Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-08-16
THE HOUSEHOLD.
THE ARTISTS STORY.

pnon a wedding as the death OF young fellow Is
freedom, and at best 4 doubtful, and certainly
not a lasting, happiness. All this may be right
or wrong confess know some happy married
people and, what is more, know young fell
lows who owe their success in life to the deyo-
tion Of their wives and to their happy homes.
Bnt Az for me, l am ali illustration Of the success
of disappointment, an example of a half broken
heart being equal to many whole one in short,
proof of the triumph Of work.
..You do not share in the general opinion of
love You think that married life is the highest
form of earthly bliss Good give me your
hand Then the young lady whom you brought
TO the Academy on vanishing day il to be Mrs
S Nay don't look as II | had found you out
in some piece Of lunacy May you be happy, my
boy Stir the tire spring has way of coming
in Of late years very cold aud frosty. When
was boy the goddess was less tickle. My mem
ories OF spring are full OF green leaves and sun
shine. II it were not for the power Of reproduce
tion, memory would be curse but turn it to
account. You will hardly believe it, but my
Fishing Party is a study from memory. Yes, /
skeched the boat carefully for the critics that s
all You know what they are /; il they couldhave
found fault with the drawing OF the boat the tant
of lnaccuracy would have gone all through the pic
ture and ruined it. That dark girl in the gpsy
hat-no model, l assure you - picture OF the
past. drawing from memory a face and figure
smile, a sunbeam of my youth. CLEAN from
heaven, that haunt- this room many time and
Oft All ! my dear boy you little dream of the
softness that lies beneath what men call my big
burly, brufque manner. By JoVe sir, some
tues eit here with the tears in my eyes when
think of the days when that fishing party was
living reality for me-,
met her at friends house ON the Thames.
/ was twoand-twenty ehe seventeen | was
an atirt, doing bits of studies in quiet hooks on
the river. Size was the daughter Of doctor in
Gg,t,aR IIap falh IIa lad
invested the savings Of a lifetime in some spec
Hlatlon that came to grief think it was bank.
was struggling artist with ali invalid mother
to take care Of Kate Woodward became my
dream of life. fell in love with her desperate
ly would have done anything. suffered anything
for her She soon reeipTGcated nv tender feel
ings; that il, as far as she cOud 1t would have
been impos sibie for any woman 10 have given
NE love for love. My passion scared to almost
impossible heights. ALI oui friends said we were
q we'll matched couple. Kate was small and
dark. and lively: wPs big, hulking fellow,
with brown hair, aud a somewhat duh, phlegma-
tic manner; but they never knew how fercely
the fire burned behind my calm demeanor. BY
Jove sir could have set the Thames on fire If
it had been necessary. All 1t was on tire in
those days There are no sunsets now like the
sunsets through which my boat glided on sum
mer evenings when Kate steered it, and ran it
for fun Into the tall dusky rushes at some out
uf-the-wAy bend OF the river where the lilies
looked up and wondered at her bright eyes.
her father and aek his consent to our marriage.
| had visited twice at tho house. but Kate had
many admirers, and DIR. Woodward had not, l
suppose, noticed that held favored position
among them.
Privately not in his consulting room,'
said to the servant it is on a special matter Of
business.
II was shown into the breakfast room. One
OF my sketches was hung upon the wall. That
was o hopeful token thought. l noticed the
touch of her hand here and there little vase
Of flowers stood upon table near a cottage p-
ano upon which knew she practiced. touched
the flowers and felt happy. l can see the room
now every detail of it, even to the hand screens
and the clock on the mantel shelf Presently
the doctor entered,a gentleman-like grave, gray
headed professional, with firm mouth, and an
air Of disappointment and defiance in his man
ner
In love with Kate, he said by and by, az
ter had made a bungling explanation of my
feelings and hers. In love with nv daughter,
and wish for my consent to your marriage ,"
Il bowed my acknowledgment of the correct
ness of this Interpretation of my views
- BE seated, he said of course you have
an independent income you would not other
wise have asked the question you have put to
me-
The Doctor spoke in professional manner,
Al if lie were feeling my pulse and prescribing
for me-
'' mo DIR. Woodward said, Il am not
man of independent means. had picture in
last years Academy and it sold for hundred
guineas hope next year to double that figure,
and my prospects are very good
- Indeed, said the doctor thrusting his hands
into his pockets, and looking through AS if he
were making calculation on the wall at my
back, that Is not good enough for my daugh-
ter no, sir, we do not despise your position, nor
do we deny your talent and industry, but Miss
Woodward must marry rich man think no
more of this romantic folly go abroad and
study the Italian school of painting or some|
thing elise that il professional, and forget my
daughter
before could reply, DIR. Woodward had
rung the bell and it was answered by the ser
want.
'''Tell Miss Kate l wish to speak with her.
"My poor darling had been waiting in the ad-
joining room to learn our fate quickly, when
the interview should have closed. Size blushed
and looked anxlously from one to the other as
she came into the room.
- Don't be alarmed my dear, said the doc
tor, have only been explaining to our friend
here that this is world of crosses and vexation
and disappointment
kate looked at me- The blank despair of
my face must have startled her. She turned
pale, and put out her hand to reach a chair. l
WAS by her side in moment
''1hank you, it ID nothing said the girl"
1.-The Doctor took her hand She leaned her
head upon his shoulder.
when was young man, said the Doctor,
addressing me, Il married and led a life of
struggle and hardship until Kate was twelve.
Kate can remember now how We suffered, and
were strong, shall say2 We that Is, Kate and
/; we made up our minds to have no sensibili-
tics, to fight the world together; my wife FAINT
ed by the way poor soul, and died By dint of
perseverance, we became rich, my girl and /
rich, sir. Two years ago there was complica-
ten in the city, two banks failed our money was
gone. We are poor again and poverty must not
mate with poverty. That is my answer to both
OF you"
Kate burst into tears. In a trembling voice
appealed to him to give me tine. l did not
doubt, / said, that should make money soon
My dear, girl, said the Doctor, you will
follow my advice, act upon my word"
''Yes dear, il can" said Kate.
'You see this gentleman no more in the char
Acter Of a lover for twelve months; if, at the
end Of that time he presents himself with suf
ticient sum OF money to make = good settle
meut upon you, then we will resume the subjec
which muet now be adjourned. Good morning,
sir :"
THE Doctor rang the bell.
The door" he said. "Guod morning"
II looked at Kate. She motioned to me tina
her father must be obeyed.
=" have meyer seen Kate Woodward since i
is two-and-twenty years ago since bowed m
head before Fate in that morning-rOOm i'll Rus
sell Square and l never saw her again.
called Yes, l called over and over again sh
was always out. wrote and got no reply. 81
months afterwards the shutters were up and til
house was to let. The Doctor went out to
brother in India and took my darling with him.
Bad - fnll hut bn,