The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-06-10

she almost expected to find some one
waiting for her: but all was still and
desolate.
They were dreary weeks that followed
the more dreary that she found a
heavy mortgage lay on the farm, aud
that when all things were cleared up,
there would be left to her but few hun
dred dollars.
''He will not care" she murmured.
''It will prove his love for me the more
The week after the funeral, set in the
first heavy snow-storm and the papers
told how it had spread from one end of
the country to the other.
Lena was almost barricaded in her
lonely home, but she sat all day, with
folded hands, looking upon the soft,
feathery flakes - watching the drifts
grow higher and higher-and knew that
it was all bringing summer to her heart.
The neighbors came to take her in
their sleighs, when the sun peeped out
again and all the earth was wrapped in
its white mantle They said that her
cheeks We're pale and her hands fever
fish, and that she must have more Of this
clear, bracing air.
But she shook her head and refused
to go. Could she leave the house, when
at any moment he might come? Besides
she had sent to him paper with the
announcement of her fathers death, and
this must surely hasten him.
But day succeeded day, until week
followed week, and still he neither came
nor sent her word. The snow-clouds
had formed and fallen many times, and
each time her heart grew sick with long
ing.
She loved him so wholly, she trusted
him so completely that she thought only
sickness or death could have kept him
| from her.
The hours dragged very slowly. Her
| little studio was neglected. She sat all
day, and every day, beside the window,
until one morning she wakened to know
that the first robin had returned and
the first breath Of spring was in the air.
He had failed to keep his promise to
her.
That same day they told her that the
farm must be sold. Many neighbors
offered her home, but she declined
them all.
A sudden resolution came to her. She
would go to the city where he lived.
Her pride forbade her seeking him, but
maybe, if he were not dead, as she often
feared, she might one day meet him in
| the street, or at least hear some news OF
him.
The hope Of meeting him-of hearing
| hin1-vanished, when she found herself
in the great metropolis, and realized its
size and immensity.
She had secured comfortable home
with o good, motherly woman, but her
purse was growing scanty, and she could
not tell how long it might hold out, nm
less she could find some means Of sup.
port, when one day, sauntering idly on
the street, glancing into a shop window,
she saw some fancy articles, painted by
hand.
Gathering up her courage, she went in
and asked il there was sale for that sort
of work, and if she might be allowed to
test her skill.
From that hour all dread Of want van
ished, and. now that hands were busy,
she found less time to brood and think;
II want fan painted, the man said
to her, one day. ''You may make an
original design, but it must be very
beautiful.
Leua's heart had been very sad all day
as, at evening, she unfolded the SATIN
and sat down, brush in hand, TO fulfil
this latest order.
ut is gift to an expectant bride,
the shopkeeper had said; and the wordl
had recalled all the long waiting, th'
weary disappointment, those words
might bring.
And, as she thought, she sketched
and the hours crept on and the evening
grew into night, and the night int
morning, and still she bent over he
work, silent, engrossed.
The next day, the gentleman who haC
given the order for the fan sauntered int
the store. With an air OF pardonahl'
satisfaction, the man drew it from tn
box.
"The young artist has outdone herself
sir" he said. 81 never saw NOR
beautiful piece of work, and the desigl
is entirely her own. i
But he checked his sentence.
The gentleman had taken the ian !
his hands, and was examining IT wit
startled eyes, and face from which ever
trace Of color had fled.
Could it be that the word Nemesl
was painted upon the satin? No, thi
was all he saw. On one side was
woodland scene, while, seated on 10
beneath the leafy branches OF an ol
oak. we're two figures, one man, an
one a woman. His arm was about he
! waist. Her lips seemed to move, he
! whole expression was full of love an
! trust. and his of promise. A little laugh
, ing stream ripppled at their feet.
bird sang overhead.
Where had he seen just such seer
, before? He turned the fan on the oth'
! side. Summer had vanished. It VI
winter here. Naught but the fast-fallln
! snow drifting in white heaps upon Il
/ earth.
e'Who painted this?" he asked,
D hoarse, changed tones.
e The man gave the name and addres
How we'll he had known It'll but he
- t..nA raFau