Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-08-18
JULIETS PICTURES.


''I've been here whole week, and
not q single order has come, said Juliet
Jay, disconsolatcly. Il am sure don't
know why. There must be plenty Of
people in i; city like this who appreciate
at And the s;gu: Miss ay, Photo
graphs .lrtstical;y Enlarged and Col
orcd' is big and bright enough. am
certain. Oh, dear! at this rate, hardly
see how am going TO pay my way"
There WAS large family of Jays in the
old led brick house in Garlcy Court.
The gfoccry-store occupied the first
floor; there was dancing school above,
with sundry rooms dedicated 10 the use
of the terps;chorcan professor aud his
family. And on the third floor dwclt
Mrs. Jay, who took in drcssmaking and
plain sewing, and trimmed hats when
she could get any to trim, and in this
atmosphere of needles and thread five
little girls had grown up.
Susan had married the eldest son of
the grocer down stairs rather IL fall in
life. as Mrs. Jay, whose fathers cousin
had been Il clergyman, considered it;
but Mr.. Pretzcl was very good and kind
to Susy, and allowed the lay family to
have their groceries at wholesale prices.
After this, Marian was apprcnt ced to
Madam Colquhoun, the modislc, Kitty
and Sophy were yet school girls, and
Juliet had boldly struck out into the line
of art.
''I'm so sick of this everlasting stitch,
stitch, stitch" 81 | she. The very
sight of a needle sends cold chill
through me- And do love, so de arly,
to draw and paint. Mother, do say that
l may!'
81 suppose you'll do as you've mind
to, anyhow" said Mrs JAY, mournfully.
"NIy girls all do .
eth, mother" cried Juliet. eff may
only try, you'll sec that I'll be a great
artist yet.
But the more Juliet Jay painted the
less sanguine she be anne Of her powers.
A glimpse into the great world of art
convinced her that divine fire must burn
in any torch that was to be carried into
these grand aislcs.
"But I cali only do my best" said
Juliet, couragcously. IF can't be IA
nous, I'll color photographs as con-
scicntiously us can"
She borrowed IL hundred dollars from
Mrs. Pretsel, the grocer's wife, to fur
nish her little studio and pay a months
rent in advance, and then she SIT down
to await the revelations Of the future
1t was discouraging work. And if
Juliet had not made up her mind not to
he lastly rebuaed she might have de-
SPARED. So many people went by the
sign without turning their heads; so
many only glanced at the little glass
case, screwed beside the door.post,
which contained three of her very hest
specimens of photograph coloring, and
one neatly tinted picture, enlarged from
a dim old dagucrreotype, which was sug-
getiyely disposed beside 1t.
One or two persons came in during the
week to ask her prices, but they all
seemed to consider that she was too
dear.
Il can't work without profit" cried
Juliet, in an agony of despair. "Db
these people think that l have omen" |
my studio merely TO accommodate
them?"
GU Il DettcE DlNc tahell u lue uTesS-
making, said Mrs. Jay, in mournful,
minor accents.
81 think" said Marian, soberly, "that
juliet is aspiring loo high.
While Kitty and Sophy, who had had
new Jerseys promised them out of Juliets
first paying der, began to whisper to-
gether, and Wonder, in their innocent
little hearts, when the long-cxpected
customer would come. And it was the
longing looks of these poor little damsels
that most went to ,luliet's heart.
One dusty, overloaded day in Scptem-
Der, however, q mud-bcsplashcd country
wagon stopped at tho door, a tall, broad
shouldered man Of about thirty cot out,
aud tying au old horse by means Of 40