National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-11-29


you'll have to make the fellow believe
you're in love with Inn again, in order to
get your sketches and it isn't worth it,
How can you ever have found anything
worth it2 Gratiiied vanity, ELI. You
twisted him round your little finger, the
young fool, all the tmo was in Russia
Well, | hope you found it amusing
always think society OF that second-rate
sort a nuisance"
"lle was really very tolereble. The
whole thing rather amused me, for a time
until he began TO take it an gvand
strieuT. When he grew dull and taciturn,
talked Of nothing but death and despair,
of course | was obliged to shut the door
in his face. 1t would rather interest me
to see him again, though added the
lady, carefully buttoning her glove. "Let
us send for him"
And this was the woman for whom, one
short year ago, | would have laid down
my life for trhose sake had cast aside
the treasure which, undeserving as was,
had found nestliug in my heart once
more Blind fool that had beenl Oh,
for those wasted, worse than wasted,
hours felt in that moment, how one
burning drop Of shameful memory may
embitter a whole cuptul of present happi-
ness. Else were there no justice under
heaven while faithful men, whose love
has never sweryed, are forever severed,
/ this side the grave, from all they have
! best loved on earth. Was il my darling's
ayengine angel who had brought this
couple here tonight, that my ears might
] 81. ofb baf lf a1
| duced me from my hearts first allegiance
This is what heard the husband reply:
N1 chcre, it would be dull work for
me watching you try to rehook your fish.
No doubt you would succeed-you always
do But put it TO you fairly-est-ce que
oeio cant II pciae? You, who have had
emperors at your feet-you may leave
your poor artist in peace at last, eh to
the miserable enjoyment of his model
wife. She punishes him enough for his
inidelity b fore marriage, depend on IT,"
"No doubt and should like TO have
seen my friend henpecked," replied the
lady with smile. =" 1t was just because
he WAS so different from all the men of
ones own set that amused myself with
him, mon cher, during your absence. |
in the. house-as he never plays 6c1rfe ;
but as you were in Russia, it was rather
an amusing change often all the JlIS(S
men of the Jockey Club, to listen to this
passionate sentimental painter, with his
talk about Christian art and his enthusi-
asm about The color of ones hair and the
turn of ones neck, and his utter absence
Of all conventionality. He was quite re-
freshing, | assure you, until he came to
be a bore. BY the by, you never saw the
picture he did Of me. in the dress | wore
at the Princess Mathlde's bal costume ?
If we stayed here the night"
Here the fresh horses were brought
out; and in the imprecaions which ac-
companied the tugging at the rope harness
and the shoving of the beasts into their
places at the pole, lost the remainder OF
this sentence.
"If | have my luck, before we return
to Paris III send to the fellow and buy his
picture" said the husband; but tonight, |
remember that Schwartzenheim is to meet
us at Como"
"And he plays at ccarte ~ | will get
the miniature from Naerian, however
without your buying it, mon ami"
"You shall not have long to wait, !
murmured and disengaging myself
from the arms of my darling, who fol-
lowed me, pale and bathed in tears, en-
tered our little room, and ran to case
which stood near the bed. Among
number of other miniatures was one
half-hnished, which | had not looked at
for months. ! seized sponge full of
water aud passed it several times across
the hard, beautiful, white face, that
looked ont at me less and less distinctly,
until nothing but the faintest shadow of
a face was left. Then / wrote with my
pencil across it: Nalerian's last gift"
| rau into the balcony. They were just
starting. The padroae, surrounded by (
his satellites, stood cringing and congo
ing at the door; the postllion WAS al
ready in his saddle, the courier climbing |
deftly into bis rumble. | took my aim s
lust as the whip went "crack" and the
wheels. with a sudden jerk. began re-
yolving; the bit OF ivory dropped {
straight into her lap. She was startled, ,
and looked quickly up. Our eyes met {
/ was leaning we'll over the balcony this {
this time, with my arm around nay an l
gels neck and it was with no feigned
fervor of passion that pressed nv lips
to hers. The carriage was rolling out 5
Of sight in the moonlight and the dust, t
but | could inst catch the scornful smile t
Dn that pale sculptured face, under its S
black lace bonnet, before turn of the ]
.oad hid the woman from me-for ever. |
Yes, for ever on this side the grave ; i
or learn that she is now dead 1t was
painful, lingering end some internal V
orture eating ava, her life, and with it c
ler dcarlv-cherished beauty. What com
ort had she in those last hours, when a
Ter husband was playing ecurte at his +
.lub, and her admirers had all deserted
ler, with no baby.fngers clasped about i
Ter neck, no children's voices to cheer
he love forgotten silence Was the
olitary woman haunted by the memory
# lives she had ruined, or hearts she had h
burned up and laid desolate ? |
WHY have | written down the story
hose few moments in balcony Be- I
ause | look back to them with thank b
illness, as to the crisis when my eyes d
we're fully opened ! know myself. l il
now that until then, blinded by the A
goman's beauty, i never really saw her s,
3 she was But for this, there had been t,
ines haply when l might have regretted C
hat my little angel lacked the Athenian Il
race and brilliancy that in another q
Exercised so fatal a spell over me. As it p
:. thank God for the helpmate he has t.
,iven me for her sweet trusting nature, e
or the heaven of her face, which always I
rings me peace when 1 look into it. Il
md when | see her baby curled like c.
nseleaf on her bosom and her two n