Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-09-11

went down to the beach, entered his boat,
and rowed quickly to the bay. A minute
search revealed no trace of his lilly maid, .
nor signs of human presence, save few
marks in the sand, which might have been
those of human feet or might have been
those of an animal.
He was convinced, however, that he hat
surprised some bathers, and one OF
them had hidden herself among the lilies,
little dreaming that her face would be visi
BILE in his picture. Returning to the house
he questioned his host as to the inhabitants
on that side of the lake, but found there
were no houses for miles. She must have
been member of some picnicking party
and there was no use of further question
ing.
After that Kershaw's interest in pho
Biography began to wane, and in short
time he returned to Chicago. He hall
ruined his eyesight in impressing every
feature of the beautiful face upon his
minds eye, and began persistent search
for the original.
A year went by, and everybody, that l.
among his friends, had come to notice this
quick, searching glance he would always
give every new face presented to his notice
He had therefore always said he was too
busy to attend public gatherings, but now
he went everywhere. When he could get
away for a few days he ran over to New
York and commissioned first class artist
to paint an enlarged copy of the photo
graph, cautioning him jealousy to let no
one see the work until he himself had
viewed it.
Six months passed before he was again
in the city, then his first visit was to the
artist Van Alstynes studio. A cry of de-
lighted surprise escaped Kershaw's lips as
his eyes rested on the exquisite production.
Perfect perfect!'' he cried, to the artists
unqualified satisfaction.
Every feature of the cold looking photo
graph had been reproduced in living COLOR
and with marvellous faithfulness. But the
face was the masterpiece, and Ronald's
heart throbbed with lovers rapture as
he stood entranced before it.
"What can say?" he asked after long
silence.
"That have succeeded?"
"It is marvellous. Perfect. How can
ever repay you"
"By letting me hang the picture at the
approaching art exhibition"
For an instant an indignant refusal trem-
bled on Kershaw's lips. Then the thought
came. might not such course result in
the discovery of the original lily nlaid?'"
and he gave a cordial consent to the plan
Then, having ascertained the exact date OF
the exhibition, he gave one more long, low
ing glance at the sweet face and returned
to his tiresome lawsuits.
These he prosecuted with such vigor that
he found himself free in time to reach New
York the day of the art opening The pic
ture had been given the most advantageous
position, and from the first attracted much
attention.
I have told how the scheme had been
thus far a failure. Of all the thousands
who had viewed it up to the last day no
one had shown a sign of recognition, no
one had seemed to have ever seen it before
Disheartened and railing at himself for the
fierce love he had come to own overmas-
tered his sense of judgment, Kershaw enter
ed the gallery on the last day.
This should be the last attempt, he was
firmly resolved. If today afforded no clew
to the mystery he would take the picture,
60 home and wait, trying by hard work to
dull the pain of wasted affection. The
reader cannot be more Disguised with the
man of law than he was himself. Why
could he not have fallen in love in a natu-
raj way with some pretty girl of his &C
quaintance. instead of waiting all these
years to lose his heart over face SO mys-
teriously produced by the camera?
He asked himself this last question many
times that day as he watched the surging
crowd, and was mentally pronouncing it
unanswerable when, as he was leaving the
building, he slipped at the top of the steps
and came down most ungracefully at the
feet of his ''lily maid" Dazed by the dis
covery, he was gathering himself up slowly
when two pairs of hands seized him and
quickly set him on his feet, while well
known voice exclaimed, "Now, Ronald, if
you are only blessed with broken bone Of
some sort you can see this precious CITY,"
mo broken bones, thank you, uncle"
he replied, shaking hands with the fine
looking elderly man who had spoken, and
also with a younger man whom he called
cousin John"
'Aren't you going to speak to your
other cousin?" demanded his uncle, indi-
eating the fair girl, who had been an
amused spectator of the scene.
"Other cousine" in a bewildered tone
swell, not strictly SO, because she be-
longs to my wife's side of the house. Lois,
this is Ronald Kershaw, of whom you
have heard us speak so often. Miss Lois
Hunt. Ronald, by the way, we are just
going into the gallery to see painting
which friend tells US has Lois face in it."
Turning, Ronald re-entered the gallery
with his new found relatives and piloted
them at once to the pictures. A cry of sur
prise escaped Lois Hunts lips us she
scanned the scene.
81 was wondering where had seen you
BEFORE" was her only comment as she
turned to Ronald, laughing light in her
glorious eyes. "That is the only time
was eyer caught by a camera"
''That same instant enslaved the photog-
rapher," replied Ronald apdpciously, and
he gathered hope for the future from the
fact that she blushed as she turned away
without speaking.-Rye johnson in Pitts
burg Bulletin.