Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-19

! anu ~ iH1S III NC ludb NuiOu AhaNO 4
Heaven.
Here was love very different from
any that had previously come under m!
observation. 1t had the power to trans
form, to glorify the human face. and
love that had such power must of neces
sity be pure and true. o why are 81
many satisfied with a base imitation
Such love as theirs is the most desira
bic thing in life. thought !, as | noticed
the subtle interchange of sympathy and
the appreciation each felt for the beauty
of the sunset, which neither needed to
express in words. Years could make. nc
difference in a love like this, unless tc
increase its depth and feryor.
Thus ! unused. Soon they strolled of
toward the river, and l suddenly became
conscious that the book l had been pre-
tending to read was held upside down.
| The hostess came out just then, and
expressed to her the interest with which
these two people had inspired me. She
became enthusiastic at once and told me
many facts about them, which deepened
the feeling / had already had. Once
more, resolved to make a sketch, but
not of the lady alone; 1 would paint
them both. One would be incomplete
without the other. They were ideal
lovers and my picture should express
my ideal of love, yet taken from life. l
sought my room, and with more than
my former enthusiasm began again the
difficult work. l sketched from mem
DRY, for the impression on my mind was
vivid. Several days passed. This par
ticular sketch was not yet finished for
it was elaborate, and worked on it only
when inspired by seeing my two lovers
together.
Meanwhile Irambled, read and fished,
sometimes alone, sometimes with &C
quaintanceS. l made several sketches
of landscapes in the vicinity of the town,
but none seemed complete without the
figures of my two lovers placed in the
foreground, and they were in nearly
every one, and 1 endeavored in each and
all to give vivid expression to the mutu-
al confidence and love which so fascin-
ated me in the originals.
What pleasant days those werei How
keenly enjoyed them after my months
of work in the close school-room. One
afternoon, sketch-book in hand, l
started for ramble, and after reaching
the river wandered on along the bank
until l came to a fallen tree. Here l
seated myself on the trunk, where one
limb made a convenient foOt-rest and
another formed comfortable support
for the back. A short distance up the
stream, and in full view from the tree,
a foot-bridge spanned the river. The
bluffs, which were on the left of the
stream, at this point were not so steep.
They slOped down from either way and
formed something like a pass between
the two mountains, and though to reach
the top of the bluffs involved labor, it
was often done, as footpath testified.
Just across the river from the fallen
tree, beautiful spring dubbed from
under the rocks and flowed into the
river. All these had soon reproduced
on paper. The rustic bridge, the sloping
cliff, the bubbling spring, made pretty
and effective picture.
Well pleased with my success, was
about to leave my coy nook, when 1
saw two well-known figures crossing
the bridge. What Joy this was to me!
They reached the shore, and, taking the
path between the foot of the bluffs and
the river, they soon reached the spring
just opposite where | was sitting. Here
they paused, and the lady producing a
silver cup filled it with water and
offered the gentleman a drink. He
drank, and gallantly exclaimed, as he
the cup:
"A sweeter draught
From fairer hand was never quafTed."
This incident filled me with sudden
What an addition they
would make to my picture! seized my
pencil and began to put them into |
my sketch. l worked rapidly and soon
had fair representation of her as she |
presented him with the silver cup.
They passed on down the river out of |
sight and soon left the tree and, cross
ing the fOot-brdge, climbed the bluff, |
to sketch the town. With |
some difficulty | gained good position.
but my eXertions in climbing had rem
1ered my nerves somewhat unsteady, |
and l concluded to postpone sketching,
and enjoy walk along the edge of the
bluffs, which commanded a view not
only of the town but of the surround
ing country for many miles to the south
and west, which was beautiful and
charming.
But all this could not render me OBJ
ivious to the fact that walking was
1 n I'd |
md rocks and bushes intercepted my
progress, and l had not walked more
han half a mile before the unwon ted
exercise had made very tired. The sun
vas hot and | was thirsty, and in spite
# the beautiful views heartily wished
myself back on the level ground. But
low to get there? Must / retrace my
teps? Was there no other way? l ap-
'roached the edge of the cliff and
ooked over. noticed the jutting
edges, the projecting points and the
harp rocks below. How terrible to
all! One could not escape with life. 1
rev back with shudder
Looking down the river, 1 saw what
to be an old stone quarry
The stone had been taken out in large
Quantities, and rejected stones and
arth formed sloping bank which ex-
ended into the river. Could but get
nto the quarry from above, l was sure l
ould Chamber down this stony slope
nd reach more desirable position than
he one l now occupied without the
abor and fatigue of returning as had {
ONE. The excavation was broad and
Id not look very deep. There must be (
ONE way to get into it, ofcOurse. lean
all in, if there is no other way" ex-
laimed aloud; and 1 walked on