Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-04-03
MY PRIZE PICTURE.

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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 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 a com
petition that was T,orthy of the name,
and where the first prize-which | lelt
sure that l could win-was a check of
dazzling dimensions to a youth whose
modest income was drawn alar1ingly
low by the constant sacrifices demanded
by the all %deyouring Gamer god, which
1 had set up in the place Of Lares and
Penates.
This summer 1 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, l 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 /
looked.
1t was now the middle of September,
and just the time for a flying trip in
search Of the picturesque, so 1 laid in a
good supply of rapid plates, packed my
traps, and started off to find my prize
picture.
It proved a pleasant juunt, and l
,I,,w,1 rnrr -1n,,. T., rvsA Ah.no &c 4h.
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.
l took many a 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 a 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 l was far
up in the valley of tthe Naugatuck, !
wandered into fairylGnd by chance. /
had left the high road and struck
through the woods, not knowing
whittier the path would lead me, and at
last l came out upon a 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 plu1nes 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 I wanted one for q
souvenir, and 1 proceeded to set up my
camera. 1t made u charming bit upon
the ground glass, with the level, howery
foreground and the old gnarled oak in
the middle distance, while beneath ia
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 1 find her in this solitude?
1 buried my head under the dark cloth,
intent upon the focus; but when / came
out into the sunshine again what vision
of loneliness did l see approaching?
saw a 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 10 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
g%raciously, and MI 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
wa n Of perfect grace. Pausing, she
mad turned slightly md bent to pluck a
6Ower, looking Up and Ras5 me with a
b~ewildering smile.
1 pressed the bulb, the shutter snap
ped, and with a feeling of triumph
knew that the prize picture was mine
beyond recall
When l got back 10 the inn where
was stopping / found "a 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 1 felt like a different man, and
Twas exultant over my stolen picture.
Some days passed before l had leisure
TO develop the plate, but then 1 found
had indeed a prize, for it proved the
best negative in every way among my
entira collection.
Betare l went down town the next
morning 1 hastily printed a proof, which
Hooked at with increasing rapture sew
eral times during the day.
What a perfect pose that girl had I'M
consciously taken, and how very beauti-
full she wasl I had only thought Of her
before as . ''good subject, but now ]
could not get her lovely face and grace
full figure out Of my mind. Who was