The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-05-08
them was painted with a fidelity that


the fathers type was lost in ianguidly
self-conscious prettiness-a sort of Sc
ductive innocence skillfully sustained
la subtle disingenuousness only too
we'll foreshadowed in the mothers form
and feature.
But in the elder the pure beauty Of
complexion and temperament was all
unsullied and alive, radiating from every
glance of her full and honest eyes, every
motion of her strong, straight shoul-
dered figure, every CULVER of her
happy smile. Her crisp, chest
nut-brown hair was pushed back
wavily from her forehead; all the deli
cate and changefuI lines of the temples
were like Teddy's. 1t was as if nature
herself had tried to make some tender
compensation and atonement to him for
what had died out of his own life; and
yet the very effort wore an aspect of
retribution, for in this rdddy girls face
he must see daily what he once was and
what ne might have been. She grew
ever more beautiful before him--a wit
ness. a reproach, mockery.
This face, that once was his, now liv.
ing again in his own flesh and blood.
Teddy had reproduced with all the ten
derness of line and color which he had
brought over from his happiest years.
But to the sightseers of to-day the work
was only one pretty picture among
many. They buzzed impartially round
the easels with their ignorant praise
and silly comparisons of this and that
pose or texture. could not turn from
those girls faces to the large vulgarity
of commissioned" portraiture. I had
known and loved the dead soul that
looked out SO CHASTITY cold from the
brilliant society pictures. and the mock
ing, shallow faces of the women; the
bold, stolid, brutal portraits of the
men.
Suddenly, in lull of general CONVEX
sation, noticed an old gentleman talk
ing eagerly behind me to Sir Edwards
girls.
20, that's Templecombe, mammals
old home," one of them had said, follow
Ing the visitors glance to small water
color landscape OH the wall, little gem
OF pure color. lighting up all the end of
the room.
"Dearmel" he exclaimed, "why, that's
lovely bit of country, and perfectly
familiar to me! I've spent many sum-
mer close to that very spot!"
Papa has a lot of sketches done at |
Templecombe," said the elder girl
before he took to portrait painting"
added the younger, with little laugh
would you like to see them?"
In moment they had hunted up an
old portfolio, dragging it from some OBJ
scure corner, with apologies to the
seated guests: $50 sorry, Mrs. Fitz-
herbert, excuse me one moment. No,
pray, don't move, Mr.. Sinclair, it's only
hat portfolio behind the curtain. o.
hanks, so muchl" .
And as Sir Edwin turned from the
canvas wherein his latest duchess
'ieamed In her satins and her Jewels,
bright shower of his own early
sketches was suddenly rained down at
ais feet amidst a chorus of little cries
Il trepidation and delight. He uttered
quick and almost pettish protest
gainst their being shown. His daugh-
er made some light excuse for her
lumsiness, and the guests bounced
Ipon the fiuttering sheets as they fell
"a floating pageant of blue skies and
weet blossoms, avaliey-full of spring |
eauty caught and painted with all
he vigor of untainted youth and honest
~.
Then / said cruel thing. / was
ngry to see him so altered-to see the
'reck she had made of his early genius
Il was angry with him for having
ielded, and with myself for not hav- c
lg somehow saved him from that mar. q
yrdom. pray, let US have them out !
n the table," 1 pleaded; "they will
lustrate the development of your art
| these 20 years."
1 could have kicked myself when l o
NV the effect of my untimely sar- I
ism on Teddy. With one swift glance i
reproach at me he drew back and
lrned his changed face to the win S
DIV. Bitter shadows of pain and hope !,
SIS remorse passed over it; then flood IL
memories seemed to sweep him back II
to other years, and as looked more d
tyingly at the features had loved. b
I'd saw them still responsive to the b
gh dreams and visions of the past. X
ddeniy in the soft spring light it Il
emed as If the old Teddy--our bright,
orious Teddy, with his blue eyes and
own hair, and his delicate lips quiver- v
g with the old, tender smile-stood
ain before us, with the sunshine of
nth upon him and the promise of a c,
bier fame than this. But in another II
'ment he had resumed the mask Is
itch l had SO ruthlessly torn away. b,
ried to shield him with a rush of light ST
alter, as one tries to re-veil dead m
e that has been rudely uncovered. &C
EN- the garrulous farewells began. da
'Good-by, Sir Edwin said the old Sc
ntleman of Templecombe, "and de