St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-05-25

was completed. I knew that at leas,
the little property she would inherit on
coming Of age would be hers. Little
as it was, it might keep them from star.
vation. Why should I return to home
which ] had blighted, and drag those
innocents down into the slough Of mis-
cry which my own folly had created
I was still young, strong, and healthy,
and determined to seek my fortune
alone-to earn subsistence BY the sweat
of labor. My mind was made up. l
wrote few hurried lines to my wife,
and then tore myself away-from her
from my little one, for ever. '--s:.
\ ,&s 1}@* 4 Z *sass
"My life since that never-to-be for.
gotten day has been one OF extraordi-
nary vicissitude; my means sometimes
rising to the level Of a competence,
sometimes reducing me to the verge Of
mendicancy. For years past I have
sought my living in different countries,
and in various ways. and had nearly
realized a little fortune in California,
as gold-digger, when 1 lost everything
on = voyage home BY shipwreck. l
worked the rest Of my passage to Eng
land before the mast, and an artist who
was on board, knowing my straitened
circumstances, gave me his address in
London, and h4s since employed me as
a model. This led to other introduo-
tions, and among others to yourself, sir.
You were good enough to express an
interest in me, aud I have told you my
story but l beseech you, spare me the
sad humiliation which a knowledge of
my previous life would surely bring me
in the eyes Of those from whom at pres
eut must earn my living. I have
suffered long and bitterly for the past,
though, God knows, not more than I
deserve. But, I still retain pride
enough to beg that you will not in-
quire my name. Let me be known to
yoa and to your friends as George
the artists model
The fog had cleared away at the con-
clusion of this strange recital, but I had
no heart to paint that day. l was al
most sorry I had heard poor "George's"
story. l was in no position to help
him, and the aspect of his bronzed and
weatherbeaten face, now rather excl
ted my sympathy as man than raised
my admiration as an artist. It is luck y
thought l, that the head Of Leoutes is
nearly finished this story would have
altered its character considerably on my
canvas. The man was fit for better
things than tbis-yet how could I help
him? I WAS only just beginning to sup
port myself-aod moreover, if l had
had the means, I felt sure he would
have accepted nothing ia the form of
charity. Warmly expressing my sym.
pathy, and assuring him that he had
not misplaced his confidence, I excused
myself from further work that after
noon, determining, in the mean time,
to reflect on the best means to adopt
for his assistance. He thanked me for
what | had said, promised to return on
the following day, aud went off to full.
FL another engagement. - =. 49,. r..
1t was only when he had gone that !
remembered many questions which ]
should have liked to ask him respecting
the tate Of those whom he had so cru.
clly deserted. And yet if. they bad
been alive-if he hal tried, or wished
TO find them out again-would he moi
have told me At one moment I fell
ashamed for conmiserating man who
had thus sel6shly abandoned those whe
should have been dearest to him (ever
under the circumstances which he had
detailed } at another I realized the bit
ter trials he had undergone; though
Of the anguish he must have endured
before he could make up his mind Il
: take that fatal step, aud felt how heavy
had been his punishment. :.
,. I determined to consult my eoot
benefactress, Mrs. Wyllford, on the sub
Iject. She was coming the next morn
ing with her daughter; to look At m!
!, picture. confess that the prospee
of seeing. May generally put every
thing else out Of my head; but on thi
occasion I was not sorry, when tn
, time arrived, to fud that her mothe
entered my studio alone. The ''littl
housekeeper," IS she used playfully t
call her daughter, had been detaine'
by some domestic matters, and woul'
follow Ler presently. s..s.z. - :.
. I thought I would first show Mn
.-gf-S.
!, Wyllford my picture, and then, Will
9 his portrait WAS before her, detail th