Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-01-13

rude country bridge and dam. "YeS,n
said her elder brother, spirited and lifelike.
! Who is the painter, Irene"
| The beauty consulted her catalogue. Coax
! hurst-James Oakhurst"
"A newname. Look at that distant spire, u
| he continued, "faintly showing among the
| trees in the background. The water is sur
! prisingly true. A charming picture Think
! I'll buy it"
! "How quickly you decide" said the lady,
with an ar of languor "The picture is pretty
! enough, haven't seen the rest of the
collection yet. Gausome paints lovely land
scapes, they say. l wouldn't be enthusiastic
about picture by an artist one doesn't know
anything about"
! A gentleman standing behind a screen
near by moved away with changed express
sion and deepening flush. Another person.
an artist, evidently, now accosted the party,
addressing them Mr.. and Miss Norcross
After the usual civiIities, he called their at
tentiOn to the picture before them.
1--WE were just admiring it," said Mr.
NorcrosS
"Do you like it, Mr. Paletto?" asked the
lady.
"Ees, exceedingly
"Ah! the generosity of brother artist"
replied Miss Norcross.
No; you do the picture injustice, and me,
too, for tina matter; for" he added with
laugh, ii an not generally supposed to ruin
my friends by indisCriminate fattery This
/ young painter has wonderfully improved
He went up into the country last season,
found picturesque little village, and has
made portfolio of very striking sketches ("
Miss Norcross began to appear Interested
Quite promising" said the Adonis of the
mustache silent until now
! Eyes, he has blossomed all at once. He
talks of going abroad"
"Bettah stay at home" said the young gen
tleman, languidly. "Tve been through all the
| gallewies. Its always the same stowy,-al-
ways the same old humbugs to be admired
always dooSid boahn
| "One relief you must have had in the gal
leries," retorted Palette. "Your high shirt
collar wouldn't choke you quite so much
| when your head was cooked back"
Adonis-in-mustache adjusted his polished
collar with delicately gloved finger, and de-
clared that the painter was "a jolly fellow. y
The gentleman who had flushed moment
! before when the picture was criticised was
still within earshot; he now turned an angry
| glahce upon the last speaker, and was about
| TO cross the room, when Mr. Palette STONED
| him.
with your permission, Miss Norcross,n
said the painter, nodding meaningly toward
! the person retreating.
Certainly" replied the lady.
"Mr. OalIhurst," said Palette, a wish Won
| to know some friends of mine"
The gentleman so addressed turned and ap-
! preached the party, and was presented to
! Miss Norcross, Mr. Norcross. Mrs, Nor
cross, and Mr.. George Norcross."
/ Miss NOrrrOSS prraetad hin, II, bar ,,,ne+
fascinating smile; her brother shook his hand
warmly; the other lady, widowed sister-in-
law, silently courtesed, while the younger
| brother inclined his head slightly, his collar
not allowing any sudden movement. In a
! moment more the party We're walking about
the room looking at the pictures
When at length the Norcross party were
about to leave the room, the elder gentleman
said to Mr.. OakhurSt: I'VE should be happy
to see you with our friend, Mr. Palette, at
our house. Come without CEREMONY
Miss Norcross' eyes also said, Gomez at
| least, SO Oakhurst thought Mr. George
! NorcroSs, meanwhile, who was cultivatiug
| the sublime art of Indifference. the distin-
! gushing feature and the ideal of his tribe.
only touched his lips with the head of his
cane, and then smoothed his silky mus
tache.
N1AAuiS 81 ~ tNAlN ~ t'NN.N t'iN tiidllk> ior
the invitation, and when the family had
gone, turned to his friend with an inquiring
! look. Famous, my boyir said Palette
"NorcroSs knows something about pictures
though rather stingy in patronage; and he
| is evidently impressed. The beauty,
Irene, is not judge. but size is valuable
friend-nOw that you are recognized The
widow is a most charming person, George, a
. rs fashion
thinks he must be for year or two, but
harmless and good-natured. The friendship
of the family will be of service to youn
'But Irene, as you call her, was deprecia-
ting my picture not minute before you
called me-
Precisely, my dear fellow; but she didn't
know who painted it, and moreover, she
hadn't seen you" Oakhurst blushed again.
| "Don't color M that way; save
your vermillon for your canvas.
you are good looking; and the beauty desires
the homage OF every handsome man, espec-
tally if he is likely to be lion"
a lion! pointer of landscapes a lioni
Besides, am no gallant l never learned
the art Of carrying a lady's fam"
Il hope not; and for that very reason YOU
are the proper subject for her Your sim
plicity and frankneSs are all the more charm
I ing TO q woman VINO needs new sensations.
Probably she is tired of her blase and wary
admirers just now. She will capture you,
and shall see new and obsequious slave
Oakhurst attempted to speak, but could
not get in word
Il felicitate yuu," continued Palette. you
viii have valuable experience, at any rate
Tomorrow OF next day we viii cali upon
them Good morningr
OakhurSt returned his friends farewell
then walking 10 a window be took out min
iature. 1t was the picture OF a young and
beautiful girl. The calm eyes looked out
upon him trustfuIy: the smile upon the
mouth had never seemed so lovely He
thought of the proud, dazzling coquette, ant
then looked upon the image of the tender
earnest. truthful face before him As he
looked, he smiled at his friends prophecy
This is my talisman, : he said, and he raised
the picture 10 his lips
An evening or two later. as Palette wa
putting his brushes into water, Oakhurs
came into his studio. The cloud compellin.
merschsums were produced, and they sat IL
high-hacked chairs, watching. the thin