The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-09-13
MISS CLEO'S NEGATIVE.

| have HnlShed. The Young person ad-
dressed is sitting with her back to her
sister, and all the face and half of her
head is hidden by the hood of a retouch-
ing frame. She is leaning eagerly for
| ward. Her eyes are riyeted on the
negative before her. and her deft,
dainty fingers are making swift, magic
strokes on the work under her hand.
''In ten minutes more." the sweet
musical voice repeats; ''and when I've
done | shall place before your as
tonished gaze something too utterly
lovely, my Lady Jane"
Then Janet Heath lifts her head
wearily from the cushions ofherinvalid
couch, and sighs impatiently. Cleo's
quick ear catches that sigh instantly.
"Are you in pain. Janie"
mo not particularly. Only think,
dare not read aloud to you any more.
begin to think that comical genius,
Sir Royle Roche, was exceedingly cor
rect when he said that the greatest of
all calamities was generally followed
by one much greater 1t seems so,
actually. Oh, dear, dear! Why don't
, some of our rich relatives hunt us up
and insist on making us present of
a few hundreds? They could easily
diLpTu W uo II, anu OHIy tHlHk WtldG ~
godsend it would be to us!''
4Well, for your sake, jamie, l sim
cercly 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, nourish-
ing food that the doctor recommended
and that fine wine that he said you
ought to-Now, see this!" and she
handed Miss Janet the negative.
| Yes Miss Janet says. after regard
ing the negative critically, ''you cer-
tainly have 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. will admit all that" the
girl answers, receiving the negative
back and gazing down at the face.
Still, this one has interested me great
ly ever since began working upon it.
But, good gracious, this won't do! Only
look at all the time I've been wastingi
| must scramble into my things and
take this work to the gallery at once"
she breaks forth suddenly.
Then she flies to the closet, takes out
a very odd, quaint poke bonnet, ties it
well-done work, hurries to the door.
'Well, jamie here am at lastI" 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 stiif-backed chair and
| fonS bal. bOt nbaaHS furinuSlx-
'sWell, jamie, do you know the most
romantic incident has occurred this
afternoon? Really, do actually be-
4 gin to think there must have been some
| one around practicing black art what
ever that may be. There. now, don't
commence to lose your patience, and
Til begin and tell you the whole odd
occurrence right from the start.
went to the gallery first, of course,
and gave in nay work and got my
money, all of it-tbree big, round
dollars. if you please. Then went to
the market to get something nice fol
YOU. From there / went over to Mr..
N0rton's drug store, and | told him
wanted a flask of his very best wine,
and / wanted it just as cheap as he
| could let me have it, and do you know
now don't say word. know you
are fixing to scold me for my shame.
full extravaganza but you needn't fol-
haven't got any," she explains, with
mysterious little smile. LET me
see; where was 1? Oh, yes; and do you
: know, that dear, kind man gave me q
s,elendid flask. with his compliments
to he invalid. and he hoped it would
| do her good Yes; know by thai
look THAI You are going to ask me
where it is, and if you'll just give mf
time. I'll ma. full confession. DOM
run away with the idea that ] drank
it though. because I didn't. As soor
as I'd thanked him, rushed out
and 10 and behold you it had elouded
up awful, and was beginning to ralI
right smart as the countrymaa SAID
When saw that, really didn't know
what to do. Of course, l wouldn'
have an umbrella That wouldn't b'
my luck, you know, and l had So
many packages that l couldn't holt
up my clothes, and was in dreadful
dilemma. l finally decided. though
that the best thing would be to maxi
a scamper for home as fast as my tee
would carry me. So l took ffesI
] grip on all my bundles, and was jus
stliding along with my most ELIZA
bethan-iike strides, when that mos
exasperating shoe of mine became un
tied-of course. would have on thos
thin, low things. was going wildl
along, breaIungmy heart thinking ho'
muddy my skirts and the tassels wer
getting-you know these are m
GRAND state-occasi0n Shoes" she re
marks, looking despairingly at them
: ..when somebody came dashing ffanti
cally along, with an umbella tar owe
his head, aud knocked slap up agains
me, and down weNt that precious mas
and was shivered into sixteen milllo
pieces!" she cries jumping up and strlh
ing tragic attitude.
.Why, what was the matter wit
the man? Where were his eyes?
Janet asks. GROSSLY, sitting up Yer
straight.
| ..Oh, he had them with him, m
dear, and now, who do you suppose
WASP Well, it was the original of ths
negative that I've been raving over
n day," and having announced this pieC
of news with telling force, Cleo fold
, her arms and looks across at Janet.
..Is that SOP Well, we'll! After ths
deluge! BY the way you were in on
at the time. l am amazed. 1t wa
fate, my dear-it was written. Wei
and-go on-what did he do, and whit
: did you sayP" Janet questions IN
most fiuttering state of interest.
"Say? If you'll believe me. l new
said anything. 1 couldn't. and sha
be ashamed of myself for ever and
day, and you'll blush for me, ! know
when tell you that l actually stoo
there and began to whimper 1e
es positively did, and couldn't help
either And what did he doP We
the first thing was that he stepped
/, little nearer, and held his nice b
u hn Ii