The Opelousas courier., 1889-09-21

now MUCK here is in the printing!
Milford demurred, but finally Welded.
a took the negatives and looked them
over critically. When she handed them
back she expressed her qualification with
them.
Milford kept one of the completed
pastures and guarded it with Jealous care.
ne was, it must be confessed, sometimes
tempted to exhibit it as an example of
the perfection to which lis art could be
carried, but this temptation never lasted
long. He kept 1t by MIN, however, as
much as he safely could. At his break
fast, which he took in a lonely way in
his apartments, he had it before him at
the table; and, as often through the day
as he could, he would hasten from his
studio to steal a parting glance at it,
1t seemed to him that il varied in ap-
pearance from day to day. He thought
that he could read in it of Miss Mitch
els changing moods. If the eyes lost
their sad expression, and were smiling,
as they sometimes were, he felt that she
was happy; if they were more sad than
usual he wondered what ha6 happened
to distress her. And sometimes, too,
ne &ouId discover it in other signs,
and then he feared that she was i'll.
Alarmed at its growing power over him,
and annoyed that he was so little able to
resist its influence, he at last placed it in
q seldom used portfolio. He was dete :
mined not to look at it again. This de-
rmination he adhered to for some. time,
perhaps a week or longer. In the mean
time Miss Mitchelrs visits had entirely
/ ceased. Milford knew that there was no
reason why she should call, and he
laughed somewhat sadly as he admitted
to himself that he wished it had been
otherwise. He now resolutely deter
mined that he would forget her, and that
he would not again look upon the picture,
but he found himself thinking much more
Of Miss Mitchell and of the picture than
Of matters needing his attention. One
day he took the portrait ats hiding
place and examined it carefully.
He was startled. 1t seemed to him
that the picture was less distinct than it
had been. So much was he impressed
that he looked at it frequently thereafter,
and was soon convinced that he had been
righ., that it was growing less and less dis
tinet, Though interested more than ever,
aud puzzled as well, he again determined
that he would think of it no longer,
and replaced the picture in the port
folio. He busted himself so successfully
that he was able to overcome, in some
measure, his longing for the picture and
! its original; but for q few days only.
Then he fastened again to the portfolio.
There could be no question about it; the
picture had p~erceptibly faded since he had
last looked at it. 1t was now barely dis
cernible.
SIT has almost gone." he said to him
self sadly, stand he-ca it be that she
is going too?"
This thought almost unnamed him.
Now he realized for the first time what
her loss would mean to him; now he
knew how empty would be his life if she
should be taken away.
He was at this moment called upon by
a gentleman who surprised him by ask
ing:
ssWil it be possible form to procure
some duplicates of the pictures you re-
Gently took to Miss Mitchell?"
Milford's annoyance was apparent, rlt
he tried to say, politely:
II should be glad to oblige you, sir;
but of course il Wild not be proper for
me to DO as you as.
Indeed Why, 'ay asks"
eXou can readily Sc, that I cannotdis-
pose of any duplicates G eept at the re-
finest of the sitters thems.
aOh, certainly But I como tne re-
quest Of Miss Mitchell"
IFS she not well, them" asked Milford
in quick alarm. T.
mo: indeed, she has been very i'll. !
II will prepare them for you at.once,"
Milford said, anxious now to be rid of
his visitor as quickly as possible, and
hurriedly making a note of the order
given him.
SAT least" he said to himself, sat
least. I shall know about her."
Yielding to his sudden panic, he
,eizeds his hat and rushing from his
,tudio. with little thought of the crowd
mo carriages, he ran across Broadway,
ethen. almost disregarding the people
~.sainst whom he jostled in his hurry, he
! fastened on to the street in whi,a Miss
Mitchell lived.
AS he ran he would not permit himself
70 tell what it was he feared; but as he
i reared the house there was the very sight
ae had most dreaded. That long line of,
! carriages could have but one meaning;
-and now he hoped only to see her face
zee more.
B Eluding the grasp of the attendant at
e he door he entered the no. sc, and the
9 Bund of music reached him, music that
TIC knew to be full Of JOY and hopf to
4 ,thsrs. though to him it seemed a KILL.
As Milford turned to go sorrowfully
tway, rsaliz1ug now the truth, Miss
Mitchell, leaning On another's arm, came
,ut into the hall and bright and happy
aces crowded about her, while laughing
yoieee wished her happiness and good
;ortune.-Ne EDoeA.
The native doctors OF China are to q
great extent gelf-constituted. Amy per
kson who is in want of a livelihood, and
| whoscan read and write sufficiently Wep
to be abssto copy out prescriptions from
s medical book, can set up in practice
Without fear OF Government or other m
reference.