why don't
some Of our rich relatives hunt us up and
insist on making rs present Of few
hundreds? They could easily afford to do
It, and only think what a godsend it
would be 10 Us ?"
Well, for your sake, jamie, sincerely
wish they would. Then you could have
that operation performed on your eyes at
once, and | should be able TO get you all
the nice, nourishing food that the doctor
recommended, and that ine wine that he
sad you ought to-Now, see this and
she handed Miss Janet the negative.
Yes" Miss Janet says after regarding
the negative critically, "you certainly
hsve done splendid work upon it, and it is
really an exceedingly nice face but have
seen you retouching many and many one
that was far handsomer."
Well, l will admit all that the girl
answers, receiving the negative back and
gazing down at the face 'Still, this one
has interested rue greatly ever since
began working upon it. Bu: good gracious,
this won't do Only look at all the time
I've been wasting | must scramble into
my things and take this work to the Gal
Iery at once" she breaks forth suddenly.
Then she flies to the closet, takes out a
very old, quaint poke bonnet, ties it on
snd catching up the package OF well-done
work, hurries to the door.
"Wer, jamie, here / am at last !" Cleo
exclaimed an hour later, flashing into the
cool. dark room in breathless sort Of
WAY, with her cheeks much deeper in color
than when she left, and pair Of wild
oddly excited eyes. Then, putting away
her "things" she sits down in very stiff
backed chair, and fans her hot cheeks furi
oiIsly.
"Well, jamie, do you know the most
romantic incident has occurred this after
noon ?, Really, do actually begin, to thinl
there must have been some one arounc
practicing black art, whatever that ma,
be. There, now, don't commence to los
your patience, and I'll begin and tell yol
the whole odd occurrence right from tn
start. I went to the Gallery first, 0
course and gave in my work and got M.
money, all of it-three big, round dollars
Il YOU please Then went to the marke
20 get sonnet hing nice for you. From ther
went over to Mr. Norton's drug store
sad told him wanted flask of his yer
best wine, and'I wanted it Just as cheap a
be could let me have it, and do you know
now don't say word. | know you ar
6xing to scoId me for my shameful extrav
agance,' but you needn't, for haven't &C
any, she explainn, with mysteriou
Little smile. .et me see; where was l
Oh. YES: as you know, that dear, kind ma
gave me splendid flask, with his con
nl:meuts to the invalid, and he hoped
=
know by that look that you are going
ask me where it is; and if you'll ju
give me time III make a full confession
Don't run away with the idea that / dram
It, though, because | didn't. As SOC
Is I'd thanked him l rushed ou
And 10 and behold you, it had elouded |
Swfilly, and was beginning to rain 'rigl
smart I really didn't know what to
Of course, wouldn't have an umbrell
That wouldn't be my luck, you know, ar
had so many little packages that
couldn't hold up my clothes, and l was
a dreadful dilemma. finally decide
though, that the best thing would be
make q scamper for home as fast as u
feet would carry me. So took a fre
grip on all my bundles, and was just stri
ing along with my most Eizabethian-li
strides. when that most exasperating sh
Of mine came untied-of course, wou
have en- these thin low things That v
In the plot, you see. was going wild
siong, breaking my heart thinking h,
muddy my skirts and the tassels were g
ting-you know these are my grand sta
occasion Shoes she remarks, looking
spairingly at them = when somebo
came dashing frantically along. with
umbrella far over his head, and KNOCK
slap up against me, and down went Il
precious flask and was shivered into s
teen million piecesl" she cries, jump
up and striking a tragic attitude.
Why, what was the matter with
man? Where were his eyes?' Janet as
Grossly, sitting up very straight.
''Oh, he had them with him, my de
and now, who do you suppose it "
Well, it was the original of that negat
that I've been .raving over all day :;
having announced this piece of news "
telling force, Cleo folds her arms and 10
across at Janet.
SIS that so? Well, we'll After t
the delugel By the way, you were in
at the time. | am amazed. 1t was
my dear-it was written. Well, and
on-what did he do, and what did
say?" jamie questions in most futtel
state of interest.
"Say? If you'll believe me, l ne
said anything. | couldn't; and / shal
ashamed of myself forever and day,
you'll blush for me, know, when
YOU that / actually stood there and bs
to whimper. Yes, positively, / did, a
couldn't help it either. And what die
do? Well, the first thing was that
stepped little nearer, and held his
big umbrella over me, then he lifted
hat in the most graceful manner lima
able, and he said, My dear young lac
beg ten thousand pardons; and am I
than sorry to have been so awky
rs to cause this accident What was IN
flask? he asked, glancing down. I