The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-13
LITTLE MRS. HAYNES.
|.

our old brown house 10 young portrait
painter. who was about becoming resident
in our village during few weeks OF the sum-
mer Never before hed IN event 80 stirring
and exciting ia its t.. gacy broken over the
monotony OF uyex nee Never before had
nv childish imagina..on been furnished with
so wide field of action, or my little heart
throbbcd and palpitated with such strange
mixture OF wonder and delight. A portrait
paintcr under our own roof, within the walls
of our own home-what rare chance for my
inauisitivc eyes 10 draw in new fund OF
knowled9el What al object Of envy should
be- TO nv little mates, and how deintily would
Imete out TO them what | learned from day
70 dav of the wondrous man Of the wondrous
employment
had heard of portrait painters before. 1t
ia true. but only as | had heard and read of
fairies in my little story books, or listened to
nv father as be talked of kings and courtiers
in the great world afar off Upon our par
lor walls, from my earliest remembrance,
had hung portraits of my grandiathers and
a,randmothcrs, but | bad no idea how their
faces came stamped upon the dark canvas, or
when or by whom their shadows had been
fixed within the heavy gilt frames. Like the
trees that waved before the door and the
lilacs that blossomed every year by the old
gate. they had 10 me always been 50.
But now nv eyes we're TO rest upon the
face Of one whose existence had been like
myth, fable. What a wonderful parsonage
he would be. What O dark visage he would
boast and what monstrous, giant like forml
How entirely unlike every person that | had
ever seen or known would be this portrait
painter.
While these speculations were at their
height In my busy brain the hero made bis
appearance scattering them meTcilessly to
tho four winds There was nothing giant
like in the little graceful figure that sprang
from the village coach, or dark in the pleas
ant boyish face, shaded by masses Of brown
hal., and lit up 10y merry pair OF blue eyes,
running over with In.rth and mischief His
name, TOO, like the generality Of names, had
nothing wonderful or striking to characterize
it, lie was simply Frank Haynes, nothing
more or less, ard when with pleasant, easy
grace he sought to win my childish favor,
should have been quite at home had not the
stunning knowledge Of his art overpowered
me. II was q strange freak for child OF ten
summers, but somehow it crept into my baby
brain that must not like him, although the
while, in spite OF myself, preference for his
opinions, ways and looks grew up strong
within me. II he spoke to me when any one
was observing him ! was silent and shrank
away from him timidly; but when we were
alone chattcd and chirrupped like young
robin think he must have noticed this,
and from 1t have taken into his head the boy
.sh idea of teasing ne.
To him, he seid, was little Pbebe Lester
no longer, now that be knew how much l
cared for him. For the future he should call
me Mrs. uaynes-littlo Mrs HayIes-and
should be very angry If everybody in the
house did not follow his example. must
not ever have any little beaux among the
schoolboys now that my name was changed;
but must be prim and proper like any mar
ried woman who is faithful to her husband
Would agree to thisp he asked.
glanced up from the hem of my white
muslin apron, which | had been twisting
about my finger, TO meet my mothers eye
fixed laughingly upon my face In moment
my lips were closed resolutely, while be,
Seeing at once the cause Of ny silence, reached
out Of the window and plucked rose from
running vine that crept nearly TO the messy
caves.
Little Mrs Haynes must wear the rose"
he said 1T would never do for her to toss
her head and throw his gifts carelessly by
All married women wore flowers which their
husbands gave them. Would wear the roseP
l glanced about the room again. My
mother was nowhere 10 be seen, and 50 said
that would wear 1t ii he wanted me TO-
"And would | consent 10 be called little
Mrs. Haynes
Yes, would consent"
Then il was all right. he would mover
Look about for a wife, nor should look
about for a husband We were Mr.. and
Mrs Haynes Did that suit mef
"Oh, yes, thar suited me. like that"
We'll, then, he should have 10 buy mo a
little gold ring 20 wear upon my third finger,
10 LEI folks know that some one owned me"
NO, didn't want a ring"
Tut, tut, tut That would never do
People who were engaged to be married al
ways gave such pledge He should speak
10 father about It, 50 that IT would be all
right Ii no was willing, would | wear the
nngf
NO, didn't like rings"
"Wouldn't I like the ring that he would
buyF
"No. | wouldn't like ring at any rate"
During his stay, which was protracted to
months, instead Of weeks, no strove IN every
way 70 change my determination about the
engagement ring, as be termed 1t. was in.
exorabie A ring 1 would not wear. Not
even when he made ready for his departure,
and told me that IN few weeks he should be
thousands OF miles away from me, nor when
he piled Up before me pictures that he had
drawn az his leisure during the long summer
hours that hung heavily upon his hands,
would ! revoke my decision. | would take
the finely executed drawings the prettily
framed portrait OF himself. but would have
no rings.
At last he went from us. | shall never for
get the morning, OF how cold, dull and cheer
less II seemed 70 me How drcary and desc
late everything looked because he was going
away. II was not every day grief that bore
down upon my young heart, no childish
promise that assured him, as no kissed my
quivering Ups, that would never forget him,
ani sbot 7 would p1uvov no his H<tla Mro