Litchfield enquirer., 1875-06-10
2 VIA ~ IL pre- hAl w,6aad before him.

.eEHEM 9qAd before him. 70 An r1nf!nlte p5tY and tenderness stole in- Pa Niel heaE Now he knows the eter- pal -Fe91ei rho thought, '.and he is at peace. - a tsHe is a sfzis..a,. 2 he saia to those about him, and he charged himself with the funeral preparations. But first he sketch ed him as he lay there folded in the eter- nal peace of death. He thought Cathie would beglad to know that. at last the soul ''so tossed about with many a con- hlct, many doubt, rested in the inf nlte compassion of the great Father of all.s - f9f
 And he wrote at once to her, directing to the Baths of Lucca, but received no an- swer. So poor Paul was laid to rest with out one of his own kin to follow him to the grave. But Mel went as chief mourn CT, and the priests of the neighborhood followed with monotonous chanting, whose dirge-ike music filled the air.
 Then Mel set himself to work at paint ing from the sketch he had made an elab- crate picture. The gray sky, the bay, the group on the beach, were there. but 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 vlsit to his studio and Mrs Despard's order : ''Aiportrait of Cathie for Paul, and after wards & portrait of Paul for Cathie." Who could then have dreamed under what crcumstances that portrait would be taken! ;i ID 7it1sH7 l935 '''
 v The next winter, on very clear day of frost and sunshine, Mel found himself ct0F lFr hof T.; sokr, tating heart, in the exhibition of the Academy, and listening to the criticism of various spectators who pansed before it. Mel had profted by his foreign soiourn. andswas on thsfoad to fame. ] His picture was hung in good light. He had called it, After the Storm, but to him it was only Paul Evelethis portrait. andit seem- ed that 1t was going to make him famous.
 He was there every day, with the hun ger 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 OF heard from her since they had left Rome. He saw that she and her mother wore mourn- ing. He held out his hands. All his soul was in his face and showed his joy. ," T
 Did you get my letter." he asked. .- ''Not till long afterwards" Mrs. Des- Hpard answered. "We had left the baths. and it followed us about. Poor Pauli poor misguided fellow! What an endi But he IS at rest, gazing at the picture. Cathie looked at it, and tear stole down her cheek. Mel was almost jealous of that tear
 " You must dine with us tonight" Mrs. Despard said, cordially. "We will have 50 much to talk of old times"
 Mel looked at Cathie. She had not vet spoken. 'i -a
 'tDo come." she murmnred, with a bright blush. .. 7.
 And he went-not that time only, but many times. He had made a name. and Mrs. Despard smiled on him. So did Cathie, which was more important; and it was always sweet to Mel to remember that she had cared for him before he was famous. For before they were married she told him of the scene with Paul which no one else knew. ''And I loved you then," she said.
 "But can antedate that" Mel said. triumphantly. 'I loved you from the moment I heard you speak that night in the Piazea del Popolo.'' ,r4