The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-22

Holn MarIa stopIcu hihh' :,
0 You, who are false to art, can hope that
/ you will be true to me-?
But | love YOU
you loved art once, wilhelm; you now
5 neglect it,
, But will never neglect you, dearest. i
/ swear it,
False in one, false in ALL
r Maria, this is cruelty
Let it be 80, Wilhelm, and let us part
Leave me to my lilies; they can never be to
me less good, and pure, and true. ] cannot
quit them, to give my troth to one who may
one day turn from me, his love fallen from
him like q wthered leaf. Ii surrendered
them, Wilhelm, for you, and the time should
come, as it would doubt not, when you would
cease to love me, when | should be 10 you
u poor frail woman, charmless, lustreless-I
could not bear it. Wilhelm, it would be
DEATH
But this is nightmare, darling it ncv-
er shall be truth. | love you; love art |;
have never ceased to love art. will al.
ways love you BOTH
But Maria only shook her head sadly,
murmuring, False in one, false in all
But try me. These are not mere words
idle, vain test them they will bear it,
She looked at HIM earnestly /; there seemed
honesty in his face and in his speech.
First, then: you will bc true to art
Il swear it,
You will work honestly; you will be at
your easel for six hours day at least. con-
tinuously; painting scrupulously, rendering
faithful accounts OF the objects you paint, ,as
they seem to you; not trickily, or to produce
rapidly, or sell quickly. You will shun low
company you will not be seen with He'll,
or Broken, or Wander Noove. You will
avoid the Golden Calf; you will cease to
make Delft ring with your dissipations.-
You hear me. Wilhelm
Il will do all this, Maria
And for six months-mark that; you
will do all this for six months
Il may see you the while, may not?'
NO. Wilhelm; it is better not; it is bet
ter not for both our sakes. At the end of
six months, come to me. Tell me you have
done all this faithfully; tell me you have
me that you love art truly, and as you love
art, love me
'And if do this
She gave him little white hand. lie
pressed it passionately to his lips.
You are mine, Maria
six months are to pass, Wilhelm
IIc hardly heard her; he was dashing
down the stairs, mad with joy, and hope
and love. In five minutes his blue doublet
was of and he was hard ut work before his
easel.
The poor lily-lady, pressing her hand up.
on her head, was too shaken and bewildercd
to resume her pencil Immediately. Soon,
however, she turned toward her flowers, cx-
claiming with passion, True or false, o, my
lilies, cannot love you less. am still
yours, and you will still be mine
There was thick crust of snow upon all
frozen. thick ice blocked up the river. The
six months had passed. Maria was still at
her easel. There were no lilies to be had
now, only those upon her panel, perfected
so close were they to nature, it seemed not
possible tn carry imitation further. She was
employed in painting folded drapcry of
stamped puce-colored velvet, the background
of her picture. She seemed palcr than ever
now, and an air of fatigue and suffering
haunted her face; yet che worked on in her
old placid, simple, hearty way the tiny
pencils moved TO and fro as steadily and per-
sevcringly as ever.
Six months to-day, sho murmured once,
halting but for moment, only to resume
again with redOubed energy. But step
on the stairs soon set her hand to trembling
and her heart beating. She was compelled
to desist. Wilhelm entered. splendidly hand
some in green velvet, with thick studding
Of gold buttons, IA sweeping white feather in
his hat, a glittering sword belt, and heavy
fur trimming round his cloak. There was
triumphant flush upon his face Us he walked
rapidly toward Maria.
You have come, then, Wilhelm she
said.
To claim fullfllment of your promise,
dearest
She fixed her glance earnestly upon his
face, gazing into his eyes, as though to read
the truth in them.
You have fulfilled your promise, Wilhelm
you have been true to art you haye worked
sedulously for six hours a day ut least, unin-
terruptcdly, without quitting your studio
you have Stunned low company and the tav-
ern you have been true to yourself and to
me ?
Wilhelm bowed his glossy head afirma-
lively before her. lc looked very superb
indeed. Maria turned away her glance
she was shivering with nervous agitation
not cold, as he thought.
And may trust my happiness to your
keeping 2 she continued, still looking down.
Dearest Maria, swear you shall never
repent so doing
And he twirlcd tho ends of his ample
moustache. and busted bs beard with u
broidered kerchief, which, tucked in his
doublet, had been adding to the curve Of his
massive chest.
Maria started back from him. and an
angry light CLEANED in the blue eyes wonted-
ly 50 soft and gentle. 1t was like forkcd
lightning breaking out suddenly on calm
summer sky.
Wilhelm, you would scorn to play with
cogged dice you would heat to the earth
any one who said YOU trickcd at card you
would condcscend to dupe no man. Why
then, do YOU come here to me with lie
upon your lips why seek to cheat me ?-I
What have ever done that you should turn
AGAINST me thus? Is it because am weak,
and woman that am treated with false
hood-won by fraud?'
wilhelm, amazed. puzzled, embarrassed,
looked at her. llc put forth his hand i'm.
plorincly he sought to speak she waved
back his approaches by an angry GESTURE,
You would not have thought such fury could
have possessed her. Ths lily was whirling
in the tempest.
.You know you have broken every letter
of your promise you know that your every
act of late has been ialsehood to me you
know that dare not confdc my happiness
in your hands that you are utterly unwor-
thy of such trust. This is nothing. You
have right to act as you will. To stain
your name, your genius, your art with miro.
If you will it is not for me to call for an
account But to act thus shamefully, and