The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-03-22

cousins hand, while the blood surged II
to her heart in one convulsive throb
"Oh Eta, dear, that's too bad" plead
ed Lou, al found it; so please let me Sc
it too
But Eta had flown to her own room
not daring to wait the scrutiny Of Lou
curious eyes.
When Frank came up to tea, Etta said
carelessly, '.Where is Ralph Field
Paris still? found a good bye not
from him, in one OF your pockets, or Lo
did, rather, written Just before he sailed
How like you, Frank" said Lou
'ne7er to think of it; and we all so vex
ed, because he didn't call"
That's true enough, Loule," sal,
Frank, penitently. Then turning to Eta
Il don't know where he is, | am sure
tie never wrote to me q word. Not il
Paris, probably, for he wrote to Flint 4
Chaterton. when he had been there onl,
six months, asking TO be relieved from
his situation. They urged him to retain
it, but he positively refused, giving ne
reason, except that he was weary of busi
ne5s-so unlike him. you know. They
have heard nothing from him since.
IS the strangest thing | ever knew
Eta Stuart was in Rome She haC
sailed from New York, with the Wal
laces, as a governess for little Carrie anC
companion for her mother. They spent
some months in travel, but Mrs Wallace
lOnged to be near her artist son, so they
had taken q pleasant suite of rooms. for
the summer, in the old imperial city.
Evening was coming on, and the inde-
scribable color of the italian sunset still
flooded all the air with an almost tangible
radiance, Eta lay on a couch, with he1
hands clasped tightly over her forehead,
as if to press the pain from her throbbng
temples The door opened softly. and lit
tie Carrie came in
Are YOU BETTER" Miss Eta? ~
Mamma said she was ;traid should
tire you, but wanted to tell you so much
about our ride. Oh, if you could only
have gone! First we drove to brother
Charley's studio, and he said he wanted
Us to 90 with him and see beautiful Ma
donna that one Of his friends had painted
Mamma said she would like itvery much.
so we went, and, on the way, Charley told
us about this friend, what wonderful gen
us he had. and such devotion to his art,
but still he seemed 50 lonely sometime.
BY and by we were there, and Charley in
trodlced us. Mr.. Field the gentleman s
name was-he was so tall and handsome,
but with the saddest eyes ever saw. AS
soon as he uncovered the picture mamma
and both exclaimed at once for indeed
Miss Eta, it was a perfect likeness of 4oU
only the expression was more lovely than
anything | can describe-as if an angel
was looking out OF your face. Mr. Field
turned pale. and said to mamma, Pardon
me, madam, Gid / understand that the
picture reminds YOU of some friend ;
Then mamma told him, and he asked a
great many questions about You. and lis
tened so eagerly Mamma asked him to
call, and he thanked her and said, i
think, Mrs. Wallace, shall find in Miss
Stuart q very old friend | should not
he surprised if he We're to come this eve
ming, though mamma told him you were
not quite we'll DO you really think that
you know him. Miss Etta r. Then, with
out waiting for a reply, She started up,
saying, There, do believe that | hear
his voice noW-9hall | tell him that You
will see him, Miss Eta ?"
''les, Carrie. ii you please" Itta's
to nulitc II, 4 intj.4.t'nu-inv.-.' ....,! -t~-~-
heard the littlo girlsvoice in the passage.
Miss Stuart is better, and will see Mr..
Field will tell mamma
The door opened again, and Ralph Field
came in. With q glad cry, Eta sprang
forward He took both her hands in his,
and looked down into her tace. Neither
spoke for moment, but her eyes an
sverel the questions his had asked,
"Miss Etta?'
ooh, Ralph at last at last - Then
with her thrilling eyes still raised, "Ralph,
have looked for you across the continent
| have sought yon everywhere. Your let
ter was mislaid. never saw it until six
months ago.
"And Captain 1ileston. Etta?N
:. Married my cousin, Nellie Stuart,
three years ago, after Il long engage
ment Oh, Ralph Ralph what terri
bic mistake "
'And you loved me, i4tta ?'
Loved you, Ralph? f? loved you then,
now, and always"
"Ihen thank God" said Ralph Field,
rovercntiallv, as he took her up to his
heart.
There is little more to tell. Mr.. and
Mrs Ralph Field are still abroad. He is
winning name and fame, and his paint
ings are sought eagerly. There is one of
them for which an eXtravagant sum has
more than once been offered. He will
never sell it, 1t is the Madonna.