The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-11

my birth What did it matter. if was
happy?
One evening we were wandering beside
the river. gathering some ideas from Nature
to transfer to canvas We at length seated
ourselves in a grove at the waters edge
casting pebbles into the stream and watch
ing the effect. Clarisse sat silent for some
moments in dreamy mood, with her eyes
fixed upon the little ripples pulsing away
in the sunlight
1t was deep in October, and out upon
the bosom of the water the fallen leaves
drifted along, passing us by like riffs Of
crimson and gold petals
| sat and watched her, and loved her as
| had done for weeks.
At last she turned 10 me saying. Il have
been thinking of you, Mr.. Beyerly-think.
ing of how can repay You for your kind
ness and patience with me giddy girl
You have assisted me SO much; you cannot
know the depth of my gratitude. Last
evening mamma said We must return to
town in few DAYS. and our pleasant con
nections, and happy lessons must cease for,
Mr.. Beverly. have been 50 happy. learn
ing Of you to paint You said month age
that YOU would tell me some time now
could repay you. Tell me now.
Her ewes were fearful as she finished
speaking. 1t was a shock to me. bad
not thought Of this return; and yet | might
have known it. was SPECIFICS for q
moment. AZ las, | turned to her. drawing
her close To me and whispering to her:
Love me. darling; love me as ! love
you and shall b. repaid a thousand
times.
She trembled in my arms ike a irighsen
ed child. and a scared. weary expression
came into her ewes
~Oh. Mr. Beverly, don't; ! had not
thought Of this
..You must have known il. hay,
shown it to YOU in every action.
Il love you and | felt her slender
arms twine about ms neck and her check
resting against nline-''I love YOU better
than life, and eanno, marry you, 80
shall die
"ClariSsc, if you love me, NO power or
eartn SlAil lstfa W.
Il am betro,hei 10 another man. | have
been engaged from childhood My hand.
were Joined at my father bedside when b.
lay diving. | mus; marry him.
IL must he 81 | felt Il. Darker than
the crooked street at SevcrneroSs grew my
life. Shadows, black shadows vailed ii,
picture in my brain. My heart was dead
One long kiss, that broke our hearts and
sailed their sepuleheFs, and We started
backward. with the sunshine All guRe.
| saw her but once mere and then shs
gave me that picture by the Sr-plaee- Tbs
face beside Il i her cwn. bat ! e'ad neyeE
paint IL a. Il was. Il hooks sad, as saw
her lass. She told me, al parting, that sls
should never paint again
We were alone in the ol1 studio, over.
hooking the beautiful riyeT. uu the ease
rested an unfinished picsurc,
We stcsi by the large window, WheT'
We had - often watched ,he sunset q
eesher. bar ,o-aigh, sbe clouds in the wcs'
made il glcamy my--~asnethipg Ike cur owr
hearts
am an old. Eray-haiirsi man Row, hnI
il seems a. Yesterday this we s;os-i there
As think of it, how ali of the sunshine q
that northern city comes hack int" my
heart
She came to my side ho.itating fer .
moment until held ny hand toward her
when she came aud nestled elo~e 10 me
God bless yua r exclaimed.
Frank --it Vas the hrss time she has
called me by that name Frank. this = &
be our last hour together in this world
wish 10 tell you how much ] loye you. II
this place have experienced the happiness
Of life-time--ail the joy that my hic nj
ever know. Ga tae nlorrow my atfianoes
husband viii be here must meet him a
Il old. never loved him. for nevei
loved before. Bus rcSpcstcd him. w
must part; and after death, beyoad thos'
sunset gates. our loye viii be rewarded
In the weSt, the DYING flames 81 sunss
trembled above the clouds. shining acres
their fantastic drifts in flush Of glory
and the las, SUNSET We ever watched Ia
gether faded silently into night
Aud she elung To me I'LL parting, whiel
came at ast. and saw her face NJ more
You sce the picture of the vailssd bride
Undine. will show il TO You.
The river flowing silently in gohieI
Hood al sunset. At the margin of th
river. beneath the autumn trees, sileh
woman gazing into the water half snii
upon her bps, with the parting gieam o
sunset upon her silken hair | have bee
offered fortune for that picture. woul
not sell it for sll England.
am an old man now--on the verge o
the grave. Fifty years ago she Was GALES
away. | remember the days Of my child
hood. the crooked street; aud. at last, th
biz Of sunshine in that city and Its eslsil
and cathedral.
have painted my hast picture. An Of
man. gray cathedral town among th
trees. with sunset in the west and brigh
river
Il will not be long and we shall mes
beside brighter river than that-Ciariss
and the old man that has told this story.