The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-01-13

could DID MS Doy goou luck little Al
die 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 Rockmsnton as
man with a sad side to his life. He
was always alone, and during the
three years he had lived in Roselle
nobody had learned anything about
him. His face betokened kindly
heart within. Though he might have
been 40 or go, it was the face of a COM
paratively young 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
| panion was a contrast depicting a
peaceful morning on a rock bound coast
with the seat at rest. He inquired the
painters name and address aud made
him the kindly offer.
On the afternoon that his letter had
reached its destination he was seated
in the cozy 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?"
"Yes, 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 examin-
ing the last he threw it down again
with the explanations:
"Well, you shall do it. I wanted to
| give my commission 10 a man who had
spent his life on the sea. The man who
paints my pictare must hear and see
every wave as he depicts il with his
brush. Now i can trust you to do this.
/ will tell you the subject. a girl
standing on the seashore, looking out
to sea as if watching aud longing for
some one 10 come. She must be n
beautiful girl, just biossoming into wo-
manhood, with-yes, fair, brown hair.
You may clothe her IS you villas a
fisherman's daughter-only the fsce
must be there. have only one copy
OF the face L want you 20 paint. / can
not let il go, but you can come here
and work. TheB, when you are ready
to fill in the background, you can go
back to your home and paint the sea-
shore, 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
unmistal1able, he drew from his pocket
an old brown leather pocketbook and
with touch of gentieness took out 4
few old letters As though they were
precious TO him. Then he found a
small packet, which he looked upon as
though he l0nged 10 press it to his lips,
but he was not alone. From this he took
a tiny curl of brown hair and laid it in
the palm of his hand as if it were too
great treasure 10 place elsewhere, and
then small portrait, evidently taken
from the inside OF brooch. The rec D.
lections seemed more than he could
bear, and, never needing that he WIS
not alone, he bent his head in his
hands by the mantelboard, and, with
the sign of a 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,"
1t was ;he face of beautiful woman
about 2i years OF age. Jack started a
little when he saw it and said:
81 shall not forget that face"
"Yes,n 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?" 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
bodX's tongue in Bracebridge, and
when old job Bates said, "I twold e
as how the boy was born to peant
peters, there was not dissenting
voice. 1t was now nearly month
since the date of James Robertson's 3
commission, and but the last few finish
ing touches were required to perfect
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 somebody she said:
"Well, | shall look for you, Jack, all
the time"
She made a pretty picture, with her
bright eyes and fair brown hair, and
when the youthful artist came To paint
the rocks and moss covered bowlders be-
hind her and the sea gently coming
toward her feet ne would 90 down to
the seashore with her, and the old folk
would shake their heads aud say:
aye may well 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 fisherman's door,
but this time is was not for Addie to
remain behind and wave her hand to
her lover until he turned the road at