The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-18

| he said. "He has painted her soul-and his


The figure near them stirred-the woman's
hand crept up to the windows side and chung
to the wooden frame.
But she did not turn, and was standing SO
when the strangers moved away, opened the
door and passed, with heads still uncovered,
down the dark riekety stairs.
A tiercer cold had never frozen Paris than
held it Ice and snow-bound through this day
and the next. When the next came to Its close
all was over, and the studios were quiet
again-perhaps little quieter Tor o few hours
than was their won't
Through this second day Natalie lived
slowly through the first part OF the morning
In which people went heavily UP and down the
stairs; through the later hours when she
heard them Whispering among themselves
upon the landings; through the hour when Z, tne
footsteps that came down were heavier still,
and slower and 1mpeded with some burden
borne with care: through the moment when
they rested with this burden upon the landing
outside her very door, and inside she crouched
against the Notwithstanding.
Then it was done, and upon those upper
floors there was no creature but herself
She had lighted no fire and eaten nothing.
She had neither food, fuel, nor money. ALI
was gone.
CRY, and that would rather be colder than
| warmer"
She did not wish for warmth, even when
night fell and brought more biting iciness
She sat by her window In the dark until the
moon rose and, though shudders shook her
from head to foot she made no effort to gain
warmth. She heard but few sounds from
below. But she waited until all was still be-
fore she left her place.
But at midnight perfect silence had settled
upon the house, and she got up and left her
room, leaving the key unturned In the lock.
Tomorrow, or the day after, perhaps she
said, "they will wish to go. in Then she
went up the stairs for the last time.
had ard hnu1tx fI,Stfl ntnnrs-
Ing with their burden past her door singu-
lar calm had settled upon her. 1t was not
apathy so much as q repOse born OF the
knowledge that there was nothing more to
bear-no future to be feared.
But when she opened the door OF the little
room this calmness was for a moment lost
It was so cold, SO still, SO bare in the MOON
light which streamed through the window
and flooded 1t. There were left In 1t only two
things-the narrow, vacant bed covered with
its white sheet, and the easel on which the
picture rested, gazing out at her from the can
vas with serene, mysterious eyes.
She staggered forward and sank down be-
fore it, uttering low, terrible cry.
"Do not reproaeh mel" she cried. There
is no longer need. Do you not sect This is
my expiationT
For while there was dead silence again.
She cr0lched before the easel with bowed
ing no stir or sound. But at length she rose
again. numbly and stiffiy. She stood up
and glanced slowly about her-at the bare
ness, at the moonlight, at the narrow, white
draped bed.
cit will be very cold" she whispered as she
moved toward the door. 1T will be-very
cold"
And then the little room was empty, and
the face upon the easel turned toward the en-
trance seemed to listen to her stealthily de-
scending feet.
The next morning, the two artists who had
visited the dead mans room together were
neutrality-suspicious. again-upon the banks
of the Seine, when they found themselves
drawing near crowd of men and women who
were gathered at the waters edge.
what has happened2' they asked as they
approached the group. What has been
foundn
cheerful fellow In q blue blouse, standing
with his hands In his pockets, answered:
"a woman. Ma fol what night to drown
oneself ini Imagine the discomfort"
The older man pushed his way into the
center, and moment later uttered an ex-
clamation.
mon Dieul'
"What is it," cried his companion.
His friend turned to him breathlessly, point
ing to what lay upon the frozen earth.
eve asked each other who the original OF
the picture was" he said. 1--WE did not know
The face lies there. LookY
For that which life had denied her death
had given,