Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-05-17
AN ARTISTS IDYL.
BY HENRY GREyILLE.

by HENRY GRETILLE.
Maurice strolled aimlessly through the
outrageous forest The rain had
ceased, but from the leaves drops of
water still dripped with the light
sound of a trickling fountain. At a
distance the path he was following
opened on q green glade. The trunks of
tho trees were dark, their branches
darker still, and the spreading foliage
OF the chestnuts, meeting above tho
head OF the young artist, seemed like the
vault of cathedral ut the hour when
the declining sun sends through the
many, colo-ed windows q mysterious
hght into the obscurity OF the interior.
Maurice loved the hour when the day
nles, when grey tint falls upon all OBJ
.lects, confounding their contours, soften
ing their angles and rounding their out
lines He walked slowly, each moment
discovering in the forest some beauty he
had not seen before. and filled with that
tender admiration for nature which is n
part of genius.
Having reached the glade, he looked
about him. The grass was green and
fresh; the delicate leaves of the trees
glistened under the drops of rain which
had fallen upon them. He paused that
he might better observe the scene which
seemed more impressive in the gathering
shadows than in the full light OF tho
sun.
\ He saw the pretty slight form of n
girl advancing from clumb of beech
trees. She walked with u supple step.
without seeing Maurice, who us motion.
less as the trunk of the tree near which
he stood, looked ut her intently.
When few PAGES from him the girl saw
him, trembled, and let fall a small bun
die of fagots she was carrying on her
head.
"lou frightened me-" she said, smil-
ing, and her large dark eyes sparkled
gayly under her tangled yellow hair.
He looked at her q moment without
replying. Complete harmony, which it
Is impossible to describe, existed be-
tween this pretty smiling girl, the
foliage of the glade and the tone of the
landscape.
"Rcmain where you are" said the
young man, II want to sketch YOU"
She was about to brush back the locks
that had fallen over her forehead but he
stopped her with a gesture
''Stand just rs you arc"
He seated himself on stone and
rapidly sketched the face and form of
his young model.
She was peasant, but delicate and
slight as are these young girls before
their complete development, which is
often late. Her eyes were already those
of woman her smile was still that of n
child
GLOW old are you" asked the artist
as he worked.
~ shall be sixteen SOON"
"1s it possible! 1 thought you
younger"
II am SMALL" she said with a frank
smile, "but shall grow quickly, and by
Saint Johns Eve shall have lover"
''Why on Saint Johns EveY" asked
the young man, pausing in his work and
looking at her.
Because then we shall dance around
the bonfres."
So soon was this pure brow, these in
nocent eyes, this childish mouth to be
profaned by the caresses of some young
man of the village. Maurice expert
enced vague feeling of jealousy
Would you like to have me for your
lover:" he asked, as he returned to his
work.
"Youa Ahl you are gentleman, l
am peasant. Honest girls do not
listen to gentlemen"
The young man made no reply to her
words, but said:
81 can see no longer. Will you re-
turn here to- morrow a little earlier:"
'For my picturei"
eyes"
"Iwill return. Good evening""
She took up her fagots, and, passing
under the arching chestnuts, soon dis
appeared in the shades of evening.
\ Maurice returned home, dreaming of
the girl with the yellow hair. Although
he had often before seen pretty peasants,
whom he had regarded with an artists
eye, he seemed to look on this girl with
the jealous eye of lover. That night
and the next day seemed long to him,
and some time before the appointed
hour he was in the glade
He worked by himself, and when, n
little later, the young girl arrived, look
ing at the sketch, she exclaimed with
an air of coquetry and surprise:
'Ah, It is II Are you going to give
it to met"
"No, will make small picture for
you"
"And this one, what arc you going to
do with itfn
ut is going to Paris, it will be put in
large frame, it will DO hung in the
grand salon and all the world will 20 ia
see it."
"Ah! yes, know, at the Exposition. .
"You know what that isin
"There have been artists here before
who painted pictures for the Exposition.