Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-10-22

stream OF conversation like music--hiS
hand was skilled in his profession. for how
well it had executed the commission to re
store the old family group-his dress was
genteel, if it was worn and darned and
carefully preserved. These, her pity threw
into form. and her sympathy nourlshed
them until the face of the artist would moi
leave her. A month had passed since he
promised to restore the half finished face,
yet 1t did not come; was he, then. going to
betray his word q? Her heart said No,
most firmly; for Lefranc. to her vision, was
the impersCnation of honor. Poor, deluded
woman
WAS he suffering--ill?' she said to her.
self. The thought had haunted her long:
and Louise was not the timid creature to
shrink from investigation. She had no
other interest in him than TO save him from
suffering. if it were possible-she would
make ither duty to hunt him up-and then
she would know why the picture was not
returned according to promise. Such were
the reasons which led her to the studio,
one day, when Uncle Jacob was gone to
his farm up the river. Dressed In simple
attire, as If on an errand of mercy, she
sailed out, and, after long time, found
the house. in the upper rooms of which,
ascended, and Oh the fifth floor, saw, by
the dim light. 'Lefranc Bi;elIou, Artist.
written over the door at the end of the long
hall She knocked lightly, yet no answer.
again, and louder knock The door was
softly opened, and woman asked Louise
in. There lay Lefranc, on the old lounge
spoken of by Old Hays--there the stand
of colors and the easel, and on it the unfir-
ished picture. He is very ill., said the
woman and has been so for month or
more; but God is merciful; | know he will
not take my dear brother from mel This
was said in low words. The sufferer moan
ed, and the two women were at his side in
a moment.
'Valine.' his low voice said; SIS it dark?'
No, my brother. it is yet daytime. You
have slept but two hours since the doctor
left
'Give me a drink, darling; then draw the
curtain, and move the picture where can
see it,
Louise grew pale and flushed by turns;
her heart beat more wildly thar it had done;
her breath grew hot and her ~teps unstea-
dy-so powerless was she before that sick
man, who lag there with unclosed eyes,
and face So paid and wan. that an infant
would have known the Angel of Death had
passed very near. Why should she be SO
moved?
Valine drew aside the curtain from the
darkened window, then placed the easel at
the foot of the bed. The invaliL slowly un-
closed his eyes. and Louise stood there be-
fore him bathed in tears
Louise !
'Lefranc =
She bent down and kissed the white for
head--she laid her had in his--a radiance
shot over his face like the thrill of morn
ing over the East his eyes closed, and his
lips murmured words too faint to hear
Vaine looked on in wonder, for moment;
and then came and leaned upon the neck of
Louise and wept.
What would old Jacob Fitzsimmons have
said, had he looked in upon the trio?
1t was late that afternoon ere Louise re-
turned home and il is needless to say her
heart was full Of resolves, not the last of
which was 10 reconcile Uncle Jacob with
Lefranc nay, more--to reconcile him to
her lore of the poor artist; nay, it was her
purpose to get the old mans hearty consent
to her MARRIAGE with the man whom he
had arrested for theft When a woman
wills, she floats over difficulties as easily
as balloon over mountain. Uncle Jacob
was mountain of prejudice and aristo-
cratic exclusiveness; but Louise had the
balloon of her love to buoy her there, for
Uncle Jacob swore by his nicce--he belev-
ed in her before all the preachers he
gave up not only his house, but his whole
heart to the daughter of his only, but long
dead sister, whom the maiden of twenty
SO perfectly resemblcd. 1t was not strange
then, that Louise counted upon a conquest,
though she well knew what storms and
darkness awaited the charge.
Alas poor Louise