Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-08-25
THE PORTRAIT.

II dii tR ViSitOtS VINO were present on
the opening night of the great art exhibi-
ton had BEEN as constant in their after
attendance as was Mr.. Horace Temple,
the managers would have made money
out of it. 2& Gatf
The fact was, Mr.. Temple had strolled
In rather istlessly that first night, but be-
fore he had traversed many yards in his
tour of inspection his attention had been
caught by picture which had so fascin-
ated him that he found it almost impos-
sible to get his own consent to move on
short time he was back again, gazing
with rapt absorption. The picture repre-
sented an Italian garden, where, beneath
dense shade of palms and ilexes, ham,
mock was swung, in which lovely
young girl, in limp, white gown. was
lying at ease, her right hand dawdling
with great fan, and her left
thrown up behind her head, the loose
sleeve falling back and revealing beau
tiful, rounded arm. One foot was hid
in the meshes of the hammock, and the
other, from which the tiny slipper had
slipped off at the heel, hung over the
side in posture Of absolute ease and in
ertia. The white robe, made in classic
design and decorated with a Greek
border, hung over the hammock side and
trailed along the dense, green grass. The
details of the picture were exquisitely
portrayed, but its matchless charm was
in the beauty of the young girls face.
which had SO marked an individuality
that Temple convinced himself at once
that it was no creation Of an artists
fancy, but faithful likeness of some
living human being. AS day after day
passed by and the picture grew into his
consciousness more and more, he got to
know every detail of feature, form and
dress, even to the three little spots on the
left arm near the elbow, which he at first
took to be specks on the canvas, but
afterward found were three cleverly
painted little moles which must have
been ON the arm of the model.
One evening when he had stood a
longer time than usual before the object
of his alteration, lost in thought concern
ing the original of this lovely portraiturc.
and wondering where the artist, whose
name was given as Carlo Guizi, had seen
and painted her, he was aroused by the
silvery strokes of magnificent clock
which stood near, which reminded him
that he must tear himself away from
present enjoyment, and go home and an
swer letter. The letter was in the form
of an invitation, and this was a reply
to it:
DEAR AUNT SARAH-No one GER
tainly has kinder or more considerable
female relative than am blessed with,
and your delightful letter is one more
proof of this truth. Ny gratitude, how
ever, strong as it is, does not enable me
to do the impossible. and cannot come
down, according to orders, and fall i'll
love with your charming friend. for the
reason that am in love already, and the
object of these pre-engaged affections of
mine defies the thermometer and remains
in the CITY
"On the whole, hope this VIII prove
not altogether unsatisfactory to you, as
understand your object concerning me TO
be, not sc much that l shall be-in the
abstract-ensnared and that conscien-
tiously assure you that am.
Il am not too fast bound. however, to
admit of my coming down for cursory
glance at you, SO you may expect me to
stay over next Sunday.
'Yours affectionately, FL. T."
When Mrs. Leaton received this letter
she happened to be seated near an open
window in conversation with her most
intimate confidential friend, to whom she
proceeded to read the letter aloud, inter-
rupting herself with various complaints
of the provokingness of her favorite
nephew, who, in spite of all her affection
ate indulgence Of his whims and foibles,
was constantly serving her in this kind
of style.
AS she finished reading and laid the
letter down, there was faint rustling
under the window, unregarded by the
two ladies, and a young girl, who had
been sitting very still sketching the pretty
view of wood and river visible from this
point, collected her implements together
and quickly glided away.
Mr.. Temple arrived at his aunt's on
Sunday morning too late for the regular
breakfast, and when he emerged from
the dining room after his tete-a-tete meal
with the hostess, he was Immediately
hurried off to church by that enterpris-
ing lady, who had kept her carriage wait
ing that she might enjoy his companion
ship.
'All the rest have gone,' she said,
land we shall be little late. Gertrude
Sevellon walked with Tom Jerome. "
This was the only allusion she deigned to
make to the young lady who had formed
the whole subject of her letter,
Mr. Temple had been some time in
church before he caught sight of the
familiar figure of Mr.. Tom Jerome, and
when, with feeling of lazy interest, he
leaned forward little so that he might
get glimpse of the lady standing next
to Mr.. jerome and singing out of the
same book with him, the delicate, clean
cut profile startled him with sense of
familiarity. His heart gave bound as
he connected it with the face in the
picture and saw the resemblance. This
girl wore little close bonnet and trim
dress, which incased her charming figure
in neat comprehension face and figure
were the same.
When the service was ended he leaned
forward and whispered to his aunt:
Make Tom Jerome go home with
you and let me walk home with Miss
Sevellon.
This was coming to terms that Miss
Lesion highly appreciated, though her
nephew exhibited no underlined eager.
ness. The first excitement Of his dis
covery had worn off. and he had resolved
upon his course.
1t was wonderful thing to find him.
self, the next moment, actually being pre-
scented In formal style to the houri OF the
hammock. Just how Aunt Sarah man.
aged it he did not know, but before long
Tom Jerome had gone off in the carriage,
and the houri and himself were strolling
along together on shady little woodland
path, and he was saying: