Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-06-15
The Guard Above the Heart.

"t believe I have given all the orders,
Alma, just as you wished. Ihe httle
library is already arranged with the last
little bracket and statue In place; the
dining room and kitchen with china.
silver, linen and superb old.fashioned
sideboard, just as you directed, have ev-
erything in place. And your room.
how I wish you could go and see tit
is beautiful. There can be no greater
harmony than the blending blue-and-
gold furnishing of that ROOM"
"You are very good, Arthur"
"Thanks, Alma but not half so good
as you in loving me so tenderly and 10y
ally. But I was bothered about one
thing, sweet"
"What was it ?"
"Your writing desk. 1t is such gem.
I don't believe you can ever write any,
thing but poetry at it. ] could not get
place in the library for it to suit me.
This light was too sharp, and that light
too dull. [ fancied it needed soft, mel
low light, so set it in your room, and
will leave you to arrange place for it.
I fatter myself that everything else will
please you" 41s
1.-THE pictures 2"
"They are all hung. T can hardly tell
you now where each one is. The Bea-
trice Cenci hung over the library door
which enters to your room."
"Why, what made you give it such
poor place as that ?"
"For just one little reason of my own.
Her great, sad, suffering, patient eyes
are duplicates OF your avn. SO l have
hung it there as sign to me that the
door beneath it opens to place wherein
the goddess of my life presides also that
when the door is shut, your face shall
still look down upon me, and follow me
with monrnful and grss-asei tender
ness"
Though your love and fancy, Arthur,
make my eyes to- day as luminous as
Psyche's, perhaps tomorrow those that
love me most may forget, or Wish to for
get, that ever existed; for who can de-
termine now whether Psyche, the very
idol Of all my poets, was reality or
DREAM"
"But to- morrow you will become all
the reality of my life shall ever know or
wish, for tomorrow, when the priest
has had his service and the witnes nave
written thelr osAles, ane your dainty
anger mas a new ring upon it, I shall
set you down in the pretty gold.and-
blue room where Beatrice keeps guard.
Then you shall dismiss or retain the
historical sentinel as you please, 4or you
phall I'LL all nly to-,rogroE7s with your
own sweet self.'
He took both her slender white hands
in parting, and said:
"Remember we are to be promptly at
the church st four. Good bye, sweet,
till then"
Her eyes filed with tears, and she
olung to him tenderly as if size would
not have him go; but she only said:
"NVell, Arthur, let Beatrice stay where
she Is, and whenever yon lccc2:.ts at ner,
think o. no, i you will"
This last so low that he did not hear.
But he went on busy and happy with
thoughts of his wedding day.
Alma stood still until the door closed
behind him; then g:ls;s 3,,saFat' nes hands
alu c.ien:
"Who am 1? What am I? that 1
should deceive such manu
When Arthur went on the morrow
where the merry guestl were assembled
for the wedding, the white robed bride
was gone ); but in her rGorl wag found .
note for arthur IeIoy. which read:
"a rthGr, forgive me. ! have not
meant to deceive you. How it has all
come about hardly know any better
| than yourself. But true it is that when
you read this, shall be the wife of an
other. Farewell, and may your noble
heart find forgetfulness OF ALMA"
Five years after, Arthur Leroy was
standing watching the client, dark-eyed,
piot4re5aNe sr2V2, which sat on the gray
stepS of the Trinita di Monte in Rome.
While he stood and lacked, a tail, grace
| ful Woman, dressed in mourning, came
down the street and stood beside him.
She glanced hurriedly at the same group
which his own eyes were scrutinizing.
Arthur was pursuing his artistic
studies ct Rome, and was searching lora
1aoGal. phewauan beside him was upon
similar erTand. She, however, seemed
to find none among the group to suit
her, and she started to go. AS she turn
ed, their gIances met, Arthur and Alma
were face to face. Her eyes were sadder
than ever, and her garb was weeds Of
mourning.
~ rt4ur ~ sac exclaimed, III surprise,
holding out her white, slender hand.
The blood receded from lis face and
left it white as marble. The old life and
the OLD pain surged back. He took the
hand she extended and said, in a cold,
cruel voice:
Mrs. Russell, 1 am glad to meet you
here. In search of model, toe 81
EYES," she said, in 6. Voice watch lad
a peroeSt.bie culver; "but have found
/ noae to suit MY purposes. l am going
now to the Plaza di Spagna. Won't you
join me and tell me how you are and
how you have been? ?"
He walked beside her as she started
off saying:
"Thanks. AS to how / ar4 now
well how | have Saa31--4 have forgot
teG.;,
The felt the little thrust; but 1t was
easy for heg woman's wit to parry it by
saying. with her old ndiUette of manner:
"Well, you see the influence of your
taste has had its influence on me. I
have turned artist myself"
"Ynu did not have to turn artist Won
were always one by natUra.i.i.
She saw clearly 2nO,tl,h thab tue steel
wGs Qtili IN this mans soul. She had
! placed it there, aad she resolved; to pluck
it out at once.
list" ''7 '
'I never knew till
Nor did I know it myself" said she
interruDting him, 'till Mr.. EUsgai,'s
death, two years sssc, VAea I Was left
allnass st Tt,s:qul,t fsleans Of resources of
She paused. but tho announcement of
the death of the man who had robbed
Arthur Leroy of his bride, drew no COM
ment from his set lips. She had long
ago taught him to endure surprise in
silence.
"Then came here to study to learn,
if can, the dream'toil o. sn a;tist's
| "tn which calling you have my best
wishes foT your success, and my services
always at your command" he said, with
unfelgned sincerity.
Your good wishes, Arthur, are CRATE
full to me, and [ shall be only too glad
to avail myself of your valuable sugges-
tionss, it-if l may only know that am
forgiven"
"Yo,. are forgiven. But do not for
get. Everything which L put into your
room is there yet untouched. From that
day to this hour the doors have been
locked; the long curtains at the wiz
dows are drawn down the blinds are
closed, and q deep shadow rests upon all
within. SO tne doors, and windows are