The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-06-21

4
true and lasting love as purely an ideal
never to be realized, except in Heaven,
and 1t might be that which made 1t
Heaven.
Here was a love very different from
any that had previously come under my
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 so
many satisfied with base imitation!
Such love as theirs is the most desira-
BILE 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 no
difference in q love like this, unless to
increase its depth and fervor
Thus mused. Soon they strolled off
toward the river, and suddenly became
conscious that the book had been pre-
tending to read was held upside down.
The hostess came out just then, and l
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 l had already had. Once
more, l resolved to make sketch, but
| not of the lady alone; 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. /
sought my room, and with more than
my former enthusiasm began again the
difficult work. l sketched from mem
ory, 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 ac-
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 l 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 were! How
keenly enjoyed them after my months
of work in the close school-room. One
afternoon, etch-b book in hand, /
started for n ramble, and after reaching
the river wandered on along the bank
until l came to q fallen tree. Here
seated myself on the trunk, where one
limb made convenient foot-rest and |
another formed comfortable support
for the back. A short distance up the
F,,11
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 pass between |
the two mountains, and though to reach |
the top of the bluffs involved labor, 1t |
was often done, as a footpath testified. |
Just across the river from the fallen |
tree, beautiful spring bubbled 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 cozy nook, when /
saw two well-known figures crossing |
the bridge. What a 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
silver cup filled it with water and
offered the gentleman drink. He
drank, and gallantly exclaimed, as he
the cup:
"a sweeter draught
From fairer hand was never quaffed."
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 a fair representation of her as she
him with the silver cup.
They passed on down the river out of
sight and / soon left the tree and, cross
intending to sketch the town. With |
some difficulty gained good position,
but my eXcrtions in climbing had rem
dered my nerves somewhat unsteady, |
and concluded to postpone sketching, |
and enjoy a walk along the edge of the |
bluffs, which commanded 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
livious to the fact that walking was |
hard work. The ground was uneven,
and rocks and bushes intercepted my |
progress, and / had not walked more
than half mile before the unwon ted |
exercise had made very tired. The sun
was hot and was thirsty, and in spite |
of the beautiful views heartily wished |
myself back on the level ground. But |
how to get there? Must ] retrace my |
steps? Was there no other way? ap-
preached the edge of the cliff and |
looked over. / noticed the jutting |
lodges, the projecting points and the
sharp rocks below. How terrible to
fall! One could not escape with life.
drew back with shudder.
Looking down the river, l saw what
appeared to be an old stone quarry.
The stone had been taken out in large
quantities, and rejected stones and
earth formed sloping bank which ex-
tended into the river. Could but get |
into the quarry from above, was sure l
could Chamber down this stony slope |
and reach more desirable position than |
the one | now occupied without the |