The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-12-24
ALEXANDRIA, LA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER "A, 1879

way some one was playing an old
love melody more sompitic than ex
citing, aud away down the quiet
street the rumble Of wheels and roar
of steam came to her in dreamy
confusion Of sounds. A
"James is late" she murmured,
and then her. .honghts wandered to.
ward the great picture she meant to
paint, the subject of which she had
already chosen. TIA; @ d
"a She would portray passionate,
white browed Hero, vague but stat
uesque, clothed in clouds of star.ess.
mist, standing on the coast of stor-
my Hellespont watching the death
struggles of the fearless but doomed
Leander. The unknown color Of the
fated Leantler's locks had become
confusedly tangled with the shiny,
silly, black fringe Of the embroidered
mantle when her young husband up
peared shifting with the smiling, su.
preme satifaetion of a tired and hun
cry. man, the aroma of Bohea and
odor of palatable viands. izsI
But somehow the meal Was oddly
satisfactory. g James was singularly
silent, and Edith could not think OF
nothing but that marvellous mantle
that sierhad determined to possess
lon the coming morrow. ze9.!,!rif t ~
Bat wien once she had exchan ged
their modest little hoard for. the
wonderful garment, she was not hap
py. Beautiful as itawas wrapped
about her pretty shoulders, it seemed
to press against her heart slike a
burden filling her soul with unrest
and reproaches-a sense Of guilt and
duplicity and unpaid debt, than
which nothing can be more humilia-
ting when thercreditor be the best
and dearest and most trusting of all
the world.
But when her conscience troubled
her most, Editha turned to her pic
ture for comfort.
$ Her work did not progressively
fencouragingly, however. She was
not quite sure whether. the wa'ers OF
Ethe aHellespont were golden or pur.
|ple, azure'o or black, nor whether He
70 should stand on PERCEPTIONS cliff
or level beach, nor whether gondola
or cat boat should break the treary
tline between wave and sky.
And there were moresgrievous per
plexities also. The grocer's basket
came too often between her fancy
and the face OF this drowning lover,
the butchers rubicund visage often
spoiled her rare moments of inspira-
ton, and bro,ling chops and brewing
soups was not altogether harmonious
with the exalted Imagination Of tile
studio. SOS
| ''If I should make art a profession
should be compelled to give up my
domestic duties entirely" was her
sage mental comment. But this pic
ture will be my last. lam glad it is
finished"
Completed and finely framed, she
submitted its fate to a dealer, antici
fpating a speedy recompense for her
labors. :" k-l.. ess al.
Lettering unseen in an obscure
nook of the place, she heard some
thing that startled and stunned her.
"She3 lis a pretty little, WON an, y
the dealer was saying, "but her Ego
tism. and ignorance are astonishing.
One. would no sooner offer for sale
that conglomeration ofcolor than the
carpenters $, sign board over yonder.''
An amused laugh followed, and as
the speaker turned away, Editha
slipped quietly out into. the. street.
Il shall never wear that hateful
MANTLE she gasped, choking down
a fearless sob. Il will sell it or pawn
it, for until that money, is replaced, 1
can el fpe honestly. meet the eyes 81
my husband again" .5s.,,, rag
1. R b tn, her elegant. property proved
unsaleable, and the autocrat behind
the shree.go!den balls was scarcely
less pliab'e than the crheorions critic
Of her painted Tragedy of the Hell.