Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-07-11

peaceful morning on n rock bound
coast with the sea at rest. He inquired
the painters name and address, and
made him the kindly offer.
On the afternoon that his letter had
reached its destination, he was seated
in the cosy parlor of "Roselle" when
his housekeeper announced "Mr. Jack
Barton" In another moment Jack
was standing before his urknc wn
friend.
"sit down, my boy, sit down. said
James Robertson. $50 you are re-
sponsible for those two pictures in
Mrs. Peck's shop, eh?"
eyes, sir" Jack replied.
"Well, they are exceedingly clever.
Now let me see what you have brought
to show me-"
And quickly dozen sketches were
upon the table, every one of which
James Robertson scanned with the eye
of connoisseur. After examining the
last he threw 1t down again with the
explanation:
swell, you shall do it. wanted
to give my commission to man who
had spent his life on the sea. The
man who paints my picture must hear
and see every wave as he depicts it
with his brush. Now I can trust you
to do this. will tell you the subject.
A girl standing on the seashore, look
ing out to sea, as if watching and long
ing for some one to come. She must
be a beautiful girl, just blossoming
into womanhood, with-yes, fair,
brown hair. You may clothe her as
you will; as fisherman's daughter,
only the face must be there. ! have
only one copy OF the face l want you
to paint; | cannot let it GO, but you
can come here and work. Then when
you are ready to fill in the background
youcan go back to your home and paint
the seashore with its cliffs and ROCKS.
AS to what l will pay you, let that
rest; I can afford to reward you lib
orally.
James Robertson seemed to realize
that sad side of his life which every
body in the town associated with his
name. With sigh, suppressed but
unmstakable, he drew from his pocket
an old brown, leather pocketbook, and
with touch of gentleness took out c
few old letters, as though they were
precious to him. Then he found q
small packet, which he looked upon
as though he longed to press it to his
lips, but he was not alone. From this
he took tiny curl of brown hair and
laid it in the palm of his hand as if it
were too great Il treasure w place elso
where and then small portrait, ev-
identity taken from the inside OF a
brooch. The reoollections seemed
more than he could bear, and never
needing that he was not alone, he bent
his head in his hands by the mantel
board. and, with the sigh of n man
broken hearted, stood quietly there for
some time. Then, rousing himself, he
said:
"Ah take no notice; the sight of
these reminds me of those still love.
Now, just look at that picture; could
you enlarge upon it?"
cit was the face of beautiful wo-
man about twenty-four years Of age.
Jack started little when he saw it,
and said:
81 shall not forget that face"
eyes," said James Robertson, sad
ly, "she was very beautiful"
''But. sir" Jack said, II do not
think I need work here. Let me work
at my home. May look at the portrait
again, sir? and I will bring your pic
ture finished before many weeks are
gone. You may trust me to do it,"
the young fellow said. earnestly; "you
will not be disappointed as to the
faithfulness of the likeness"
Jack was SO sincere that James
Robertson had not the heart to offer
any objection to the course he pro-
posed.
Jacks luck was on the tip of every
body's tongue in Bracebridge, and
when old Job Bates said: 81 twold
ZEE as how the body was born to peant
picters," there was not q dissenting
voice. It was now nearly a month
since the date of James Robertson's
commission, and but the last few
finishing touches were required to per.
feet the picture. Addie had sat daily
to the young man, and when he told
her how his unknown friend had bid
him paint the girl looking for some
body, she said
"Well, shall look for you, Jack,
all the time"
She made pretty picture, with her
bright eyes and fair brown hair, and
when the youthful artist came to paint
the rocks and moss.covered powders
behind her, and the sea gently coming
toward her feet, he would go down to
the seashore with her, aud the old folk
would shake their heads and say:
''Ye may we'll be proud, lass" to
which the girl would simply reply:
'I'm very happy"
At last the picture was complete.
Jack wrote to his friend that he would
bring it on Monday. Once again the
carrier stopped at the isherman's
door; but this time it was not or
Addie to remain behind and wave her
hand to her lover until he turned the
road at the top of the hill, but Jack
and his sweetheart sat side by side in
the cart, so that "Mr. Robertson
might see what the real thing was
like" At least, so said the light
hearted painter.
The old mare seemed to 60 more
slowly than ever, but at last Rockman-
ton was reached and the two young
lovers stood hand in hand beneath the
porch where the roses grew. 1t was
kind of the housekeeper to bid Addie
come and sit in her room while "Mr.
Barton" talked over matters with
James Robertson. He was standing by
the mantel board, evidently waiting
for his caller, and he did not stay for
Jack to remove the covering, but
hastily took it away himself to see how
Cal EEL l,1