Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-06-23

hopes of the future as other men
have, l suppose.
l had seen no one, with the excep-
ton of a few prospectors on the hunt
for gold and silver. They minded
their own business, as men soon
learned to do in those days, and I
was not bothered nor my privacy in
truded upon.
But one day as sat busily paint
ing 1 heard step, a soft rustic, and
looked up to see a vision in my door
way. A young girl. but little more
than Is years of age, stood there
with her hand resting upon the head
of great mastiff dog.
The sight was so unexpected that
for a moment I thought of optical
illusions and rubbed my eyes, ex-
pecting the picture to vanish; but
instead it advanced, and the dog
came and poked his cold nose into
my hand, asking after the manner of
his kind, for notice and caresses. As
for his mistress, she stood looking
about her as achild light have done,
and indeed she was but little more.
Have you lost your way ?" I
asked her gently.
ooh, no, sir" she said with a faint
smile. Knight and l never get
lost. Do we Knight?"
At the mention of his name the
dog turned and stood by her, and l
was glad to see that he would indeed
be reckless man who would dare
modest her.
Will you sit down and rest?" l
asked, pushing one ofmy camp stools
toward her.
Knight and l never get tired, do
we, Knight 2" she asked but she sit
down and put her arm around the
dogs neck.
do you live here ?" she asked.
replied that | did and fell to
wondering where the child could
have strayed from. She now caught
sight OF my work and drew near me
with wonder in her eyes.
"You must be like God" she said
to make mountains and canyons
like that
"You give me greater praise than
l Deserve" 1 said, "but here are
some more picturcs-will you look
at them z"
| turned them for her, and it was
a strange sensation to watch her
face, filled as it was with wonder and
awe.
"Do you like pictures p l asked.
81 never saw any BEFORE" she
said, Except black and white ones
little ones, you know, in papers
and books. | liked them, but these
OIL" She clasped her hands and
saw that she was trembling. 81
didn't think that anybody in the
world could make pictures like
these"
While she looked at them | look
ed at her, and my wonder grew as l
gazed. She was a slender little crea-
ture, olive skinned, and with a great
mass of dusky hair gathered into a
braid which hung below her waist.
Her features were delicate aRd regu-
lar, her eyes large, brown and full OF
the slumbering fires of unawakened
womanhood; but her mouth was the
feature that caught and riveted my
attention. 1t was so unchildlike, so
inexpressibly sad in the pathetic
curves of the small red lips.
Docs your Knight like picturesT
l asked, trying to win smile. The
faintest ghost of one crossed her
face.
eyes, he likes whatever / like
she answered. knight knows a.
much as any Of u.s."
| returned to my sketching in
some endorsement. Had she been
indeed, the child l at first supposed
to question her or amuse her would
have been easy; but as it was
could only await her pleasure. Pres
emily she came to my side.
"My mother used to say" sh
said, timidly, "that if prayed t
the Holy Mother Mary she woulC
hear me and give me what / asked
for. Do you think she will"
| " / hope SO, with all my heart,n