St. Landry democrat., 1892-01-23
AN IDEAL.

that picture | am going to marry her."
George Milman, who made this remark
and his aunt, Mrs. Henderson, wer
standing before picture of hers almos
beautiful enough to justify such extrav
agant admiration 1t was called "Fu
ture," and represented at half length
girl in all the sweet freshness of buddin,
| womanhood.
eyes," he continued, "note the char
tacteristics of this picture and their sig
nificance and you will see why say so
The figure is graceful, the head, deli
cately poised, is rather large, and tn,
brow, of unusual breadth, is brought int,
full relief by the dark brown hair
brushed strai ght back, with its wavy
abundance only slightly confined by
ribbon around the head. The eyes ar
dark gray, large and at once bri ght and
thoughtful; the mouth and chin, though
marked by the tender lines Of youth We,
show sufficient decision of character
intellectually and unselfshness are in
dicated, but the one characteristic mos1
prominently brought out is righteousness
in the noblest sense Of that often mis-.
used word. 1t is more than innocence
and does not depend on ignorance 1t is
most often seen as characteristic of a
noble woman and is retained by them in
some miraculous way in spite Of much
intellectual knowledge of the worlds
wickedness. Such woman as is por-
trayed in this picture would naturally be
clinging and dependent, but finding her
self without q support, or her chosen
protector proving unworthy, would meet
the emergency heroically and stand I'M
faltering.
"Such a woman [ most admire, and
such a woman if have the good fortune
to find her, shall certainly marry"
''But she might be the original of this
picture and yet not have the character
you describe" said Mrs. Henderson.
"No, that is impossible; woman
could not look that way without being
all that | have suggested"
"But if you find her you still might
not win her."
eyes, would, no matter if she was en-
gagged to BIO married and her wedding day
was appointed"
It's like you to be so sure, and like
you, too, to fall SO desperately in love
with picture"
In this Mrs. Henderson was right, such
determination was characteristic of
George Millman. He was drummer for
large mandatory, selling to jobbing
houses, and SO had to take long trips
from city to city. When actually at
work he was all attention to business and
put his whole soul into it-with distin-
guished success; on the intervening trips
he yielded to the speculative side of his
nature, spending his time in reading the
best novels, histories and philosophical
works.
Some three months after the above
conversation George again called to see
his aunt, who asked him if he had yet
found the object of his alteration.
~ can't exactly say that I have, but
your question reminds me that | have
story to tell you, and suppose | might
just as well begin at the beginning"
"Please do; it is about that picture |
know she replied.
"Well, you shall see," was the re-
Spouse, and he began
II was on the Nashville, Chattanooga
and St. Louis train on my way to Nash
vile. | had been travelling twelves
hours and was rather tired. [ was read
ing the Tale Of Two Cities'-tryinc to
read it, that is, for my mind was strange
ly wandering in spite of my interest in
that remarkable story-the best Dickens
ever wrote. Looking up in one of these
fits of inattention, [ happened to notice
a party which must have got on at the
last station, and had taken seats diago-
nally in front of me- 1t consisted of an
old lady, young lady and boy about
seventeen, evidently mother, brother and
sister. The mother attracted my atten-
ton first and | was idly admiring her
still unusual beauty, sublimated but not
destroyed by age, when the young lady
turned around. Aunt, she might have
been the original of your picture, so like
she was in every detail. | was aston
lshed and could hardly believe my eyes.
watched her quietly and studied her
features until there could be no doubt
about it. There was the broad brow,
the dark brown hair loosely confined, the
lark gray eyes, the sweet firm mouth,
and above all the expression of intel
equality, unselfshness and ingenious
ness. | forgot the story, and | could
lot take my eyes off of her for one
fear she must have noticed
t."
Il know she did," interrupted Mrs.
Henderson. "You must have stared her
nut of countenance."
II suspect did, and all the time [ was
ndeavoring to realize my good fortune,
md thinking how | should manage to
ind out the young ladys name and how
could make her acquaintance.
"After an hours ride Of this way |
vent into the smoking car for my cigar
ase, which ! had left there. / was de-
aimed by q friend whom | met there and
eft the car just as the train was starting
gain after having stopped at small
tation. CHANGING to look to one side,
aw my new found ideal and her party
ust getting into carriage, which had
pparently been waiting for them. Aunt,
ust one thought filled my mind that |
ould not afford thus to lose my ideal so
DON, and that unless followed her she
Tas lost. This was rather an impulse
han thought-there was no time for
hat, and | piled off after her. The car
iage had started, and there was only one
ian in sight-the depot agent. / spoke
. him and asked who the people who
ad just left were. He said that he did
OF know; that he had never seen them
efore; but | believe now that he did,
nd that he must have taken me for q
matte; my appearance was outlandish
nough and | Suspect my manner was ez-
tied. / tried to hire q horse, offered
i'm large price for the use of one an
our hut fha faIIow told ma tbat he b.d