Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-30

mother. You know the Josephine Beau harnais 'directoire' style that was worn in seventeen ninety something. Her neck and shoulders are lovely, and that was why we consented. went, and so did the artist, and we posed her, and the photograph is simply of her face and neck, too, but when Alice saw it she blushed furiously and for bade my having them finished After ward, though, she yielded when her Aunt Kate and l begged so hard and promised that none should be given away, and so just half a dozen were finished. Indeed the dress is by no means as decollete as many girls wear theirs at dinner now in New York, but poor Alice was scandalized when she saw it last month, and she never would let me put one in the album"
 "Oh, do go and get it, Mrs. May nardr' pleaded the ladies. "Oh, please let me see it, Mrs. Maynardp' added Sloat, and at last the mother pride pre- vailed. Mrs Maynard rustled up stairs and presently returned, holding ill her hands delicate silver frame ill filigree work, a quaint, foreign affair, and in closed therein was a cabinet photograph en vignette-the head, neck and shoul- ders of a beautiful girl, and the dainty, diminutive, what -there-was- oft waist of the old fashioned gown, sashed al- most immediately under the exquisite bust, revealed quite materially the cause of Alice Renwick's blushes. But more beautiful portrait was never photographed. The women fairly gasped with delight and envy. Sloat could not restrain his impatience to get it in his own hands, and finally he grasped it and then eyed it ill rapture It was two minutes before he spoke a word, while the colonel sat laughing at his worship ing gaze. Mrs. Maynard somewhat uneasily stretched forth her hand, and the other ladies impatiently strove to regain possession.
 ''Come, Major Sloat, you've surely had it long enough. We want it again.
 'Never!' said Sloat, with melodra- matic intensity. "Neverl This is my ideal of perfection of divinity in wom- an- will bear it home with me, set it above my fireside and adore it day and night. ''
 Nonsense, Major Sloatv' said Mrs. Maynard, laughing, yet far from being at her ease. Come, I must take it back. Alice may be in any minute now, and if she knew I had betrayed her she would never forgive me. Come, surren- derr' And she strove to take it from him.
 But Sloat was in one of his utterly asinine moods. He would have been per fectly willing to give any sum he pos sessed for so perfect picture as this. He never dreamed that there were good and sufficient reasons why no man should have it. He so loved and honored his colonel that he was ready to lay down his life for any of his household. In laying claim to this picture he hon. estly believed that it was the highest proof he could give of his admiration and devotion. A tame surrender now meant that his protestations were empty words. Therefore, argued Sloat, ''I must stand firm
 Madam, said he, "I'd die first. " And with that he began backing to the door.
 Alarmed now, Mrs Maynard sprang after him, and the little major leaped upon a chair, his face aglow, jolly, rubicund, beaming with bliss and tri- umph- She looked up, almost wringing her hands, and turned half appealingly to the colonel, who was laughing heart lily on the sofa, never dreaming Sloat could be i'll earnest.
 Here, I'll give you back the frame. I don't want that" said Sloat and be- gan fumbling at the back of the photo graph This was too much for the ladies. They, too, rushed to the rescue. One of them sprang and shut the door; the other seized and violently shook the back of his chair, and Sloat leaped to the floor, still clinging to his prize and laughing as though he had never had so much en- tertainment in his life. The long Vene tian windows opened upon the piazza, and toward the nearest one he retreated, holding aloft the precious gage and waving off the attacking party with the other hand. He was within yard of the blinds when they were suddenly thrown open, a tall, slender form stepped quick ly in, one hand seized the uplifted wrist,