Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-03-24
A Sepia Sketch
BY GEORGIA BEAGLE
'AN nOD night, Harry!"

IT Miss Eastwick's cloak fell to
the floor, and bending forward in her
shimmering satin gown she kissed the
pictured face before her.
1t was a ceremony gone through
every night, as it had been for the last
ten years. In the early days, with
silent tears, in layender-scented attic
now electric light was switched on in the
big studio in Washington, where Har-
ry Lawtons picture hung in it's silver
frame to inspire the pastels and dainty
miniatures which had brought Isobel
Eastwick fame.
Ten years ago young Lawton had
sailed for South America, vowing, as
soon as he had a home to offer her, to
return and claim Isobel's promise to
wait for him.
Miss Eastwick was nothing if not
constant-nothing if not fanciful, her
friends said, though they did not guess
at the romance of her life, and she had
cherished the memory of those promises
and the hope that one day her lover
would return.
Paul Maitland was one of the few
people who knew the whole story, and
in spite of that he had asked her to
marry him.
The question had grieved Miss East
wick's soul. 1t seemed to be a reflec-
tion on her Constancy, and she was not
little afraid that this unexpected de-
velopment might end their friendship.
But he had spoken strongly-a great
fnn ptpr oil. A
wasted affections pink-and- white boys,
and so forth-he who was really impos-
sible ugly. And yet
AS though to convince herself of his
impossibility, Miss Eastwick picked up
sepia sketch of a mans head-it was
an ugly face, with the determined Jaw
and deep-set eyes-and laid it for a mo-
ment beside the water color in its dainty
silver frame. She laughed; the contrast
was too funny!
Miss Eastwick stood painting in her
studio before an easel, making the most
of the early spring sunshine. The
many successful portraits at last years
exhibitions had brought her more work
than she could do, and she rose early
and labored hard for love of her art.
Paul Maitland had sometimes brought
his fiddle and played to her in the after
moons when her visitors had depart
ed, but to-day he had not come, and
she missed his dark, ugly face, his deep,
refined voice expressing her own half
formed, wholly ineXpressible thoughts.
All! there was knock. 1t must be
he! He would not stay away simply
because she could not marry him. A
faint, becoming blush rose to her cheek.
Yes, 1t was mans tread coming up-
stairs, but not Maitland's. surely!
This was heavier. And this red-faced
red-bearded man, with meaningless
light eyes! Who could he be? Who?
And then in a moment she knew.
Harry"
My gracious! what elegant quarters!
Belle, you are a peach!"
A twang that might have been cut
with knifei
Miss EaStwick was speechless She
glanced from the uncompromising
figure on the hearth rug to the water
color ON the wall, and only sicliening
dread that he had come to claim her
promise kept her from bursting into
uncomfortable laughter at the shatter
Ing of her idol.
i've times and times seen your name
IN the illustrated papers we've had in
Lima he was saying, painting daugh-
ters and wives of millionaires
duchesses and lords, and even a
royal princess. Haven't the boys stared
when I've told them how you and |
were going to be married when nv shin
came I'M"
You spoke of me like that!" Miss
Eastwick thought; "and it was for Won
that sent away Paul! And | thought
it mattered what man looked Iike!"
You're an elegant little woman
enough" Mr.. Lawton continued conde.
Ccendingly. Eliza, now, is a different
build of woman. Would make three
Of you!"
Who could Eliza be?
She was a bit jealous of you, | can
say. I've often laid 1t on how pretty
and dainty you were to rile her: but
I'd always bring her round by telling
how. ii I'd married you, we'd have been
sitting on spindle-legged chairs reading
In Memoriam or some such twaddle
ana Eiiza'd feel mighty pleased with
herself"
great content had come upon Miss
Eastwick
Eliza le yo':r wite Is she not with
you?"