The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-11-01
The Yelled Picture.
Out to a haven, out TO a shore,
Where life is love for evermore.
BY ELISE DEE.

ldkllS up udlly paper aJ lclSuTc
moment, and glancing carelessly over
it, caught sight Of my friends name,
Robert Hilton, among the list of pas
sengers just arrived on the Russia.
hastened to the Windsor hotel, and sure
enough there found him. Our greet
ings were cordial, for | had not seen
him for years, and only received an
occasional letter as he was travelling on
the continent.
My first question was put in matter
of-fact way:
care you married yet, Bob?"
mo, indeed" he replied, 81 can't
find any one willing to take me. / sup
pose they are all afraid that instead of
being better, 1t would be worse for
them, and so l am left severely alone"
OF course, knew that he was joking,
and glancing slyly at him, saw that he
was not much changed-a girl could
tell the color of his eyes and the exact
cut of his nose, but l only observed that
he was far from being mere bundle of
nerves, but was strong stalwart fell
low, of whom any woman might justly
be proud of.
noticed, too, that he had unpacked
his trunks, as if for permanent stay,
and that elegancies and knick-knacks,
of every foreign make, were scattered
prOfusely about.
Hanging against the wall was large
elaborately carved frame, but what it
contained it seemed impossible to know
for it was covered with heavy black
drapery; there must be some secret at
tached to it-sOme dreadful tragedy |
thought, as l gazed curiously upon it.
Ned" said my friend, 81 feel in a
confidential mood tonight. You shall
see the picture that you are gazing at
so intently, and hear its sad history. 1t
will be like probing old wounds which
have left deep scars upon my heart; but
never mind can bear the pain. Ned,
old fellow, were you ever in love?
Yes? Then you can better understand
as / blend the experiences of Effie
Mayne, Harry Ellwood and myself to-
gether into one"
"PoOr Harry" remarked, as / set
tied myself comfortably in an easy
chair, prepared to listen. 81 heard
that he died unattended and uncared
for"
THAT is a mistake, Ned, but | will
not anticipate. Never shall l forget
my first sight of Efiie Mayne. We
were at ball, and she was leaning on
Ellwoods arm, when he introduced
her to me.
"How can describe her Ristori-like
beautyP she was queenly--lOvely. Oh,
Ned, words are too poor to do justice
to her magnificent beauty of face and
form. Never did behold more per-
feet woman.
"She was attired in white satin,
whose rich, glossy folds swept the floor
without single ornament, except that
upon her bosom she wore cluster of
roses family tinged with pink. But
you shall see her In that very dress and
Judge for yourself" he said, rising and
drawing aside the drapery that con-
cealed the mysterious picture.
There was revealed to me the life
size portrait of a beautiful woman, and
no longer wondered at my friends
enthusiasm. She seemed absolutely
alive, and / fancied that she should
step down and greet us.
"Surely none but noble soul could
belong to so exquisite face and form?"
remarked, and in spite of myself my
eyes were fascinated by her speaking
countenance.
Hilton saw my admiration, and
smiled in cold, wintry way. "She is
as false as fair" he said bitterly. 81
must draw the curtain now, and hide
her fatal beauty, lest | curse the muir
deress of Harry Elwood.
"And yet, Ned" he continued, as he
allowed the heavy folds to fall over 1t
once more, "yet, from the very first
moment, loved her madly, and not
withstanding all her selfish treachery,
that mad love is lying in my heart like
a slumbering volcano.
"She bewitched both Harry and my
self.
"I loved Harry with love beyond
brothers.; he was many years my
junior, and was given In charge to me,
and so exercised care over him, and
jealously guarded him from evil, and
he depended upon me and loved me in
return.
81 know not what magnetic power
Or spell she possessed, for when ! was