The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-04-08

beckoning to shadowy Dante. Agnes
mao concentrated the labor, ambition
and hopes OF ayear's application in this
bold attempt, had entered the lists val,
tAnfly Tor exhibition in the Nationali
Academy Of Design, and suffered the
cruel blow Of REJECTION. Beyond was
an Ophelia with yellow hair, who had
shared similar fate the previous year.
These lovely heroines languished in the
obscurity of the glass piazza, without
ever having met the approving smile
Of an appreciative public. oh, the cold
selfishness of the world, and the will
full blindness of hanging committees
and art critics! For the first time Agnes
found the smile of Beatrice insipid,
and her gaze vacant. A doubt chilled
Ter heart. Quickly she turned the
picture to the wall, and sought the case
ment, gazing forth into the night rath-
er than longer contemplate her own
work.
The piazza, located in the rear of the
noisy avenue, overlooked the houses of
the next street. These residences were
aristocrstic in proportion IS their neigh
bora were humble. A high brick wall.
bordered by q vine Of wistaria, inclosed
stable and garden of the mansion oppo-
site, while brilliant lights within re-
vealed q conservatory to the observer.
The light came through curtains of silk
and lace in q more remote drawing
room, where the chandelier was visible,
like . great golden cone, and slanted
across the conservatory, resting here on
. frond Of quiyering fern, and there on
q mass of gorgeous blossoms. At the
same time the ripping melody of q
piano, touched by . skillful hand, reached
the ear of this lonely spectator, who
looked down on all this luxury, gayety
and life not so much with q sting Of
envy as a crushing, overwhelming sense
of personal failure.
The night was clear. stars sparkled in
the nkyss above, and radiance of q
full moon began to illuminate the city
roofs.
A girl entered the conservatory. ap-
preached a sash, and opened it, leaning
out to discoverfhe moon. She wore q
pink dress. with soft white lace on neck
and arms; a. jewel fiasked in her hair
Turning &side from the window, her
ing plant, she overturned it, and it fell
outside the window With q crash of
broken pottery. Tho girl uttered a
little cry Of dismay. glanced down on
the wreck she had occ1sioned moment,
than withdrew her head. and closed the
s6lA The Plank an onbhoot Of the
49Ersnoe, remained on the ledGa where
4 I'D fallen. .S
Now the silk curtains ssp6rafod, ind
gdnflemsn Joined her. he Whg d tan
and slender young man in evening
dress. with o Hover in his button-hole,
and he tossed aside . cigarette as he
approached
"Ehers i one for WHOM life Is for
tunaee,s muDed the artist. How
readily can picture him attaining ma
tuf1ty. smiling and good-humored, and
growing old in that charming home,
surrounded by friendsr'
The girl had clasped her hands on
the young mans arm, and gazed up
into his face. He responded to this
thoughtful scrutiny by touching her
hair lightly. caressingly, with his lips,
and then speaking, with q careless
laugh:
.Well, have consented to go to
Minnesota for the winter, May. Such
nonsense as it is! I should prefer Paris
or Italy. A mere trifle of q cough, and
all the doctors looking 30 wise and
glum. They rejoice to secure case,'
I Isuppose." -
May disengaged her hands from his
arm, and plncked camellia- Her face
was as untroubled as his own. sI.i
81 shall return in the spring for our
wedding, ,dearest," he continued.
What a weather-roughened giant you
win have for q bridegroom =.
Henry, take me with you," she
pleaded, softly. Do not go away all
alone, dear Let US be married to-
morrow"
without the Worth trousseau, ma
nsignonne, and great reception?" he
questioned, half mockingly.
You should be gallant, and say
something about beauty unadorned,' -
said May. tossing the camellia at him.
man clouded, the rich color in his
made his lip tremble.
my noble girl! my good little
wifer' he whispered. folding her close
ly in his embrace.
Agnes Clement witnessed this scene
without divining all its significance, and
tender smile dawned on her own face.
The homely devotion of Sister Anne to
her husband in her cabbage-scented do
minions did not touch her. The meeting
Of the two young people in the conserv-
atorY moved her profoundly. Was moi
her artistic taste gratified by their
beauty, the light shed through the silk
curtains behind them, tho rosy simmer
OF the girls draperies, and the shadow
of exotic plants meeting above theil
headsP She remained there motionless
long after the pair had disappeared
which still rested on the ledge. Thu
stone-work blanched. in contrast the
delicate white blossoms to snow, and
the moonbeams touched each petal with
q silvery luster, until the spray resem
bled the lilies of the Medici chapel il
the Church of SIS. Annunziata at Flor
ence. The plant had been cast out intt
the frosty night, to die and be forgotten
in the cold purity of the moonlight
and beneath the oruel brilliAncy of tn,
distant stars. II she could have res
cued It from such . death by stretching
forth her hand. she would have dom
j 90; but she was powerless to avert evil
Slowly she returned to her room. ex
tinguished the gas and sought forget
fulness in sleep. The Journal contain
ing the advertisements of Lang & Co
remained ON the floor, where she ha,
thrown 1t down at an earlier hour.
Next morning her first thought wa
of the neglected plant. Had it sur
vived the nighte What had become O
itp She hastened to her post of observ
alton of the previous evening. tn
conservatory sparkled in the morninI
light, and the plant remained on tn
cornice ledge. Yes, it had perishe
during the night, cast forth from it
home in the bslmy hot-house. Alread
the leaves were shriveled and black
ened, the spray of blossoms droope
wan and ghostly in the dawn, retainin
the rose-tints of O shell. As Agne