Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-25

fOrmutlOn that tne salon 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 mt
three for them. To be thus favored
seemed to have a noticeable effect on
the whole party, and 1t Is almost need
less 10 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 were exhibited. 1t
was understood that this was but fly
ing visit; they would give day TO each
Of the departments later in the season.
It was getting late in the afternoon
when M. Meunier suggested that they
should go to the water color department
- his favorite room, he expressed 1t.
Marie was beginning to show signs of
fatigue, but oil 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, NJ. Mcu-
nier proposed to cross to the opposite
side to see n famous picture, and then
they would depart.
"Why, what is the matter with
MarieP See. she is i'll" came the quick
words from Mrs. Lovejoy, who was the
first to notice her blanched face as she
stood like monument with eyes riveied
on the picture which their escort had
taken them to see-the picture of n
country mill with its pond at the side
and a single arched bridge spanning the
stream as il crossed the roadway as If in
a hurry to get away from the pondereus
wheel which but n moment before had
made use of 1t. 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, Il
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
ect 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. were told TO have no
alarm. mo, ii was unnecessary TO call
physician" she said. Mrs. Loveioy
remained with her until midnight, when
her patient fell into n sound sleep.
The next morning Marie was a trifle
late at breakfast. and when she came
down it was noticed that her face which
! md begun TO have some color in IL. was
still quite pale, but she appeared quite
| cheerful, and inquired after their friend,
bui made no allusion TO the occurrence
of the day before.
Early that afternoon he called 10 in
quire after the health Of Mrs. Ostrander,
and she went alone TO their private re-
| ception 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. Ostrander 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
water-color department il had been very
| pleasant. She then, in answer TO n
second interrogation. told him that the
| sight of the picture of tho old mill
brought up an unpleasant remembrance
which, she was frank 10 say, was in n
measure 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-
tion. Why" he continued, that is the
masterpiece of Hart, the eminent water
color artist, who was taking all Europe
| by storm By his brush. It had taken
the grand prize, and It's 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 n headache. and Mr.. and
Mrs. Lovejoy coming In ut that moment
relieved the gentleman of embarrass-
ment.
"Is Il destinyP" Marie murmured. as
she threw herself upon the sofa i'm 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 1t was
only n headache, and that she would be
down In time for lunch mt noon.
That afternoon she thought she did
not feel well enough to go out with Mr.
and Mrs. Loveioy, and consequently
hey started alone.
As soon rs 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 cen ordered by one OF
the hotel attene ants, and drove of
alone, going direct 20 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 aaazt efw vaara haroTa r. -. -.