The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-02-26

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their stopping place, and minute later
the three Americans were in high glee,
for their benefactor had brought the in
formation that the s8lon would be
thrown open on the morrow, but
through the kindness of friend,
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 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
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 were exhibited. It
was understood that this was but fly
ing visit; they would give 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 tavorite 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
| Moriop Coo ho 10 I'll ,t1
words from Mrs. Loveioy, 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 sing le arched bridge spanning the
stream as it crossed the roadway as if in
a hurry to get away from the ponderous
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.
" 1t was only sudden attack of
heart trouble, SON ething she was sub
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. Levejoy
remained with her until midnight, when
her patient fell into sound sleep.
The next morning Marie was trihe
late at breakfast, and when she came
down it was noticed that her face which
had begun to have some color in it, 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-
cepton room to sec him, her COM
panions being absent on a 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. Ostrandor assured him that such
was not the case, and when asked fshe
enjoyed the visit, aside from her illness,
she replied that until they went to the
water-color department it had been very
pleasant She then, in answer to a
second interrogation, told him that the
:. sight of the picture of the old mill
brought up an unpleasant remembrance
which, she was frank 10 say, was in a
m easure the cause of her fainting.
How peculiar said he, "that that
picture of all should tend to make one
i'll. On the contrary that was the most
noted work of art in the entire collec-
ton. Why" he continued, "that is the
masterpiece of Hart, the eminent water
color artist, who was taking all Europe
by storm by his brush. 1t had taken
the grand prize, and its value in itself
was fortune. Had she never heard of
Jerome Hartp He was an American,
he believed"
- have heard of him." she replied
family. and then she asked to be ex-
cused as she was afraid that she was
going TO have headache, and Mr.. and
Mrs. LovejOy coming in at that moment
relieved the gentleman of embarrass-
ment.
- Is it destinyp" Marie murmured. rs
she threw herself upon the sofa in her
room, and gave way to the tears which
she had kept from the gaze of Mr..
Meunier during part of their short in
terview by only the greatest exertion.
She took her tea and breakfast with
out going down, and when Mrs. Love-
joy came to her room for the third or
fourth time she was assured that it was
only headache, and that she would be
down in time for lunch at noon.
That afternoon she thought she did
not feel well enough to go out with Mr..
and Mrs. Lovejoy, and consequently
they started alone.
AS soon as they had departed Marie
hastened to her room and dressed for
going out, and in less than half hour
she entered cab, which was in waiting
for her, having been ordered by one of
the hotel attendants, and drove off
alone, going direct to the academy
She crowded her way through the
immense throng until she stood before
the picture of the old mill. Yes, there
was the same cipher before her that she
had seen six years before. To be sure
it was not the same picture, but the
same scene in larger form and more
minute in detail and finish; but it was
the same to her.
AS she stood there il had another in
tent admirer, she thought, although the
surging column of people at her back
made general expressions of comment
as they passed it. 1t was gentleman,
she could see without raising her eyes,
and when she did look up she found that
his gaze was not directed on the picture
but at her.
"At lastl" were the only words he