The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-10-25

not what aud tha: she would not have him dis
turbed Just now for the world
Algar explained what had brought him thitl-
er, and earnestly begged to he permitted To call
again, that he might shake his old friend aud mas
ter 10y the hand She heard HIM in the greatest
Distress and, when he had concluded, burst into
tears.
At this moment the door opened, and Brack
enbury entered lie made towards hi. wife. rs
though about to speak to her, but stopped half
way and regarding Agar sternly, pointed to-
wards him, and said: why is this gentleman
here I"
My lovel this is Mr. Agar"
Madam, my eyes are good enough to see that.
did not ask who Is this gentleman | inquired
why is lie here e
Agar knew not what to say. There was no
wildness Of look or manner in the other. or he
should have supposedhm mad; yet il was clear
ly hopeless to think cf propitatng him at this
moment. 1t was needful, however, to gay some.
thing
Il called, sir
AT the wrong house sir; you called upon one
who wishes not to see or know you Your pres.
ence here is an intrusion. BegoDe
Agar was moving to the door, when Mrs
Brackenbury laid OBTAINING hand upon his arm
This must not be- she said For mercy's
ed up. Why should you hate himi What has
he ever said what has he ever done"
| Nothing in the world, MADAM" returned Brac
kenbury, "to supply "A reason for your making
yourself ridiculous See madam, how your
Young friend, the great man--the great man, ma.
dam--smiles Mt your impsrtinent lntercession."
You wrong me, SIR, upon my soul you do"
exclaimed Henry. lie wrongs me, dear mad.
am
let him 60 Catherinc---he is a rsnjusr
cried Brackeubury, and sat down, repeating the
words IN n tone that his wife could not hear, and
with an expression Of face she could not spe.
! But So frightful had been the mode of utter.
ing these three words, that Mrs Brackcubury at
once released her hold of Algars arm. The Sc.
cret was suddenly revealed. and she fastened to
the door after Henry, and clasping her hands on
his shoulder, laid her head upon it and wept.
Dear Henry" she said at length, in broken
voice, you were born to be great painter.
thought so from the FIRST Ny best wishe. 90
with you and shall always attend you. But
leave us--lsave US, and never come near US more
And yet--slould the time ever coMe--but in
rAercy's name leave u- now"
1t would be difIicult TO describe Algai's state
Of mind when he reached home. Mover had hi,
feelings been 30 touched He was cut to the
heart. He, too, could have wept but like most
men Of deep feelings tears were suppressed by
agony. He took his picture to the light, and gaI
ed upon it leng and earnestly. Whether lie ap-
proved it as much as before we know not but
he said with btterness--"l would have had his
praise--why notl Why should not this be -
The praise Of one who knows what is good--fit
be so--the praise oithe man who taneht me how
to paint well" He then returned it TO the easel,
and struck it with the back Of Ills hand. He con.
Itinued-"why should men pursue art, or aught
beside on this earth, il they are to reap hatred
from those they best love' The neglect Of the
world--critic.m, censure, structure, however
coarse. unjust or malignant, these could bear
they are easily borne; but this cannot bear
may live, and may do greater things but the
bloom. the freshness, the fragrance Of lie has dc.
parted forever"
Whether Brackcnbury had heard the parting
words Of his wife to Agar-for she had left the
paror door open-and thence suspected her dis.
covery of his feelings towards his former pupil,
the name of which he would not even now have
owned was envy or that he was ashamed Of such
unworthy treatment of one who had never wrong.
ed him-so it was, that his malady, If such it
were, from this day took a different form. He
, was now not captions or irritable but ever sunk
in the deepest detection. lie would take long
; solitary walks and return home exhausted and
would discourage talk T., ect offered attentions
but with touching gentleucss. In matters that
do not directly affect his conduct towards her. a
wife can only pity; sine cannot despse the NOR
al weakness Of her husband; but this pity Is
something more affecting To bear. to \ woman of
understanding and sensibilitv Catherine began
to watch him with the most fearful socitude.
T One day he seemed calmcr than usual, and
| his wife coming into the room, he said softly
5 but with sbruptness--
1T seems to me, Kate, that have been under
= delusion these years or more. Harry Agar
never wronged me-
His wife could not speak. He continued
) 81 met Lord Montacute yesterday, and he tells
me Harry has picture in the exhibition about
tho merits of which the best Judges are at vari.
ance lIs does not like it, he said adding he wa.
p always proud to be of my opinion on subjects Of
art and that never spoke in favor ~ my pupil
r But never said n word against him.
: But perhaps your known enlargement" ob.
served Mrs Brackehbury, might have led his
lordshp TO infer that you had no great opinion OF
. !Iarry'
"No, no His lcrdship is a fool should not
wonder If the picture i. fine one, and If 1t is
l. shall tell Harry So"
How great that will be Of you," cqclaimcd
Catherine, scising his hand, She paused, Il
: mean, how proud YOU will make Harry and well
may he he proud Of your APPRECIATION
Blockcnbury compressed his lips aud gnpcd
his emotion
He is very ill-dangerousy ill., | hear" he
said IL will see the picture this afternoon No
You must uot accompany me-
lie went 1t was far advanced in the season
and late in the afternoon There were few visit
itors in the room He had leisure to study III,
picture 1t was work of exquisite genius in its
competion and in execution OF the most consum
mate art. As he gazcd upon it more and more,
his eye Gntangcd, with admiration, his taste en-
chanted and elevate, all the bnscness that had
gild0d into his moral bclpg, oI that he had taken
into it, was cast out and the love of the hcauti
ful and the true, the old love Of majesty purity
, and grace, in the noble profession which both had
| followed, once more took possession Of his soul
. The subject ol the picture was the meeting o'
F.ssau and Jacob. There We're the wives, and
D children, and hand maidcns Of The one, and the
arme followers Of the other, aud there were the
two cOntrastca in the centre. There was the
, adroi,, the dcIterous man Of tho world. WHO had
cheetcd his brother ou, Of his birthrlght aud hi.
I blessing, bowing lowly before the wild hunter
Q the generous, the iorgyng-who was about t.
|, raise him to his embrace, and TO Gestow upon
[ him the kiss Of peace. Brnckenbury knew moi
how this subject touched his own casc--Esau be
D Ing type of genius, Jacob oftalcm.
. lie retired from the room slowly, his eyes yet
I lingering on the picture: but once out Of the
I building, trcmor seized his heart palptatcd