Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-03
In Peril.

In Peril.
"l'm getting into terrible bad habits
Dora. Breakfast at half-past nine
Just my induIging in such hours three
years ago, darling, before the world made
up It's mind that I painted respectable
pictures, and chose to pay me according
~"
And young Melville Austin rose from
the daintily-spread breakfast table al
which he ana his wife were sitting.
II hope you are going to remain al
home this morning." Dora said, in soft
coaxing tone, that well became her petite
figure, and blonde haired, girlish beauty
'sDo you know, Austin, that you have
not painted an atom of canvass this week
There's your new picture of Antony and
Cleopatra
Yes, my Iove,' the young artist inter
rupted, 81 plead guilty to having neglect
ed Antony and Cleopatra; but this morn
ing's engagement will not occupy much
time, and l shall he home in an hour, l
trust, ready to begin work. In the mean
time, Dora, if that model of whom l was
speaking should make her appearance,
just ask her to wait in the studio"
II am anxious to see this divinity,
Melville. Is she very beautiful?"
"Aftcr certain type, yes" the husband
answered, carelessly. Then, with his
handsome face lit up with sudden
brightness, he added, in lower tones
"4ou know there is but one woman in the
world, Dora, whose beauty can thorough
ly satisfy me-
For sometime after her husbands de-
parture that morning, Dora Austin re-
NAMED buried in what, Judging from
the happy smile that played about her
mouth, and danced in the blue depths OF
her tender eyes, must have been thor
oughly agreeable thoughts.
Was ever woman so blessed?" she
murmured presently, as if asking the
question OF her own heart Three years
tomorrow since we were married, and
still the same devoted love from dear
Melville. How foolish was ever to
dream that his worldly successes would
cool the ardor Of that love! Nothing can
ever change him--nothlngp
S'The young woman has called, maam,
and is now waiting outside. Shall show
her into Mr.. Austin studio?"
Dora's meditations had been abruptly
broken by the voice of the stately butler,
who stood at her elbow.
"Oh! you mean Mr.. Austin's model?"
she said, little confusedly. eyes,
James, [ believe your master wishes her
to wait in the studio till his return. By
the way, James, you may manage to let
her pass through this room. / wish to
see her"
The man bowed, and departed to exc
cute Mrs. Austin's order, returning prse-
emily, followed by a poorly clad woman,
OF whose face Dora merely caught mo-
mentary glimpse as she hurried toward
the adjoining studio.
" How beautiful" the young wife MUIR
muled; sand what face for Cleopatra
She seemed anxious to escape my notice,
poor woman! | wonder if she is ashamed
OF her vocation? You told her, James,
did you not''- addressing the butler, who
returned at this moment" that Mr..
Austin would return very shortly?'
| Yes, ma'am."
James was not absent from the break
fast-room five minutes before he again
made his appearance there A rather
shabby man desired to see Mrs. Austin.
Should he admit him?
But the ceremonious butler had scarce
" finished speaking when a gruff voice
sounded from the entrance of the room.
A rough-looking, heavily bearded man
was standing on the threshold, directly
opposite to Dora, who was seated near
one of the windows.
"You may go, my good fellow" the
man said. Give particular business with
Mrs. Austin"
NYes-James-you-may-go."
The words were gasped forth somehow
from Dora's white lips. If the servant
observed the agitation which had sudden
ly overpowered his mistress, he was too
we'll trained to manifest the least surprise
and quietly withdrew from the room.
closing the door behind him.
ooh, heaven! is it you, Mark Dillon?
thought you dead-I-''
She had risen while speaking the above
words, but the hoarse whisper in which
she uttered them died to Silence before
she had finished, and Dora Austin fell
heavily forward in a dead swoon at the
strangers feet.
The sound of her fall was quickly fol-
lowed by that of an opening door at
the further end of the room, as Mr..
AUSTIN model wearing a startled look
on her beautiful face, hurried in from the
adjoining studio. But the strangers
back was turned to her as he bent over
the PROSTATE figure of Dora.
Nor was he aware of the woman's pres
ence IN the apartment until she touched
him on the shoulder, and in rather timid
voice said, SIS the lady i'll, sir? I was in
the next room, and heard Heavens,
Mark you here i"
"Ellen!' The man had suddenly
turned his face toward the speaker, while