Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-07-07

purse.
Mrs. Grierson began to complain that Edit
never left her easel now except to go Il
SHELLS; then Edith would comfort her by prom
Using her all sorts Of luxuries whom she shoult
be Royal Academician, or something equiva
lent to It.
Edith had the languid italian temperament
inherited from her mother, but she also had
the Italian vengefulness, and the insult sht
had received was spur to her ambition. She
worked and studied early and late, and il ever
her energy tagged, one thought Of tho words
that had been spoken, and the reason for
which they were said, would sting her to the
quick, and nerve her to even greater energy
than before.
Tho path was much less thorny than she had
expected she found herself, she scarcely knew
how, put i'll the way Of good models and words
Of instruction. Then one or two celebrated
artists began to notice the pictures with "E.
G." tucked away in one corner, and the quiet
little studio often held many an ar. A."
Edith had long since removed to "real
studio" as Mrs. Grierson called 1t, and reveled
in the good light and abundance Of room, her
pictures gaining color and strength like plants.
None Of them aspired to be "scenes from Mac
beth now. "E. g." had gained modesty with
knowledge, and knew what was beyond her
depth.
The years pass quickly by sometimes, and yet
work wondrous changes, and when five had
been counted from that May-day when Mac
beth was turned out Of the exhibition, "E.
g." found herself really famous and nearly
rich. Her mother could no longer lament by
gone days on the score Of lodgings for pretty
villa at Bayswater was their home, and the
scmi-detached house was nightmare Of the
past.
Time cannot accomplish all things, however,
and he had failed to quench Edith's bitter
hatred toward Stretton, that burned as fiercely
AZ when, lustrum ago, she had first heard
that he had reviled her picture out Of spite.
The tables were turned she was rich, and he
was poor she was famous, and his name was
scarcely known yet it seemed as if her triumph
lacked the climax Of revenge But the time
was not far distant when that finishing touch
could be added il she chose.
One evening, at a little dinner party given in
her honor, Edith heard that Stretton was very
i'll and in really destitute circumstances. She
sat perfectly silent, while small fire of eiacu-
lations ran round the table. Nearly every one
knew apd liked Strettor, and were all awfully
sorry or "very much distressed" as their in
clinatlons were toward slang or pure English.
Some wondered that, with his rare talent, he
! ad not been more successful pecuniariy but
he seemed to neglect his opportunities he was
rather dilettdnte in art it was great pity,
he was such good fellow something must be
done, etc, etc.
The fact was that Stretton was too true an
artist to become a tradesman in his profession.
lie studied nature, and scorned all tricks
those tricks that make money in this world
Alas he was before his age. Yet he was by
no means failure and people were just be-
ginning dimly to appreciate his wonderful
ability, When his illness came Oh and "knocked
his labors all endways," as little tBoggs would
phrase it. But that same illness brought out
the kind, stanch English hearts, and his friends
became admirers, and his admirers friends, rs
the subject was discussed over fish and game,
Edith merely looked grim, and asked for his
address, which she took down carefully in her
notebook.
The following day she fought the whole thing
out in her mind she would go and visit him in
all the glory of her prosperity she would let
him see that the artist, whose picture he had
treated with such open scorn, had found sue
cess but She checked herself /; it was not
right to give way to such feelings. The poor
fellow was sick and helpless she should not go
and see him just from revenge. She began to
think that cherishng hatred had warped one
side Of her nature. Once she won have
shrunk with horror from trampng on fallen
foe" hitting fellow when he's down." He
certainly had behaved contemptibly, but
WE'LL she would forgive him, and go to him in
Christian charity; and, at the same time, she
would not object to his being conscious that she
had prospered. So that afternoon, with what
are called mixed motives, Ibeevc, she stepped
into her little brougham, dressed in the richest
OF black silks to express q long bank account,
and carrying basket of peaches and white
grapes to express the Christian charity part
She stopped at careworn-looking house,
whcre neat, faded old woman opened the
door, and, upon Mr.. Stretton being inquired
for, directed her to the second floor, front.
She was lame, or she would go up herself and
her sister was out who usually answered the
bell" So Miss Grierson mounted the stairs
alone and tapped at the "sccond floor, 'front.'
In moment little Boggs appeared, with very
red eyes, and rather sternly Ishered her in,
without word Of greeting.
Edith began, graciousy: "How do you do.
Mr.. Boggs! came" but she stopped Short
petriied. Was that her "Scene from Mao
beth" hanging over the mantle-piece? As
surely rs it was the twenty-first Of May, and
that she was alive and breathing And what
were those smaller ones on either side? Two
studies from Shakespeare, with :" E. g." in the
corner. She slowly surveyed the wallis They
were covered with her earlier pictures-those
that she had carried to SHELLS with her own
hands.
swell, you've found it out at last, said little
Boggs, watching her, with folded arms.
"What does it mean ?" she graspcd.
"Mean" cried little Boggs, recklessly. |
We'll, he can't live more than two hours, and
you might as well know all. 1t means that he
has sacrificed his whole life."
And there, in that little "second floor,
front, that warm May afternoon, Edith Grier-
son heard the whole story-how Stretton had
bought her pictures and praised them to other
people how he had neglected opportunities,
that she might profit by them; how he had |
helped her in secret and served her like slave
wasted his life, his time, his talents, to atone
for few hasty words that he had spoken and !
she had overheard.
Miss Grierson Just sat down on the hardest |
chair in the room, and began to cry, with her
face hidden in her hands. "But I thought he
had a spite against me ?" she said at length
HSpite 7" snorted littla Rogers with unreo