New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-23

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not understand you. Do you wish to leave
the Romish church. or only to give up the
priesthood!'
Il wish to break the bonds that keep me
from you, that is all. l am no. strong
enough to live without yeu."
Only an exclamation escaped Cathies
| lips. She could say nothing connectedly.
She found an unexpected task before her,
| to tell Paul that another barrier had grown
up between them.
"Cathie, have you nothing to say" be
cried passionately. mo Joy! no words of
| welcome. have pictured this meeting SO
many times, but never like this. thought
| the joy OF it would pay me for the tOrments
| l have suffered, Cathie. ] am ready to rick
| NY soul for you, and you have nothing to
| say"
| Cathie rallied all her forces. You must
remember, Paul. she said, TREMENDOUSLY,
| that all this is very sudden to me. You
| have been meditating on this step some
| time, perhaps, but it has taken me by SUI
prise. l eau not understand such violent
| changes, and it is not SO easy 70 bind to-
gather broken ties
An" exclaimed Paul, with a groan;
| "have l lost your lOve!'
Il can not let you risk your soul, as you
| say, for me-" Cathie went on. DO you
think could ever be happy with such
| thought to haunt me! And you, il these
| ideas still control you, would soor repent
| having bartered heavenly happiness for
| earthly. Of course do not understand the
| fanaticisn that sways you, but think We
must remain apart. l can not think OF any
| thing else for Il moment"
| Paul grew perfectly CHASTITY, as one does
when struck a mortal blow. Ills 1t, then,
| all over!" he gasped. "You love some one
| else: that is the only explanation"
Cant you see why ] should not wish to
in wit W EaS rlrh ri
| ful changes of opinion or action n so short
| time!" Cathie said, eager to shelter her
self from suspicion.
II only see tLis," answered Paul gloom
| lily; IF you had loved me, you would have
welcomed me back with joy. know Cow
| you never loved me, Cathie,'
The girl was silent, but shivereo a little.
Oh, how she longed to escape,
Confess" he said, ''you never loved me-
II believed that l did," she faltered.
Enough. l will not trouble you again.
| Fool that / have been! l threw away the
church for my love, and nave neither. i
periled my salvation for you, and you-you
have never cared for Inc. What IS there
| left for me now"
And without another word, with no fare
| well, he dashed away from her in sort of
| frenzy. And she stood staring after him,
! her heart reprOaching her that she could
not respond, that she had said no kind or
encourag ing word to the man vino was to
have been her husband three months be
fore.
Mel Stanley wandered about among the
orange groves Of Sorrento, looked over the
| blue BAY often with a sick longing FOR one
face which haunted him forever. Some
times he thought of writing, and then he
dared not lose his trembling hope by testing
it. One night of storm he had lain awake
all night. in a mental struggle as fierce as
the elements Worn and Responding, he
took his way to the beach in the morning,
for he heard there had been many disasters,
and he felt that the sight OF real sorrow
might perhaps sOothe his own.
Ii was desOlate scene on the beach.
Two or three hshermens boats crushed like
shells lay there, and the wives and families
of the fishermen were wailing over them as
if they were friends. Mel had brought his
sketching materials, and he sat on a rock
near, and made very effective sketch of
one group.
When that has color it will be good
HIT he said, quite satisfied with hisswork,
and going up toward the group in question.
As he vent nearer one OF the crowd came
toward him. Il. is q monk, God rest his
soul"' he said,
what do you mean Z" cried Me.
"He doubtless persisted in the storm last
night, and the waves washed him ashOred.
crossing himself.
Neil walked on toward the spot. There.
lain out upon the sand, lay Paul Eveleth.
ROBBED in the brown flannel dress of the
Benedictines, with his han Is folded over a
heavy cross on his breast, peace upon his
face which Mel had never seen there be-
fore, be lay dead before him.
An infinite pity and tenderness stole into
Neils heart. Now he knows the eternal
rerifiac - ma fhouuht ssanN his ia poaca
HE is a friend" he said to those about
him, and he charged himself with the
funeral preparations. But first be sketched
him as he lay there folded in the eternal
peace Of death. He thought Cathie wonld
be glad to know that at last the soul $50
tossed about with many conflict, many
doubt" rested in the infinite compassion Of
the Great Father of all.
And he wrote at once to her, directing to
the Baths of Lucca, but received no answer.
So poor Paul was laid to rest without one OF
bis own kin to follow him to the grave. But
Mel went as chief mourner, and the priests
of the ueighborhood followed with d mo-
notOnous chanting, whose dirge-Eke music
filed the air
Then Mel set himself to work at paint
ing from the sketch he had made an elabO-
rate picture. The gray sky, the bay, the
group on the beach, were there, bu. the
main figure, the central point OF terror and
pain, was the dead body of Paul Eveleth,
with the marble calm on his face, and his
stiff hands folded over the cross. And
while he painted he recalled the first visit
to his studio and Mrs. Despard's order: "a
portrait of Cathie for Paul. and afterward
a portrait of Paul for Cathie." Who could
then have dreamed under what dread cir
cumstances that portrait would be taken
The next winter, on very clear day OF
frost and sunshine, Mel found himself
standing before his picture, with palpi
tating heart, in the exhibition of the acad
envy, aud listening to the criticism OF va
rious spectators who paused before If. Mel
was on the road to fame. His picture was
hung in good light. He had called it,
AFTER the Storm but to him it was only
Paul Eveleth's portrait, and 1t seemed
shat it was going to make him famous.
He was there every day with the hunger
for appreciation which young artists feel.
He had heard all sorts of remarks, but one
day new one struck to his heart like an
arrow.
Mamma, the monk, it is Paul
Mel turned quickly, and met Cathie face
to face. He had never seen or heard from
her since they had left Rome. He saw that
she and her mother wore mourning. He
held out lis hands. All his soul was IN his
face and showed his 10Y.
Did you get my letter." he asked.
Not till long atterward," Mrs. Despard
answered. 1--WE had left the baths, and it
followed Us about. Poor Paul! poor, mis-
guided fellow, What an end But he is at
rest gazing at the picture.
Cathie looked at it. and tear stole down
her cheek Mel was almost jealous of the
tear.
You must dine with us tc night" Mrs.
Despard said, cordially. 1--WE VIII nave SO
much to talk of old times"
Mol lnnl-ad n l,athia GIG !. II