The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
MY PRIZE PICTURE.

! Was tOuLR anu uoOCpLAtlCs anu
was also an amateur photographer.
Ny dark room was the envy of all my
| friends, and my work had received the
| club prizes for artistic merit more thar
once However, as they were nothing
more than printed slips of paper, these
prizes We're mere empty honors.
/ But now l had decided to enter com
petition that was worthy of the name
and where the first prize-which felt
! sure that l could win-was a check OF
| dazzling dimensions to a youth whose
modest income was drawn alarmingly
low by the constant sacrifices demanded
| by the all devouring camera god, which
/ had set up in the place of Lar6s and
Penates.
This summer had had no holiday at
all, for two days before l was to start
for Lenox-where on the last of June
was to have been best man to my old
chum Fred-I was laid on my back, fast
in the clutches Of pneumonia, and
though more than two months had pass
ed since then, was only just out of the
doctors hands. 1 still felt shaky, and
acquaintance were continually stopping
me in the street to tell me how badly
looked.
1t was now the middle of September,
and just the time for a flying trip in
search of the picturesque, so l laid in a
good supply of rapid plates, packed my
traps, and started off to find my prize
picture.
1t proved a pleasant jaunt, and
changed my plans to suit those of the
friends l often fell in with on the way;
for although my camera was company
enough in pleasant weather, it was not
disagreeable to have friends to talk to on
cloudy days, or a pretty girl to dance
and firt with during the long evenings.
| took many delightful tramp DER
hill and dale in search of the prize pict-
ure which was sure that l should come
across some day. l have always leaned
toward a belief in fate, and ''Kismet" is
the motto engraved upon my seal.
Several dozen of my rapid Cramers
had been used already, and l was well
pleased with my collection of river views
and mountains, cattle pictures and old
farmhouses with quaint interiors-to be
developed when | should return TO town.
One bright morning, when | was far
up in the valley Of the Naugatuck, |
wandered into fairyiand by chance. l
had left the high road and struck
through the woods, not knowing
whittier the path would lead me, and at
last | came out. upon a level tract be-
tween the billy woodland and the river,
which was fringed with fine old trees.
A dazzling mass of bloom was spread
before me, clumps Of feathery white
blossoms and plumes of vivid goldenrod
were nodding in the breeze, and under
foot the ground was carpeted with every
shade of aster, from richest purple to the
most delicate tints of lilac and rose. In
this secluded spot Dame Nature had
strewn her treasures with lavish hand.
No photograph could catch all its
elusive beauty, yet l wanted one for
souvenir, and proceeded to set up my
camera. 1t made charming bit upon
the ground glass, with the level, fowery
foreground and the old gnarled oak in
the middle distance, while beneath its
widespread branches the ripping river
showed its rare lights and shadows. 1t
struck ME as just the setting for a pict-
ure of some fair maiden; but alas! where
could find her in this solitude?
| buried my head under the dark cloth,
intent upon the focus; but when l came
out into the sunshine again what vision
of loneliness did see approaching? |
saw maiden whose perfect figure was
clad in soft, white drapery, and her
hands were full of wild flowers and
crimson sumach leaves. She stopped,
from time to time, to pick the tall,
white asters that seemed to bend their
flower laden sprays out toward her hand,
and then continued her way, slowly and
graciously, and all unconscious of the
eager, waiting amateur.
In went the plate holder and out came
the slide. A bresthless moment of sus-
pense, and then she stood Just where
would have placed her Her position
was one of perfect grace. Pausing, she
had turned slightly and bent to plack
mower, looking up and past me with a
bewildering smile.
l pressed the bulb, the shutter snap
ped, and with a feeling of triumph l
knew that the prize picture was mine
beyond recall!
When l got back to the inn where l |
was stopping found telegram recall |
ing me to town. The summons did not |
disconcert me in the least, for my short I
holiday had proved an eminent success. !
In health l felt like different man. and |
l was exultant over my stolen picture.
Some days passed before had leisure
to develop the plate. but then found | /
had indeed a prize, for it proved the
best negative in every way among my |
entire collection.
Before / went down town the next 1
| hastily printed proof, which 4
looked at with increasing rapture sew /
eral times during the day
What perfect pose that girl had IN !,
taken. and how very beauti- I
ful size was. l had only thought of her I
before as good subject" but now I 4
could not get her lovely face and grace I
tul figure out Of my mind. Who was
soc, and did she live in that quiet town
among the hills, or had she been =
stranger like myself How could find
out and where could see her again? .
for see her felt must.
1t Is a strange confession TO make. but
before twerty-fOur hours were over
was desperately in love with the IN
known original of my prize. That we
should meet again some day had not