The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-03

mr. ARTlST'S LOVE.

IL was tlst IN the shadow OF the ruined
wall, which lowered above the blue shin
inc waters of the river, and when the
tide was high dropped down the long
trailing ivy vine to kiss the laughing
waves-they sat, two women! One, with
her arm resting upon broken column,
her dark eyes with the memory OF the
long ago stirring their brilliancy into
life, gazed afar out at the floating clouds,
her face a sad reflection of the past;
while the other, many years younger,
half knelt at her feet, and with a smile
upon her red lips, and the light of hope
in her glorious eyes, played with the
light moss upon the bank beside her.
t was perfect picture for the twi-
lisht crept in and fell across the fore
ground Just enough to bring the won
drous beauty into relief.
ro the artist eyes of Ralph Bertram,
vino, wandering down the river bank,
came upon them, it was perfect har-
mony of light and shade-an exact sub
ject for masterpiece. Then and there
he sat down and sketched until the dark
ness shrouded the whole and shut it from
his view. He took his sketch home and
for hours sat and gazed upon it enrap-
tured with the glorious beauty of the
faces. Who were they, or rather who
was she? Who was the girl with her
dreamy, happy face, and dark melting
eyes, with their hopefulness and trust?
When morning dawned, he went down
again to the rivers bank, and watched
and waited for hours; but they never
came. He inquired of every passer; but
no one knew them. One would say, "Ah,
yes, have seen them-two women, one
old and sad, the other young and happy.
do not know their names"
And another would declare he was
never aware of their existence; and thus
Ralph found his search a vain one. He
went on working day and night upon his
picture, and at last it was complete; and
when he went up to his studio in the city
and placed it there, his friends held up
their hands in dmiration and worshi ped
it, and before many days it found a place
in tile most renowned art gallery, and all
The world went crazy over it.
Thus Ralph Bertram became celebra-
ted, and orders came upon him faster
than he could fill them. He became the
lion of the season, and far and near his
praises were sung. But to him it was as
nothing when thoughts of his beloved
picture came, and hour after hour he sat
and gazed upon that beautiful face like
one entranced.
81 believe, Mr.. Bertram, that YOU are
positively in love with that young face!"
said belle, as she came upon him in the
gallery. "Was it from life, or your own
Imagination, that you painted it?'
"From life"
"Impossible 1t must have been a
dream! No living woman was ever blessed
with such beauty"
eyes, one"
The lady went away, and before night
one half the world was jealous Of
his picture, and declared him crazy.
at must be so, for no woman ever
possessed such rare beauty. 1t was a
dream, a mere halucination"
Bertram heard it and laughed. Per
chance the day might come when he
could bring this wondrous beauty before
them and convince them; and with this
hope he labored and sought her far and
wide.
It was a cold, bitter night, and round
the corners the wind swept, bringing
with it fitful gusts of hard, cutting sleet,
and penetrating to the bone every un-
fortunate being who CHANGED to be
abroad. Bertram came briskly down the
street from his studio, warmly wrapped
in a heavy coat, with vision of his
pleasant rooms before him, and lightly
humming an opera. He had turned
from the principal street, and was walk.
ing along where all was quiet, when he
suddenly came upon two women, who
stood near the iron railing in front of q
house.
"Mother," said one, ut is but little
further! Do try to keep up! Here, lear
OIL me. Mother, mother"
She was vainly trying to support the
sinking form; but not all her strength
could prevent her from falling Anc
Bertram sprang forward in time to re
we her in his strong arms as she fel
back.
"i "Miother, oh, my mother!' was the
wild, despairing cry.
"Don't be alarmed, miss, She has only
tainted. My abode is here, close at hand
and if You will assist me, / will taxi
your mother there"
The young woman obeyed him with
out word, and with her assistance Ralpl
bore the senseless form to his elegan
apartments. There was no light within
the room, and, after placing the inani
mate form upon the sofa, he lighted th'
gas. As the soft radiance shone through
The room, he sprang back with an excla
nation of surprise and delight. His pic
turea The face of his idolized ones! A
the sound the younger started up an(
looked toward him. How beautiful sh
was with her hat falling back and tn
damp waves of chestnut hair clinging t.
hor broad white forehead, and the grea
lustrous eyes fixed upon him in wonder
Bertram could not speak.
"My mother" she began, with quivel
fpr. J;r,c