The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-19

man. The more they were together
greater became their love, and NO
wonder Add;e was flushed with excite.
ment, and laughing almost wildly al
the news contained in letter ad-
dressed to her lover. 1t came by the
carrier in the morning, for letters
were looked upon as veritable curiosi-
ties at Bracebridge-every body's
friends, eyerybody's relations all
seemed to live together in one spot.
"RosELLE, RooKMANToN, CORNWALL.
II have seen your pictures IN Mrs. Peck's
shop window in the town. II you care to
come and see me and bring some of your
work, think may feel inclined to intrust
you with small commission.
''JAMEs ROBERTSON"
Such was the letter which Addie had
! read at least twenty times, and Jack
had stared at for fully an hour. 1t was
the one topic that day over the dinner
table.
There was an excited little party
waiting for the carrier, as Jack was to
return with him to Reclamation. And
then, when he did come, and the happy
fellow took his seat beside the driver,
it was only John Barton who could bid
his boy ''good luck" little Addie
could but wave her handkerchief as
the carrier cracked his whip, and smile
upon her lover till he turned the cor
ner at the top of the hill.
James Robertson was looked upon
by the good people of Rockmanton as
a man with sad side of his life. He
was always alone, and during the three
years he had lived in "Roselle" no.
body had learned anything about him.
His face betokened kindly heart
within; he might have been forty or
sixty it was the face of compare
tivelyjyoung man aged before his time.
Only few days previously he had
stopped in front of Mrs. Peck's shop
in the High street, and had been struck
with the cleverness which character
lied pair of pictures in the window.
One represented storm, with the
mighty waves fighting one against the
other for the mastery, while its COM
UdnlOA Who COht40og oOR1CtAAk u
peaceful morning on rock bound
coast with the lat 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 unknown
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 / can trust you
to do this. I win 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 beautiful girl. just blossoming
into womanhood, with-yes, fair,
brown hair. You may clothe her as
you will; as fsherman's daughter,
only the face must be there. have
only one copy OF the face I want you
to paint; cannot let it 60, 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 will pay you, let that
rest; 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
unmistakable, he drew from his pocket
an old brown, leather pocketbook, and
with touch of gentleness took out q
few old letters, as though they were
precious to him. Then he found a
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 IL in the palm of his hand as if it
were too great treasure to place else
where and then small portrait, ev-
identity taken from the inside Of q
brooch. The recollections 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 man
broken hearted, stood quietly there for
some time. Then, rousing himself, he
said:
ssAhI take no notice; the sight of
these reminds me of those I still love.
Now, Just look at that picture; could
You enlarge upon it?"
ssIt was the face of beautiful wo-
man about twenty years of age.
Jack started q little when he saw it,
and said:
81 shall not forget that face"
ssYes," said James Robertson, sad
II, ''she was very beautiful.