Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-02-27

formation that the salon WOulo De !
thrown open on the morrow, but |
through the kindness OF a friend, a |
member of the academy. he had obtained |
permission to take his friends there on |
that afternoon, and he would call at
three for them. To be thus favored
seemed to have a noticeable effect on
the whole party, and it is almost need
less to say they were in readiness some
minutes before the time appointed for
the start. Marie gave several express
sions of her enjoyment during her drive
to the gallery, and by the time the build
ing was reached she was the happiest OF
the party.
An hour or more was spent in the de-
partments of sculpture and drawing, and
nearly an hour in the grand gallery
where the paintings we're exhibited. 1t
was understood thrsInis was but fiy-
ing visit; they would give a day to each
of the departments later in the season.
1t was getting late in the afternoon
when M. Meunier suggested that they
should go to the water.color department
his favorite room, he expressed it.
Marie was beginning to show signs of
fatigue, but of course she would oblige
him.
After the pictures on one side of the
room had been hurriedly examined, and
the party finding they would be late for
dinner unless they made haste, M. Meu-
nier proposed to cross to the opposite
side to see famous picture, and then
they would depart.
"Why, what is the matter with
Mariep See, she is illr' came the quick
words from Mrs. Lovejoy, who was the
first to notice her blanched face as she
stood like monument with eyes riveted
on the picture which their escort had
taken them to see-the picture of
country mill with its pond at the side
and single arched bridge spanning the
stream as it crossed the roadway as if in
a hurry to get away from the ponder0us
wheel which but a moment before had
made use of it. Marie would have fallen
to the floor had not the two gentlemen
made haste in supporting her.
A few minutes later she was assisted
to the carriage, and the driver was told
to lose no time in reaching the hotel, a
mile distant. On the way Mrs. Ostrander
came out OF her swoon sufficiently to
realize that her friends were deeply dis
tressed about her.
at was only sudden attack of
heart trouble, something she was SUBJ
iect to-" she said.
She was taken to her apartment i'm
mediately on arriving at the hotel, and
her friends who had accompanied her
upstairs, fearing that she was going to
to be seriously i'll, we're told to have no
alarm. No, it was unnecessary to call
a physician" she said. Mrs. Lsycjoy
remained with her until midnight, when
her patient fell into sound sleep.
The next morning Marie was trifle
late at breakfast, and when she came
down it was noticed that her face which
had begun to have some color IN 1t, was
still quite pale, but she appeared quite
cheerful, and inquired after their friend,
but made no allusion TO the occurrence
of the day before.
Early that afternoon he called to in
quire after the health of Mrs. Ostrander,
and she went alone TO their private re-
!. eeption room to see him, her COM
panions being absent on shopping trip
He was delighted to find her able to
see him, and hoped she had fully re-
covered. Had he kept them too long at
the academy
Mrs. OstTander assured him that such
} was not the case, and when asked If she
enjoyed the visit, aside from her illness,
} she replied that until they went to the
2 water-color department it had been very
e pleasant. She then, in answer to q
l second Interrogation, told him that the
| sight of the picture of the old mil
= brought up an unpleasant remembrance
s which, she was frank to say, was in g
= Measure the cause of her fainting.
How peculiar" said he, that thai
| picture of all should tend to make one
. i'll. On the contrary that was the mos
v noted work of art in the entire collec
t tion. Why" he continued, that is th'
e masterpiece Of Hart, the eminent water
color artist, who was taking all Europ
e by storm by his brush. 1t had takel
the grand prize, and its value in itsel
e was fortune. Had she never heard o
d Jerome Hartp He was an American
l. he believed"
s q have heard of him." she replie'
d family, and then she asked to be eX
3 cused as she was afraid that she wa
e going to have headache, and Mr.. an
e Mrs. Lovejoy coming in at that momen
h relieved the gentleman of embarrass
r ment.
.e lis it destinyP" Marie murmured. q
is she threw herself upon the sofa in he
IS room, and gave way to the tears whic
st she had kept from the gaze of MI
t. Meunier during part of their short II
terview by only the greatest exertiol
t. She took her tea and breakfast will
T. out going down, and when Mrs. Low,
IN 10y came to her room for the Third {
e. fourth time she was assured that it WI
only headache, and that she would
of down in time for lunch at noon. :.
is That afternoon she thought she d
il, not feel well enough to 60 out with M
er and Mrs. Lovejoy, and consequent
ke they started alone.
ge AS soon as they had departed Mar
to hastened to her room and dressed +
going out, and in less than half ho
ed she entered cab, which was in waitil
nd for her, having been ordered by one
a the hotel attendants, and drove
. alone, going direct to the academy
it She crowded her way through t
nd immense throng until she stood befc
nd the picture of the old mill. Yes, the
ter was the same cipher before her that s
at had seen six years before. To be 81
re. it was not the same picture, but
nd same scene in larger form and me
to minute in detail and finish; but it "
pes the same to her.
Int AS she stood there it had another
so tent admirer, she thought, although
surging column of people at her bs
Mr.. made general expressions OF comm
to as they passed it. 1t was gentlem
ned she could see without raising her ey
int and when she did look up she found t
em his gaze was not directed on the pict
and but at her.
hat "At lastw were the only words
red spoke, as he grasped both her hands
on, his.
ho- Mrs. Ostrander had an escort on
ven homeward ride, and before he had
as the hotel it had all been explain
-. Ii L. n Il rnn,, hnr Of tho littln " II