The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-04-11


look AS though you had met with a scare
Come, what's up Has old Grunshaw, tn,
cadaverous cynic Of Santa Barbara beer
expatiating on Rubens, or has our youth
ful model been cutting up some Of his an
ties for our especial benefit"
Thurston smiled feebly, vainly endt Av
oring q regain his composure
"Oh, nothing but a famtness and wearl
ness, he said carelessly "Close contne
ment is beginning to play on me Rivers
say, let US 60 to the opera tonight Nha
do you say ~
~ say, yes, Of course Anything Il
while away the hours Hello beer
painting On the fair Countess again he
querled as his gaze fell upon the uncovered
portrait Of the Countess Tutti.
mo that Is stammered Ghurston il
confusion.
Paul placed his hand quietly on his
shoulder, saying, gravely "Thurston,
cnnhde Ia ms. You surely won's deceive
,n old freud who has stood by you since
he knew you, and would do anything for
/ sou cut IF friendship. Clarence. what is
| the real cause of Your emotion, tor | per
ceIye il IS something more than passing
I excitement Ii Is connected with that
7 picture, ur the original
Thurston bent his head upon his hand.
Yes, my friend, with both.
Paul sat silently with his friend for a
moment Finally he said
''She has not been here
Yes, Paul, She has been here In this
room spoke to me smiled on me. Oh,
] Paul | cannot help It Ny love for her
IS consuming every other emotion Of my
! heart, and then as he raised his head and
saw the cold disappointment IN his friend 5
face he said, you viii not desert me,
Paul Give me your counsel and assist
| ance
Paul Rivers looked distressed and per
picked
NO man must cali me friend who
breaks his hghtest pledge. lou are bound
en by the strongest ties to Miss Markham.
Come, Thurston, break from this vile e.
qucttes power, and redeem your manhood.
| How did she happen To come here I.
"Burdps came with her She was Wis
iting among the studios and hap ened t.
call here Heavens if | could break from
her What can do hat shall do |
tell you, Paul, | would rather face can
non than meet Colonel Markham. This
woman cannot love ne-and yet | would
sacrifice everything to her even you
"Thurstou, kindly spoke Rivers, per
haps | Judge you too unjustly, but you
yourself must see that this woman cannot
feel even a sincere friendship for you b.
true to yourself The history Of love and
disappointed hopes has been the same since
time began. 1t IS only fascination which
every man feels. and some succumh 70. |
know your mind and temperament. Willyou
sacrifice love- truth and honor for coali-
ton with the Countess Tutti, which would
be a union with a base iptriqtdtte te-for
selhsh coquettes sake Let us change the
subject Refuse to see this woman, for,
like Gree, she only smiles on you to rem
der her final blow the more deep and
more painful.
Il will try, murmured Thurston. My
thoughts are with her, Of her, upon hrr
the entire time but .ciH keep my troth
with Clanbel Markham, though It is misery
and woe for me she shall never feel the
agony | may endure.
That night the twain attended the opera
II vas we'll, perhaps for Thurston that he
was not so situated in the box and was too
thoroughly engrossed in his painful
thoughts to observe the Countess TuttI in
box near BY. Rivers discovered her
presence, and was relieved when the play
was over. As they were leaving the box,
a lackey stood at the door and rendered a
note to Thurston Both he and Rivers
OWNED from whom it came.
Not a word was spoken until they
reached Thurston's room.
Clarence, said Rivers, gravely, ''let
there be nothing between us but confidence
If you would break from the influence Of
the Countess Tutti, refuse to notice aught
which comes from her, or even she herself
Destroy that note"
Thurston glanced at him angery.
'Hou are no friend of mine - he cried,
irresOlutely, determining to read the note.
''fou are no friend of mine. There are
some condolences to sacred even fC- friends
to hold in common. tell you, you must
not interfere with me, for | have deter
mined on my course Of action. 1t can do
no harm to read the note even to see her
again Come, Paul, he added, e1citedly,
''do not turn coldly from me -
You must either give up all communi-
cation with that woman, or we are friends
no longer" coldly replied Rivers.
Then so be it =" cried Thurston, ex-
citedly.
Paul turned slowly to the d,.or.
You will reconsider he began.
Nothing" said Thurston, firmly. II
am man, capable Of Judging error from
rectitude. The Countess has been ma
ligned she is no ccquette and true or
false, better to seek my fate than feel a
lifetime Of uncertainty which might have
been one of peace and happiness
He unfolded the note hastily, AS his
friend withdrew, read il with beating
heart, and eyes that sparkled wildly with
passion and excitement. and then kissed
the little billet which contained the words:
'Will my artist friend favor me by max
ing one Of party at the fete, to be given
at my villa next Thursday evening
BLANCA"
She had signed her name there she had
called him friend He sought his couch,
restless, and in state of emotion border
ing on delirium
footed hours fly no faster Blanca, Bian-
ca The name was impressed on his heart
in letters Of fire, and every other thought
and emotion was Stlnod, obllterated, save
the love, the alteration with which this
woman inspired him.
And far away among the Virginian hills
of his native land, the bright, pure hearted
maiden, whose love might have rendered
his whole life beautiful, thought Of her ar
tist lover, and kissed the tear-stained let
ter he had last written to her On the eve
of her departure for Europe with her fa-
ther, shadow crossed her heart-the re-
membrance of what Burdois had said Of
her lover. But constant and con6ding her
self, she banished the fear, and looked for
ward, with joy and glad anticipation, to
her approaching reunion to the loved one
Of her heart.
And that meeting 1t Is . merciful hand
that draws a screen between the present
and the to-come.