River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-06-10

model there with an ancient toga about
it; plaster hands, foot, face, old ar
NOR d Malay creese, aryed chair, q
faded shawl.
Francia, looked about curiously
enough, and then started back with a
cry. She was looking at-herself!
The artist had not expected such a
visitor, or he would have turned that
picture to the wall. 1t was Francia in
the dim blue dress, but he had painted
her as Juliet III the balcony. About
her round, young neck were three strings
of pearl The blue silk was cut square
in the neck, and some sort of a white
under-robe came up to the throat and
was pulled with blue bands across the
rounded, plump young arms, which
were covered to the wrist with tightly
fitting blue sleeves. Through the mass
es of blonde hair blue ribbon was care
lesslv drawn. She leaned her elbows on
the grav stone of the balcony and rest
ed her cheek against her two slender
! clasped hands. Her face was pale and
there was an inexpressihle sadness about
/ the small mouth, and unshed tears in
/ the eyes, over which the lids dropped
| heavily. You see she thought of her
/ absent lover. Life at that moment look
ed hard and drear to her. A word
would make those lips tremble and
| tears fall
! ''HOw ike you, and vet how different"
exclaimed Thorne, in a matter of fact
i way. How did he ever see that eX-
preston in your face? How could YOU
paint such Il heartbreak there?"
II don't know, | do not see how he
! painted me ut all, as | never sat to
him." Francia said, staring at the pic
ture in nm uncomfortable way 1t was
| so like that ii seemed to her az if some
| time that look must come TO her, as If
She would verify it by having some
| heartbrcak to complete the likeness.
| Francia shivercd little with apprchcn-
| sion and turned away.
II will buy that picture" Thorne was
saying in the assured way in which
| milhonaires are wont to speak. Here
is something he spoke to me about the
| other day" continued Thorne, ''and
said | would come and look at it. Do
you know have found a change in him
lately. There was something curious,
vague, and drear i'll his eyes. wonder
if he was not in want? | know there
came very eager look in his eyes
when | spoke as if | might possibly buy
his picture. Poor fellow! / don't know
much about these things, but it strikes
me there are elements of greatness in
it,"
The picture was a large one of Prone
theus Bare cold rock uphfted high
and above heaven full of thunderous
glooms. A desolate sky above desc
late sea, as if both were in league with
fate and in this atmosphere of doom
lay that awful figure chained to the
barren rock--that face of untold agony,
Yet cOntemptuOus,s cornful, bold-those
awful eyes turned to the unrelenting
heaven, those wordless lips eloquent
with despair.
Il will take it, said Mr.. Thorne, after
pause. ''It is not To say cheerful but
/ feel that it is great Yes; l will take
this struggling young fellow by the
hand. / will foster his genius; he shall
60 to some for a couple Of years, if he
likes. He can repay me with his
painting. When get a home of my
own | shall need a good many"
1T would be noble work to help
him, said Francia. with pretty blush,
which made her companion look at her
instead Of at any other picture.
He does not come" he said;
che does not know what good fortune
looking tired. Why may | not say
here some words that l have been long
ing to say for week or two? p
4 i
not object.
These shadowy people will not inter
rupt Us, said Thone, with compre-
hcnsive gesture towards the pictures.
"When | think of future home, l
think of you, Francia You would
grace any home, however stately VIII
you share mine?'
1t was an odd sort of love-making, the
girl thought, and yet she had dwelt so
much on material things, why should
they not be offered instead of hearts
and undying love and signs and vows?
Chester Thorne came nearer, and
took her hand.
You would make me very happy if
YOU could care for me in that way" he
went on, some eagerness coming into
his tune II have money, as you know
but that is not everything. / want
YOU cannot be happy without YOU
Well. that was something, Francla
thought. with a stir of gratified vanity
at her heart She wished Mr.. Thorne
had chosen some other place, for it still
seemed as if the artists presence was
there. The room must be full of his as
pirations, as he had called them, his
dreams his soul.
Perhaps that prevented the answer
that rose to her ready lips; or was it the
sudden CLEAN of the afternoon sun that
seemed to push through the dim cur
tains and irradiate the room. 1t fell II
the old china the armor and the LACE on
the stiff wooden model; on the faded
Gohelin tapestry of the alcovc; on the
strange effigy within, hanging from a
beam All! the light sought that out
with terrible power The smile froze
on Francia's lips. \ horror sprang into
her eyes Her face paled as she point
ed with trembling hand to the strange
spectre
HE has hung himself" she moaned,
with stittcning lips.
Thorne sprang forward, gave one
glance of horror, and then took her
hand.
Come" he said, lit is no place for
you"
She shivcrcd. She did not look back.
'He Is dead" she muttered; 'and |
loved him.
The Usher Sometimes Nuisance.