The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-05
IHHuITLH PRIMADONNA
~ rRANK u. srAuPrER.

i.
rested with fOndness upon the painting
so near completion,
It was q small landscape, and quite ar
ordinary one at that, A brook and .
wooden bridge, an old mill wllua dis
lodged wheel; tower on a hill, a mass
OF low'lying clouds, and a sleepy moon
looking down over it all.
The artist was a mere boy, but he had
genius, Nobody Ind advised, directed
or patronized, Nobody had ever critl,
cised, except his sister Gretchen. Nor
had she, to be precise; she knew less
about art than Carl did, and when she
made any comment at all, it was simply
suggestive in It's character.
Carl was poor, and so were his friends
he was u cripple and an orphan; he had
Gretchen, to be sure, but what helm
could she be to him in, his restless long
ings? She could pity him, and. on.
courage him, and beg him to wait; that
was sweet to be sure, but 1t did not salts.
fy his needs.
The picture on the easel was faulty in
several respects; and yet there was a
bold freedom about II, and n crude but
pleasing harmony OF Coloring that indi-
Gated grasp aud originality that would
win success, under favorable oppor.
tunitles.
Opportunities Sometimes they come
to us; sometimes we make them; often
we rise above them; frequently they
come too late, or never ut all.
The room was scantily furnished, and
yet 1t had cheerful look upon it. The
floor was clearly scrubbed; cheap but
pretty Chromos adorned the walls; here
and there were bright little niCk-naCks,
the work oil GretChen's def fingers.
Some p0tted flowers stood upon the
window sill; the sunlight sparkled
against the clearly kept panes: a canary
beat the bars Of its cage; a sleek cat was
cnrled up on rug near the stove; blue
and pink figured dishes were visible
through the glass doors Of the cupboard.
Gretchen came from corner OF the
room. She stopped behind Carl, rested
her hand softly upon his shoulder, and
looked at the painting. Her brown eyes
grew larger, and appreciation came into
hersmile.
"Carl, that's Just grahdl" she said,
with an enthusiasm that pleased him.
~ likeit because 1t isn'tso smoothe us
the last picture you painted. 1t has n
dasny, ou'hand look
Yet 1t cost me q great deal OF pains"
Carl slowly said. u have no pattern to
follow, and no one to show me. The
picture lacks conception. Have you
anything 70 suggest GretcchenT
yes, she slowly said, why not
make :, tho moon shine more 3I directly
upon the ruined towerI why not pen
ell elan! an owl within r. the gothic window 1t
would certainly look very natural"
You are right, sister" cried Car,
caichlng qt lhe ldea' III VIII improveit
wonderfully II Is strange 1t didn't oc-
cur 70 me; -, :,
~ VIII give, II still more oil awierd
look, remarked, Gretchen, her eyes ON
the picture. "Ihe lights aud shadows
are wei defined. me c0Iors have u
rlcn lookTand YET II isn't because they
are so well blended. tell you, Carl: It's
different from anything you ever at
tempted.
~ Is very crude Gretchen" Carl
saia:
mo, Carl. l won't admit tnat. II Is
original. There's . great den! IN that.
Each noted artist nas q style OF MS own
perhaps style isn't Just the word, but
you know what l mean. IL you couid
only get an opinion from some one able
to Judge You Sre gifted; l am sure"
so are you, uTs'chen'
In what EayT
Your voice" -,
20" calculated she, little incredu-
lousy.
y think ought to KNOW insisted
Carl.
Gretchen blushed, no spoke with 50
much positivCness.. She was not yet
eighteen she was short, sturdy plainly
clad she had capable hands, and a sweet
flexible month, andshe was very mother
y In her manner toward Carl. lie was
helpless to some extent ana she had to
carry MIN IN her mind ana heart.
"GretChen, get my violin, he said. /,
She brought him the instrument, and
he soon had 1t in tune. She knew that
no wanted her TO sing. 50, when he
struck of into an air, she Joined with the
words.
Her voice was q sweet, clear soprano,
Of much compass, but held III restraint,
just then. Every note was correctly
caught and held; evory passage waa
rendered with proper expression. Her
face became so illuminated while she
sang that there was not homely line
In y.
| When she had ended, tho canary burst
into q wild flood OF song.
"Just listen" exclaimed Carl, laugh
ing, "He will split big throat"
"Pretty Dick ~ cried Gretchen, gpap
ping her fingers toward the cage. "DicE
can sing. Gretchen can't
!, "But you can, Gtetchen," insisted
! Carl. "Your voice will bring you q for
tune"
: 70, &c, Carl !"
Before my brush brings me one" h'
added, with falling infection in hi
J. voice.
There was knock at the door.
ooh myW exclaimed Gretchen. In
Hurried tone. ",Tls Fruline Storm
! ieldt, with her knitting. She'll stay al