The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-01-13
CHAPTER ".
THE BLOW TELLING HOME.


Saxonbury to London. He paid visit to
by. His easel and chair were there, but
the former had no work in its frame, and
the chair was empty.
"Has he ebjured the art, or found au-
other studio?' inquired Sir Arthur.
The great painter shook his head HE
has not abjured it. A different art-or pow
er is claiming him now; one to which we
must all succumb-Death."
"Deathp' echosd Sir Arthur.
He has gone off very rapidly; in de-
cline, or something of that sort ! saw
him two days ago, and l did not think,
then, he would last until now. | wonder
| have not heard of his DEATH"
-"What can be the cause of its coming
on so suddenly? He was remarkably we'll
when at Saxonbury. saw no symptom
of decline or any other illness about him
then"
"Do you remember my telling you, Sir
Arthur, that blow to the feelings would
kill him?"
Sir Arthur considered 81 think l do"
"He has had it, unless l am mistaken.
He got it at Saxonbury.
"What do you mean?" inquired the bar
onet.
81 do not understand it,-and indeed it
is no business OF mine,-but when he came
up from Saxonbury, he had certainly re-
ceiyed his death.blow. A suspicion has
crossed me whether your lovely daughter
had alXthinG- To do With i PARDON me
Sir Arthur. We are old friends-lt is a
thought only mentioned to you"
81 should like to see him." said Sir Ar
thur. "Will you go with me2'
They went. Raby was otill alive, but
it was getting towards his last day Of life
He lay painting on his humble bed, alone
A hectic flush, even then, lighted up his
wasted cheek at sight of her father. Sir
Arthur, inexpressibly shocked, sat down
by him, and took his poor damp hand
"What can you have been doing to your
SELF" he asked, ITO get into this state?"
81 think it was inherent" murmured
Raby. "My mother died in a decline"
You have had the best advice, HOPPER
Raby made a movement of dissent. "a
medical student, whom / know, comes in
sometimes. | could not call in good ad-
vice, for L had not the means to pay for
it."
"Oh, my boy!" cried Sir Arthur, in a
tone of anguish, as he leaned over him,
"why did you not let me know of this?-
Half my purse should have been yours,
for your mothers sake"
'All the skill in England would not have
awaited me" he earnestly said. "Sir Ar
thur, it is best as it is, for am going to
her. She has been waiting for me all these
years, She told me my lot would not be
happy one. But it will soon be over
now" he added, his voice growing fainter;
earthly pain of all kinds has nearly pass
ed away"
Curious thoughts were perplexing Sir
Arthur Saxonbury as he quilted the scene.
If rude blow to his feelings had indeed
caused Raby to sink into bodily illness,
and thence to death, and that blow had
been dealt by Maria Saxonbury, how very
like it was to retribution for the blow Ma
ria Raby had dealt out to himl He was
a strong man, and had wea.hered it, but
it had left more permanent traces on his
heart than he had suffered the world to
know. Sir Arthur lost himself in these
thoughts, and then shook them off as a
dlsagreeable and unsatisfactory theme"
On Christmas. eve he returned to Saxon
bury. After dinner, his two daughters
only being at table, he told them of the ex-
pected death of the artist Raby. Mrs.
Ashton expressed sorrow and surprise
Maria said nothing, but her face dropped,
and burning color overspread it. Sir
Arthur looked sternly at her. Her head
only dropped the lower.
at has been limited to me that you tam
pered with his feelings" he said, in a Sc
verely reproachful tone. "Let me tell you,
Maria, that the vain habit OF encouraging
admiration whence it cannot legally be re-
ceived, always tends to i'll. No right
minded girl would condescend to il"
81 thought Maria talked a great deal
with young Raby," remarked Mrs. Ash
| ton. "Had he been of our own order,
should hare interfered; but | knew she
could not be serious. He was only a
painter"
'She killed him" was the significant
answer ofSir Arthur. And Maria Saxon
bury burst into tears.
Sir Arthur said no more. He may have
thought it was the provirce of women to
inflict such wounds, and of men to bear
them. He knew not how far Rabv's own
impressionable nature might have been in
fault, or whether Maria, in the exercise OF
coquetry, or vanity, haG unwarrantably
drawn him on. 1t booted not to inquire
now; the past could not be undone; Meth
er could Raby be brought back to life
| One thing was indisputable; that beautiful
| as Maria Raby had been in the old days,
beautiful was Haria SaxOnbury now. 1t