The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-01

for her womau's wit to parry it bv saving
with her olds ndioete of manner: 0
swell, you see the influence of your
taste had its influence on me. have
turned artist myself" ..gg
"You did not have to turn artist: YOU
were always one by nature"
She saw clearely enough that the steel
was still in this mans soul. She had
placed It there, and she resolved to pluck
it out at once.
"But you never told me was an artist"
81 never knew till"--
"Nor did I know it myself" said she,
interrupting him, s'till Mr.. Russell's death
two years ago, when I was left almost
without means or resources of any kind"
She paused; but the announcement of
the death of the man who had robbed
Arthur Leroy Of his bride drew no com
ment from his set lips. She had long
ago taught him to endure surprises in 81
lence.
"Then l came here to study; to learn,
if can, the dream toll of an artists life"
I'm which calling you have my best
wishes tor your success, and my services
always at your command" he said, with
unfeigned sincerity. LIS.
"Your good wishes, Arthur, are CRATE
full to me, and shall be only too glad TO
avail myself of your valuable suggestions,
Tiff I may only know that am forgiv-
en-"
"You are forgiven. But do not for
get. Everything which put into your
room is there vet untouched. From that
| day to this hour the doors have been
locked; the long curtains at the windows
are drawn down, the blinds are closed,
and deep shadow rests upon all within.
So the doors and windows, and curtains
are closed about the memory in my heart.
The shaoow rested there also long time.
But tomorrow it will be lifted. The
Beatrice brought with me. I put it
above my door here in Rome as an en-
blem of the guard which you had taught
me to set upon my heart. At last have
found one pair of eyes more luminous
among the shadows than are those of
Beatrice or Psyche. On tomorrow the
| picture above my door and the guard
above my heart will be taken down and
the light of the new eyes will enter in"
She was in doubt as to his meaning.
Was he purposely obscure2 Was he talk
ing of the old love? She took it for
granted.
''Ged bless you, Arthur" she said; Il
do not deserve as much as you accord2"
''For the old loves sake, for the grand
| and beautiful Alma
She started as he called her name. He
had not done SO before. She laid her
hand upon his arm, and said in a low,
tender voice, as her eyes filled with tears:
"Arthur!n
swat moment, please, he resumed :;
''for the sake Of Alma which soas, her lit
tie room, which my love made for her,
shall never be opened while live. She
cast the shadow upon it; / shall never lift
it. To. morrow I shall be married to Miss
Bruce. Size is an artist too.''
The hand up on his arm trembled, ana
the queenly woman at his side grew dead
ly pale, and swayed slightly forward as
they walked. He drew the hand more
securely through his arm and added:
''Will you pause at the di Spagna, or shall
[ see you to your hotel?"
"We will go on, you please. Thanks
for your kindness"
Then, after pause. she said: "You
have been frank and just, Arthur. The
tenderest are the cruelest. don't know
how it is, but we have both proved it.
May God forgive us both, and bless you
always"
Five years have rolled the dusty wheels
over that sad day when Arthur and Alma
met and parted at Rome.
| He is with his wife in Scotland. She
has become famous and rich, and is back
at her old home Often when the DAYS
are fair, tall, queenly woman is driven
slowly through certain street, and from
her open phaeton looks up curiously,
revcrently, tenderly to the windows of a
house which have not been opened for ten
years. The blinds are covered with dust.
The curtains, and all the pretty blue-and-
gold furnishings are crumbling under
the immovable shadow within. But the
old love is only a memory now, covered
with years. The rainbow tinted aspira-
tions which were set within it once have
! given place to the solid colors of calm
| smooth life without.-Potter's american
| Monthly. ...-