Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-07-11
WOODSTOCK, w. WEDNESDAY,, JULY II, 1877


would comfort her by promising her
all sorts of luxuries when she should
be a Royal Academician, or some
thing equivalent to it. =
Edith had the languid Italian tenn
perament, inherited from her mother,
but she also had the Italian venge-
fulness, and the insult she had re-
ceived was a spur to her ambition.-I
She worked and studied early and
late, and If ever her energy tagged,
one thought of the 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 tban before.
The path was much less thorny
than she had expected she found
herself, she scarcely knew how, put
in the way Of good models and words
of instruction. Then one oA two cele-
brated artists began to notice the pic.
lures with ''E. g." tucked away in one
corner, and the quiet little studio had
often held many an "R. A." Edith
had long since removed to a "real
studio" as Mrs. Grierson called it, and
reveled in the good light and abun-
dance of room, her pictures gaining
color and strength like plants. None
of them aspired to ''Scenes from Mac
beth" now. "E. G." hau gained mod
esty with knowledge, and knew what
was beyond her depth.
The years pass quickly by some
times, and yet work wondrous chan
ges, and when five had been counted
from that Mayday when Macbeth
W as turned out Of the exhibition, "E
c. found herself really famous and
nearly rich. Her mother could nc
longer lament by-gone days on the
score OF lodgings, Tor II pretty villa at
| Bayswater was their home, and tho
semi detached house was 4 nightmare
of the past.
Time can not accomplish all things
however, and he had failed to quencf
Edith's bitter hatred toward Stretton
that burned as tiercely as when, a lus
, trum ago, she had first heard that h'
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
vet it seemed as if her triumph Lacked
the climax Of revenge. But the tlm'
was not far distant when that finish
ING touch could be added if she chose
One evening at y little dinner part.
given in her honor, Eulth heard tina
, Stretton wa, very ill and in really DIES
, titutg circumstances. She sat perfect
ly silent, while small fire Of ejacula
=. tons ran round the table. Near
every one knew and liked Strettol
I, and were all lawfully sorry" or ever
much distressed" rs their inclination
were toward slang or pure English
Some wondered that, with his rar
talent, he had not been more success
full pecuniarily but he seemed t
neglect his opportunities; he wa
rather dilettanle in art it was
great pity, he was such good le
low something must be done, etc
etc.
The fact was that Stretton was to
7 true an artist to become II tradesma
in his profession. He studied nature
!, and scorned all tricks-those trick
] that make money IN this world. Alas
), he was before his age. Yet he wa
by no means u failure, and peopl
:, were just beginning dlmly to appr'
ciate his wonderful ability, when Tn
illness came and "knocked his laboi
IS all endways," as little Boggs ">uI
q phrase it. But that same illne'
i brought out the kind, stanch Englis
q hearts, and his friends became admi
- ers, and his admirers friends, as I'll
! subject was discussed over fish an
game. Edith merely looked grin
y and asked for his address, which sh
, took down carefully in her note-booI
e The following day she fought Il
% whole thing out i'll her mind 81
!" would go and visit him i'll I'll the gle
d ry Of her prosperity she would L
o. him see that the artist, whose pictu
= he had treated with such open scor
y had found success but-she checkt
herself it was not right TO give W;
= to such feelings. The poor tello
o. was sick and helpless she should Il
if 90 to see him just from revenge. 81
"a began to think that cherishing hatr'
d had warped one side Of her natul
Once she would have shrunk wi
l.,l1 e.