Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-01-29
MY PRIZE PICTURE.

| was young and susceptible, and /
was also an amateur photographer.
My dark room was the envy of all my
friends, and my work had received the
club prizes for artistic merit more than
once. However, as they were nothing
more than printed slips of paper. these
prizes were 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 | could win-was a check of
dazzling dimensions to a youth whose
modest income was drawn alarrningly
low by the constant sacrifices demanded
by the all devouring camera god, which
l had set up in the place Of Lares and
Penates.
This summer | had had no holiday at
all, for two days before / 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 still felt shaky, and
acquaintance were continually stopping
me in the street to tell me how badly I
looked
1t was now the middle of September,
and just the time for flying trip in
search of the picturesque, so laid in
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 / 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 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 should come
across some day. | have always leaned
toward belief in fate, and ''Kismet'' is
the motto engraved upon my seal.
Several dozen of my rapid Cramers
had been used already, and was well
pleased with my collection of river views
and mountains, cattle pictures and old
farmhouses with quaint interiors-to be
developed when l should return to town.
One bright morning, when / was far
up in the valley of the Naugatuck,
wandered into fairyland 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 level tract be-
tween the hilly 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 a lavish hand.
No photograph could catch all its
elusive beauty, yet l wanted one for a
souvenir, and | proceeded to set up my
camera. 1t made a 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 pict-
ure of some fair maiden; but alasl where
could | find her in this solitude?
buried my head under the dark cloth,
intent upon the focus; but when I came
out into the sunshine again what-vision
of loveliness 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 breathless 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 pluck a
flower, looking up and past me with a
bewildering smile.
pressed the bulb, the shutter snap
ped, and with feeling of triumph
knew that the prize picture was mine
beyond recallt
When / got lack to the inn where |
was stopping | found u telegram recall
ing me to town. The summons did not
disconcert me in the least, for my short
holiday had proved an eminent success.
In health I felt like different man, and
was exultant over my stolen picture.
Some days passed before L had leisure
to develop the plate, but then found
had indeed prize, for it proved the
best negative in every way among my
entire collection.
Before | went down town the next
morning hastily printed a proof, which
/ looked at with increasing rapture sew
eral times during the day.
What perfect pose that girl had un-
consciously taken, and how very beauti-
full she was! / had only thought of her
before as 'sgood subject" but now /
could not get her Y face and grace
full figure out Of l..y iuiiiG. Who was
she, and did she live in that quiet town
among the hills, or had she been a
stranger like myself? How could I find
out, and where could see her again7
for see her felt must.
1t is a strange confession to make, but
before twenty-four hours were over
was desperately in love with the un-
known original of my prize. That we
should meet again some day had not
the slightest doubt. Kismet!
| But after all would it be right to
send this picture her picture into the
competition to be criticised, admired
freely. passed from hand to hand, then
reproduced and sent broadcast over the
length and breadth of the whole coun-
| try?
Why not, when this might be theyery
means of bringing us together? And
then I thought how | should persuade
her that my wish to find her out had
overcome all scruples, and that with the
seeming liberty which had taken had
shown myself ready to surrender myself
her prisoner and await her sentence
for. life or DEATH
Inonld HARDLY wait for Saturday after