Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-06
STORY OF AN INKBTAND,
with the Inkstand Left Ont.


suppose. You ought to be called the Great
American History Extractor. or Romance Ex-
tractor; for il there is particle OF romance in
any thing or any body in place where you hap
pen to be, you are sure to scent il out"
" OF all days, this Is the most glorious one for
a romance-the rain falling with that steady,
monotonous drip, drip, drip; not a soul in the
splendid old library"
Mag Hastings was indeed an indefstigable ro-
mance-hunter. She was always looking for
situations where the romantic predOminated
She would have succeeded as a dram stist, With
out doubt. She was apparently as happy as
mortal could be on the morning in question,
nestled in the depths of my scarlet lounge, per-
iectly certain that she looked picturesque in her
dark green street suit, relieved by the dalntiest
linen.
"Come here, pet" said she; and bunch of
white wood, with blue ribbon tied at one end
of it, marking spot where in a dog a neck
would be. trotted mysteriously toward her
What pTOpelling power there colld be in the
shaggy thing was wonder never could get
over, but somehow it managed to spring into
Mays arms, and then the silence assured me
that my story was expected.
he surroundings were favorable for story
telling, II u true. The room heavily wainScoted
with dark wood; the cases of books of all times
and of all varieties; the long windows richly
drapfd with scarlet brocade, lined with exquisite,
laCei the thick soft carpet OF notified green; the
Turkish lounges, the quaint chairs luxuriously
upholstered; the bTonzes on the mantle and In
inches and corneTs-bronZes that told old stories
little gems IN oil selected for their wonderful
Co!oTing-an autumn scene, a burning shin a
group of German peasants; the glowing fire of
sea-COal. and the polished hearth and fender
All appealed to the love OF the beautiful aud the
picturesque, while the cola, unceasing rain the
bare, gaunt trees. the dripping Shrubbery, and
the blanched grass drove the thoughts within
for >Olace and amusement.
The iEkstand that Mag Hastings referred to
was pretty affair in Swiss carving. 1t repre-
Sented two little peasants carrying water, the
buckets suspended from pole resting in "A hand
of each. OF course tn water-pails were the ink
receptacles, and the pole was the pcn-rack. II
was IOetic and realistic at the same time and
as pretty tribe Tor a library table as one would
wish to see.
{. The story is sad one, Mag" said l. eft
will give you the blues for the rest of the day"
- SO much the better" she answered, with a
true dramatic love of the horrible-"so much
the better. I'd like to be stirred up little. |
fear I'm too comfortable. A little dash OF i'm
agnative SORROW is needed to relieve this perfect
enjoyment. A little shade throws out the good
points of anything, You know. Isn'tit So pet?'
and she pinched the little appendage dignified
by the name OF tail till a sharp yelp came ont of
the soft white mass in her arms. "There |
told you 50, pet: now you'll know what true re-
pose is "
IL should scold yOu, Mag" said [, ssif it were
the least use In the world. But you are incOr-
rieible; so l will go on. Time will give you
shadow enough, without doubt.
when / was in Venice / commenced
.. In YcuiCei" exclaimed Mag. sitting bolt
upright, and giving the little dumping of a
| eCPlc Push trat brought ont a most sDtefu
leIp. what were yOb ever in Venice?'
why, you know, Mag. that / was abroad
more than two years. In fact, l had Just re-
turned when you and became acquainted"
Replied, wondering little at the unusual inter
{ i size appeared to take in the commencement
al my story.
oh, knew that" she replied. '.Rut 7.
never heard YOU say any thing about Venice"
again reel ming and closing her eyes. As much
rs to saw, Go on. am at loss 10 conceive
y nat made me- 50 foolish as TO disturb myself for
- slight thing as the mention Of foreign and
defunct city"
" Wen, when was in venice-I believe it was
the second month of my stay there-Chlrles
came in one day (Charles j. my huSband)
from long tramp about the Pa'dzzo Lorcdln,
the Ca d CrO--yOu' knew which | m,an-the
one built in the sixteenth century, in the Orien-
iai style, and restored by Mademoisclle Tag
lioni. the celebrated dancer
- oh yes" said Mag, impatently, 81 know
all about 1t. Haven't / been there? wasn't |
born there? haven't always liv "a there? didn't
tho Dodge of Venice christen me? didn't draw
my first breath on the Bridge of Signs? and
wasn't one OF NJ ademoiSelle Ia siionis pupils?
TO ahead, ana tell what Charles said when he
came back from his tramp about the Ca a orc.
But never mind the architecture, I'm not build
ing at present"
had seen Margaret in many strange moods,
but never felt her to be utterly inc ,rriyble as
upon this occasion. However, 1 resumed with
out appearing to remark II.
Z" Charles came in, and said, hastily, L" Nell.
tell Pedro To get up "a nice lunch Just quick
a, he can. i have brought an invalid home
with me, and il can shall persuade him to re-
main while with US. have taken a strange
fancy TO the fellow, and should like TO have him
VI here we could take little care OF him. He
v iii certainly die if some body don't take an in
terest in him" So hurried around and after
a little Pedro and l."
oh. never mind about the lunch." interrup-
ted Mag again. without opening her ewes, and
with little tremOlO in her voice, which could
not understand. Proceed with the man, Ami
mails always interest me more than FOOD
You would not call Austin Benedict an ami
tie Indignantly, and was about to add thai
didn't wish Charles mixed up with that species
either, when over went the lap dog on to the
lounge, and Mag said, irratabiy:
:" believe hut animal thinks have nothing
to 60 but to make my lap into a bed for his con-
' enience. Go on, Nell. Austin Benedict,
Austin Benedict is a good name. 1t has got the
right kind of ring to it. I'll bet my new soil
taire against three cents that his character was
as stony a. his cognOmen. a man called Aus
Tin Benedict would do what he considered 10 be
right, If by 70 doing it killed him and every
body he was acquainted with, 1 wish you would
ring for some wine, Nell. 1 am cold as death.
Don't get up, though-and please go on"
Yes" resumed, "you are quite right about
Nr. Benedict's character. | believe there Is
in names. But for all that the fe.-
low was dying for love-"
60 A very interesting case, ," said Mag, turning
deathiy pale. Do you know the circumstsn-
sDeer, added, " A man must be very strong to
admit such thing about himself"
- oh, answered. sit was a long time before
we got at the facts in the case; but one dav,
when sat by him, and we all thought he
couldn't last many hours, he told me the whole
story
"When you sat by him. and thought he
couldn't last many hours, he told you the whole
story! repeated Mag, in a strange sort OF way
Did he de-"
mo; he rallied again." answered, almost
out OF breath at Mays strange behavior. aft
seems that he loved with his whole heart and
OIL very beautiful and much sought after
young lady. She pretended to love him. Her
parents were opposed to the match she pro-
posed to defy her parents. The news he
receives comes in the form Of letter from her.
telling him that she finds she does not care for
him as she supposed, and asking to be freed
from her engagement
He did receive such letter, did he? Austin
Benedict did receive such a letter." and Mag
arose from her recumbent position, and stood
before me, pale as a corpse, but with the light
OF forty avenging angels in her eyes. - never
wrote that letter." she exclaimed. alt is for
gerry from beginning to end! Nell Harris, yeu
took care OF Austin Benedict in his last hours?u
And now the proud head of Margaret Hastings
was b uried in my lap.
al took care OF him when he was H. re-
Piled.
"And he loved the woman he believed to be
false to the last?"
Al