Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-09-19

grace him by turning painter. Ac-
cording I was sent to 4 large private
school for two or three years, spending
my vacations at hcme, where the love
OF the pencil proved too strong for my
sense OF flIal duty, and L worked and
sketched all summer, except during
the rare occasions when my father OF
older brothers came down for a few
weeks sojourn.'"
"'One day, when I was nineteen,
came in from a long walk, TO find my
father standing in the middle or the
little den l had chosen myself in the
tower. surrounded with, it seemed, to
me, everything. that 1 had ever drawn
or painted. We had quite a scene,
and the end OF it was that 1 was or
dered to clear out of the house, and
never to darken the doors again. In
storm of Indignation and grief, l
packed up a few things, and taking
what little money l had, started for
Dover, thinking that ! would go TO
France, TO the little town where l had
once accompanied my mother, when
she was ordered change OF climate
had little money which had come
| to me from my grandmother, and upon
/ this | mauaget TO live for some years,
/ and pursue my art studies both IN
/ Paris and ut Rome. took the name
/ of Norton. from seeing 1t on some
/ American baggage, the night that 1
| crossed the channel
AT length I began to long for a
I sight of my Old home, and determined
/ To 90 to London 1 had had no COM
munication with my family, though 1
/ had kept the run OF them somewhat
/ through the English papers. and knew
that two or my brothers were married
came to England and spent nearly
week in the neighbOrhOOd of my old
home without being recognized by any
Of Its inmates, except an old hound,
who used to be my companion. The
family were III London, and some Of
the servants were new, so, IN company
/ with Leo, | revisited many of the
| scenes Of my lonely bOyhoOd; and one
/ morning when there was wedding at
the village church, l slipped i'll and
managed To reach the tower, where i
waited until every one was gone, and
then went down into the crypt where
my mother had been buried, and as
there was no evening service, spent the
night lying on the cushions IN our old
pew. with my head upon the one on
| which she used to kneel- 1t WAS a
[ moonlight nighta and the church seemed
very quiet and holy, and felt more at
home than l had for years. Toward
morning let myself out at the tower
door, and took an early train for Lon
don without bidding even old Leo
good by. l would have taken him
along. poor fellow, had it been posi-
ble.'''
81 hired some unpretentious rooms
in town, and was quite successful in
selling my pictures. Then came dull
season, when for a long period l was
unable to obtain commission, until
at length, my funds were exhausted
One night, Just at dark, when L had
spent the day IN trying to dispose of
some work, and had come home dis
couraged, a carriage stopped beneath
nv window, and soon heard footsteps
coming uD the long flight of stairs, and
then knock at my door. L opened II
to see tall man IN dark livery who
bowed gravely aud asked whether l
were Mr.. Norton. On my answering
in the affirmative, he handed me note
written IN bold masculine hand upon
heavy paper scented with some strange
foreign perfume. 1t read.
II you are the Mr.. Norton who
, painted a little picture called Judith
and Holofernes' which WAS sold at the
!, good commission, Will you accompany
the bearer of this note?
No signature was appended
"Who is the writer of this!" L asked
The footman bowed as he replied
''That my lady did not wish me 4
! say. sir.''' ,,
"'That is very strange answered
I suppose tomorrow will be tint
: enough for my answerI'"
. "'She bade me bring you this even
ing, il possible, sir; the carriage Is a
the door, and you can take any luggag,
|. you wish
After little hesitation. decided Il
, pack few traps and my cOlOrs, and a
. least call upon my wOuld-be patron
. and learn a little more OF her project
I As turned TO accompany him the foot
q man said respectfully:
/. BEG pardon, sir, but my order
e were 10 bring you blindfolded," at III
' same time drawing a sIlken scarf from
a his pocket.
r '''I set down my valise and ex
: claimed. who and what is your mis-
tress, and what can she suppose 1 au
2 made of. to impose such condition
n upon mer'"
4, "As YOU please, sir; but my lady {
l anxious TO have the painting done, ant
e Will pay great price for 1t, II yol
o please her, and she will not have yo
: come in any other way"
;, Indignant, walked to the windO'
:, and looking out into the fast daTkenln
! street, quickly reviewed my presen
4 condition. No one cared, L thought
i whether 1 lived o died, my affair
L were in bad shape, and my curiosIt
WAS greatly aroused at this peculia
> offer. Surely, il l did not like tn
;, looks of things upon my arrival coul
y refuse to execute the painting, an
e return home next day, none the wOrs
/ for having humored ''my lady" Turn
S ing back picked up my valise and sig
e nified my willingness TO accompany tn
e footman. After locking my door,
Il submitted to be blInd-folded, and th
:. footman taxing my traps in one hand
a offered me his other arm and aided m
Ie To the carriage. We rode, / know nc
!, how far or how long; all L am sure G
i WAS that il was O'Clock when we lei
= NV rooms. AT length the coach stoI
i ned and I was helped to alight an
" guided up long flight of marble @
l. stone steps, through hall and up
le slippery wooden staircase, through
/ softly carpeted passage, up some wlnC
ID ing stairs into room, when the 100
N man respectfully removed the scar
?, and hoped l was none the worse for II
Ie Journey and that 1 would find ever,
thing comfortable now L had arrived
Is Then he left me, locking the door upo
in the outside"
m "sThe suite of rooms in which
e. fosnd myself were most luxurious
e. furnished, with rich, foreign furnitur
g. a delicate lunch stood on side tab
Sc covered with flne linen cloth, Will
L beyond opened an elegantly appointe
er bed chamber. 1 felt as II L were
ze the midst of scene from motifs
er earthly Paradise" There were
ny windows in either apartment, b
nd great skylights, with movable screen
er as IN n studio, while on an easel In Il
ed corner stood huge white canvas, al