Wilmington journal., 1872-10-04

ing waters OF the rlYer, ana Wncn the tide
was high, dropped down the long, trailing
ivy vine to kiss the laughing waves es--there
sat two women.
One, with her arm resting upon broken
column, her dark eyes with the memory of
the longagO stirring their brilliancy into
life, gaZed afar out at the floating cloud,
her face a sad reflection of the past while
the other, many years younger, half knelt
at her feet, and, with smile on her red
lips, and the light of hope in her glorious
eyes, played with the light moss upon the
bank beside her.
1t was perfect picture !; for the twilight
crept in and swept across the foreground
just enough to bring the wondrous beauty
into relief.
To the artist eyes Of Ralph Bertram,
who, wandering down the river bank, came
upon them, it was a perfect harmony of
light and shade-an exact subject for a
IN asterpiece and there he sat down and
sketched until the darkness shrouded the
whole and shut it from his view.
He took his sketch home, and for hours
sat and gazed at it enraptured with the
glorious beauty of the faces. Who were
they or rather, who was she? Who was
the girl with her dreamy, happy face and
dark, melting eyes, with their hopefulness
and truth?
When morning dawned he went down
again tC the rivers bank, and watched and
waited for hours, but they never came.
He inquired of every passer, but no one
knew them. One would say:
"Ah! yes, have seen them-two wo.
men, one old and sad, the other young and
happy. 1 do not know their names.''-
Another would declare he never was aware
OF their existence, and thus Ralph found
his search a vain one. He went on working
day and night upon his picture, and at last
it was complete; and when he went up to
his studio in the city and placed it there,
his friends held up their hands in admira-
ton and wOrshipped it, and before many
days it found place in the most renowned
art gallery, and all the world went crazy
over il.
Thus Ralph Bertram became celebrated,
and orders came upon him faster than he
could fill them, and all the wealth and
b ,auty in the city smiled upon and petted
him. be was admitted in every parlor,
party, soiree and reception; he became the
lion Of the season, and far and near his
praises were sung. But to him it was
nothing, when thoughts of his beloved pic
ture came, and hour after hour he sat and
gazed upon that beautiful face like one
entranced.
81 believe, Mr.. Bertram, that you are
positively in love with that young face -
said belle, as she came upon him in the
gallery. "Was it from life or your own
imagination that you painted it ?"
E.From life."
"Impossible! 1t must have been a
dream! No living woman was ever blessed
with such beauty"
eyes, one!'
The lady went away, and before night
one-half the world was jealous of his pic
ture, and declared him crazy. It must be
so, for no woman ever possessed such rare
beauty. 1t was dream, hallucination.
Betram heard it and laughed. Perchauce
the day might come when he could bring
/ his wondrOus beauty before them and cor
vince them; and with this hope he labored
and sought her far and wide.
IL was a cold and bitter night, and
around the corners the wind swept, bring
ing with it titful gusts of hard cutting sleet,
and penetrating TO the bone every unfol-
tunate who CHANGED to be abroad Ber-
tram came briskiy down the street from
his studio, warmly wrapped in heavy coat
and fIrs, with a vision of his pleasant
rooms before him and lightly hIlmming All
opera. He had turned from the principal
/ street, and was walking alone where all
was quiet, when he suddenly came upon
two women, who stood near the iron railing
in front of the house.
g Mother said one, it is but little
further Do try TO keep up. Here, lean
upon me, mother, mother"
She was vainly trying to support the
sinking form, but not all her strength
could prevent her from falling. And Be-
tram sprang forward in time to receive her
! in his strong arms as she fell back.
g. Mother, oh! my mother" was the de-
spairiDg cry.
"Don't DO alarmed, Miss; she has only
fol " homo 10 oil af
and if you will assist Inc l will take your
mother there"
The young woman obeyed him without
| a word, and with her assistance Ralph bore
the senseless form to his elegant apart
ments. There was no light within the
room, and after placing the insnimate
| form upon the sofa be gropcd his way to
! the match safe and lighted tile gas. AS
| the soft radiance shone through the room
he spraDg back with an exclamation of
! surprise and delight. His pictures! The
! face of his idolized ones! Al the sound the
! younger started up and looked toward L im.
| How beautiful she was with her hood fall
| ing back and the damp waves of chestnut
| hair clinging to her broad white forehead
and great lustrOus eyes fixed upon him in
wonder. Bertram could not speak.
"My motherw she began with quivering
| lips.
"Pardon me forgot myself,"-and he
went out, brought wines, cOrClials and la
bored until the blood stole back in little
! flashes and the dark eyes opened. For
several moments she did not seem to un-
/ derstand the strange room and surround
ings; but when he younger spoke, she
| said:
"Agnes, darling"
"Mother, are you better?"
eyes, yes"
Agnes 1t was like her. Pure, good
beautiful, saintlike!
Bertram sat in the window until they
called him. The elder one was standing
in the room, the mantle thrown around
her, and one hand resting upon the shoulder
of her daughter.
81 wish to bid you good night and thank
you for your kindness. If it were in my
power l would"
'Madame, l beg you to sit down.
have spent months in searching for you
and l beg you, now have found You, tC
remain here. Ii you are willing to confel
a favor upon me, remain here tonight, al
least"
"Searching for lis What do you mean p
''You will learn one day lowe yclI al
possess"
She sat back seemingly petrified with as
constituent.
''WhO are you? / never met you HOt
we me nothing"
Will you remain here?
Yes, II you need us
s Ter time the lOble-looking woman
adj in comfortable chair near tbs CRATE
!cr lovely daughter at her feet, and Ralpl
Bertram brought forth the sketch and tOlC
the story.
land are you the great painter, Ralpl
Bertram ~ asked Agnes.
"I am Ralph Bertram," he answered