The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-05-19
MY PRIZE PICTURE.
Frank Leslie's Weekly.

Frank Leslie's Weekly.
| was Young and susceptible,
and was also AN amateur pholog-
rapher.
My dark room was the envy OF
all my friends, and my work had
received the club prizes Tor arlMlic
merit more than once. However,
us they were nothing more than
printed slips of paper, these prizes
were mere empty honors.
BuisbOw had decided to enter
a competition that was worthy the
name, and where the first prize
which felt sure that | could win
WAS a check Of dazzling dimen-
sions to youth wlose modest in.
come was drawn alarminaly low
by the constant sacrifices demand.
ed by the all devouring camera
god, whlch | had ie, up in the
place OF l.arcs and Penates.
This summer | had had no holi.
day at all, Tor two days before |
was to star, for LenoX-whele on
the last OF June | was to have been
best man 10 my old chum Fred-l
was laid on my back, fast in the
clutches OF pneumonia, and though
more than two months had passed
since then. was only just out of
the DOCTORS hands. | still felt
shaky, ard acquaintances were
continually stopping me IN the
street to tell me how badly |
looked.
Ii was now the middle of SeL-
tember, and just The time for Il
flying trip in search OF The piclur
esque, so | laid in a good supply
of rapid plates, packed my traps
and starred off to find my prlze
picture.
II proved a pleasant jaunt, and
| chang d my plans 10 suit those
of the friends ften fell in with
on the way; for although my ca.
mera was company enough IN
pleasan, weather, it was not 1iSa-
greeaLle to have hiends 10 talk to
on cloudy days, or pretty girl 10
dance and tlirl with during the
long evenings.
Ilook many a delightful tramp
o'er hill aud dale in search OF the
prize picture hich | was sure lha,
should come across some day.
have always leaned toward a be
liel in fate, and "Kismel" is the
motto engraved upon my seal.
Several d"zen of my rapid Ora
mers had been used already. and
was we'll pleased with my collec-
iion OF river views and mountains,
cattle pictures and odd farm
houses with quaint inleri'rs-to be
develop when | should return
10 tom.
One bright morning, when | wa,
Tar up in the valley of the Nauga
tuck, | wandered into fairyland by
chanre. | had left the high road
aud struck through the woods, no,
knowing whittier The path would
lead me, and Al last | came out up
on level tract between the hilly
woodlond and The river, which was
frin.ed with fine old trees.
A dazzling mass OF bloom wa
spread before me, clumps of lcath
cry white blossoms and plumes o.
vivid goldenrod were noddlng in
he breeze, and rnderfool the
ground was carpeted with every
shade Of asier, from richest purple
10 the most delicate INT of lilac
and rose. In this secluded spot
Dane nature had slrewn hel
treasures with a lavish hand.
! No photograph could catch al,
its elusive beauty, yet | waniet
one for Il souvenir, and l proceed
ed TO sci up my camera. 1t mad.
a charming bit upon the ground
glass, with the level, flowery fore
ground and lhe old gnarled oak il
he middle distance, while beneath
its widespread branches The rip
ling river showed It's rare light
and shadows. 1t struck me a,
just the setting for a picture o
some fair maiden; but alas
where could | find her in this soil
tude
| buried my head under The
dark cloth, intent upon The focus
but when | came out into The sun
shine again what vision of lowell
ness did | see approaching?
saw a maiden whose perfect figure
was clad in soft, white drapery
and her hands were full of wilt
flowers and crimson sunacl
leaves. She stopped, from Tim,
TO time. 10 pick The tall, white us
ters that seemed TO bend iheil
fiower laden sprays out toward llel
hand, and .hen continued her wa,
slowly and graciously, and all un
conscious oi The eager, waitln!
amateur.
| In went the plate holder ant
out came The slide. A breathles
moment Of suspense, aud then sht
stood just where | would hav,
placed her. ller position was on
OF perfect grace. Pausing, she ha,
turned slightly aud bent 10 plucl
n flower, lookingup and past IN,
with a bewi ,leriMg smile.
pressed the bulb, the shuttle
snapped, and with a feeling Of iri
uml,h knew that the prize pic
lure was mine-bevond recall /!