Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1851-07-25

Y
as much to make the pale young artists ac-
quain,ancc, as be had to make hers.
They made ior the Boulevards mechanical
ly, as everybody does, followed them some
distance, crossed the magnificent Place dc Ia
Concor,lc, the finest Piac, In the world, en-
tered the Champ Elysecs, and by common
consent, mide cor the Bois dc BOulognc. !,
was a lovely day. but though they had both
seen many such, yet they though, they never
had. They scarcely spoke. They walked
arm in arm, side by side, and in the woods
hand in hand. Once Charles asked Constance
II .hs cnjoyed herself
4" am - happy" she replied, raising her
dovc.llsc eye, bcamiug with happiness, to-
wards him.
There vas something in the words, in the
looL, which made the ysrng mans heart bca,
with intense emotion Thus passed the day
IN occasional conversation, in constant walk.
ing, until both fclt hungry 1tey then en-
tered the house of 4 irnioir, and tr young
artist offered his iir friend a very plaza din
ncr, but which neither would have exchanged
Tor ,hc Ccasis ofthc Palai. National Happy
age happy feelings happy Charles happy
Constance
Towards dusk they returned 10 Paris, and
the Young man insisted, on the occasion Of the
girls Gi,, uron taking her to the theatre
They selected a modealc.prircl seat, and here
asa.u, the thing bcing rare to both, they en-.
joycd themselves exceedingly. On leaving
the theatre, they walked quietly home ard
parted, to think with rapture on the hnPpics,
dly that either had ever yet spent.
The acquaintance 50 pleasantly made, was
continued Every morning they nodded to
one another from their windows aud about
midday Constance gave III, aris, a sitting
Several times, too, Charles brought in sketch
- 10 show her. and then IL the evening, ho
would get books from a oa'i1d d i,c'urs, aud
read to her Every day their happiness seem
ed to increase. They learned each others
good qualities Charles was well-cducaied,
ucll.rcai, with a fund of anecdotes, and rich
stores of knowledge. Constance knew little,
bu, ,hc v,s an opt scholar. She had 4 quick
intelligence, a noble and generous heart, aud
she was pure AMI Innocent as a child
For some weeks ,hc lo,ers, lor such they
now were, vcn, on happier each DAY than the
h,l The portrait made little progress, BE-.
cause Coustrncc could spare little time, and
because Charles talked more than be painted.
SILL it went ON. 81 the end, however, Of a
month, Constance remarked that Charles was
pllrr than usual, that hisspiuts seemed gone,
be brought no book .u the evening, and went
away carly 10 BED. She questioned him, Por
girl, for she was deeply anxious. She feared
hr was filling m, that he was going 10 die,
1nI then, poor orphan pirl, What was to be
com, of her. For Constance loved him dear
Is, "a, women ouly loyo men who are above
lhc cummon mass, men of mind and Intellcc,
though women who can love such men are
more rare and precious than augh, else 10 the
world
She watched narrowly the painters face.
and ,hc wild eye 1ud hlcgari looks made her
see ,ha, the suasr.ngs Of Chlrlr- were more
mental than anything clsc. The mind was
III a, ease. She offered to 60 in and work in
his room, while be painted, bot be s,ammercd
out some excuse and declined 1t VAS clear
then h. had a secret, and woman's curiosity
WIS NJ once at work She questioned him,
she coiNcd. she was cross with him, bat all
in vain be returned her vague answers to all
she said. Constance became uneasy, what
could be the ml,t,r' lie became palcr every
dly. and came less 10 see her. One day she
heard him leave his room and 60 hurrcdy
down stain. She ran out to speak To him, TO
ask when be would come back, but he was
gone. Ills key was IN the door. Moved by
M irresistible influence she entered his room.
Il was 4 miserable garrett, containing nothing
save a few paintings and a matrlss on the
fuor Not a chair, not table, not 4 scrap Of
ANYTHING in the shape Of clothes or food
Constance rushed ou, Of the room, turned the
key, gained her own lodgings, threw herself
on her bed and sobbei aloud. Charles was
starving. 4 few PawnbrOker's tickets lying
on the mantol.picce had more than anything
els, convinced her Of the fact.
Thcplinand suffering now endured by Con-
stance are not To be described. Her feelings
were worked up an intense pitch Of excite
meni. Far from finding her affection lessen
ed a, the discovery Of the students poverty,
she found il much increased. An unearihly
interest seemed now attached TO the name Of
Charles. She felt his talents to be great, and
in her heart was sure that he would rise to
competence and fame. But az that moment
he was clearly starving. What was she to
ioi She would have rushed 10 him, have told
him all, and bid him share her humble meal,
use her little savings, and thus gain time TO
work but she feared TO wound his PRIDE
pride. lie had hitherto kept his own secret,
he therefore wished to conceal his suiierings
from her. In vain she thought Of any pro-
ieci for relieving his misery, without betray-
ing full knowledge Of it. The poor gIrl
wcp, bitterly a, her own want Of inventive
genius.
Al last, however, an idea flashed across
her mind. She caught up some work she had
finished the nigh, before, and putting it in
neat parcel, hurried down stairs, taking with
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