The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-09-02

rest. lie 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
swell, 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 it down again with the ex-
planation:
"Well, you shall do it. 1 wanted to
give my commission to a 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 l can trust you to do this.
/ will tell you the subject. A girl
standing on the seashore, looking out
to see as if watching and longing for
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. 1 have only one
copy of the face 1 want you to paint.
l cannot let it go, but you can come
here and work. Then, when you are
ready to fill in the background, you
can go back to your home and paint
the seashore, with its cliffs and rocks.
AS to what l will pay you, let that rest.
l can afford to reward you literally"
James Robertson seemed to realize
that sad side of his life which every
body in the town associated with his
name. With a sigh, suppressed but
unmistakable, he drew from his pocket
an old brown lie her pocket-book and
with touch of gentleness took out
few old letters as though they were
precious to him. Then he found
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 treasure to place else
where, and then a small portrait, evil
IDENTITY taken from the inside of
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:
All, take no notice. The sight of
those reminds me of those / still love.
Now, just look at that picture. Could
you enlarge upon it?"
1t was the face of beautiful woman
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 sadly,
she was very beautiful"
"But, sir" Jack said, "I do not
think l need work here. Let me work
at my home. May look at the por-
trait again, sir?" 1 will bring your
picture 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 faith
fulness of the likeness"
Jack was so sincere that James Rob-
ertson had not the heart to offer any
objection to the course he proposed.
Jacks luck was on the tip of every
body's tongue in Bracebridge, and
when old Job Bates said, 81 twold e
as how the boy was born to peant
picturs," there was not dissenting
voice. 1t was now nearly month
since the date of James Robertson's
commission, and but the last few finish
lug touches were required to perfect
the picture. Adde had sat daily to the
young man, and when he told her how
his unknown friend had bid him paint
the girl looking for somebody she said:
"Well, shall look for you, Jack, all
the time"
She made pretty picture, with her
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
WOulu eudh6 lutlr ueuuS anu say.
eye 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 fsherman's door,
but this time it was not for Addie to re-
main behind and wave her hand to her
lover, until he turned the road at the
top of the hill, but Jack and his sweet
heart 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 90 more
slowly than ever, but at last Rockport
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 Robert