The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-19
any obiection 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: s'I twold
zee as how the body was born to peant
picters," there was not dissenting
voice. 1t 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, and the old folk
would shake their heads and say:
Eye may we'll be proud, lass" to
which the girl would simply reply:
'Tm 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 fisherman's
door; but this time it was not for
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 eide 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 go more
slowly than ever, but at last Rockman
ton was reached and the two young
lovers stood hand in band 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
faithfully his Instructions had been
carried out. He took the canvas in
his hands, and. evidently under great
emotion, gazed at it for moment.
Then, with an agonized cry, he sank
into q chair. still holding the picture
almost frantically, and cried out:
"My wifel my wifel my darling
Rosellel''
He saw no one in the room; but
with tears rolling down his cheeks.
seemed to speak within himself.
"Just as you we're. Roselle; just the
same as when we first met. Those
eyes are yours; your smile is just as
it used to be for me. Don't look at
me, darling Roselle; don't smile just
now. Oil why were you taken from
me; why did our child go, too? /
loved you better than all the world.
but the angels loved you best" Then
he became himself once again, and
turning to the young man, said:
'sYou must not think anything of
this. lost my wife and child at sea.
They were on their way out to me,
but the vessel was never heard of
again. You have put upon that can
vas the face OF my wife just as she was.
/ thank you with all my heart. It is
Just as my little daughter would have
been had the sea not claimed her. God
bless you'll God bless your" and the
broken-hearted man clasped Jacks
hand and pressed it long and fervently.
For the first time the thought
flashed across the young mans mind,
was he holding the hand Of Adde'S
father? He seemed to realize it all,
and asked, excitedly:
Chow long is this ago?"
''Sixteen years ago. }" replied James
Robertson quietly.
ssWhy do you look like that?-tell
me. man. tell mel"
ssBecause-oh. it can't be true?-I
painted that picture from . living
model. The girl whose face you see
there lives. She was found sixteen
years ago, saved from the sea, and"
But Robertson cried out, his whole
frame trembling.
ssGreat heavensi Where is she?
Take me to her let me see if she is
my child. I shall know my little
Roselle. Don't triAe with me, young
man, and oh, don't disappoint me
now"
..She is in the house," said jack.
James Robertson flew from the
room. 1t was pitiful to see him.
s'Roselle. Roselle, my little Ros-
ellie I" he cried. ssCome to me! Where
are you? I'm looking for you r.
Little Addie sat quietly in the house
keepers room. She heard the name,
and bent her head to listen. She
seemed as if in doubt, but smile was
in her anxious look. and her child
hoods days seemed with her once
more. She was with her mother, who
held her in her arms and kissed her
many times, calling her my little
Roselle." The name was on her lips
when the man, half frantic with ex-
pectation, reached the door, still cry
ing out the name by which her mother
called her.
He looked for o moment upon the
girl before him-only moment, and
then. with cry of joy born only in q
fathers heart, took her to himself
with strong embrace, kissing her
passionately and weeping as though
his heart would break; yet smile of