Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-12-07

brought to iook az the now celebrated |
artists latest success. Every night he
went away unsatistied and every morn
ing he returned with hope springing
afresh in his heart
Still, the object Ut his search, what
ever it may have been, does not appear;
and one day, discouraged at last. he re-
solved to 60 no more on so fruitless an
errand. Shutting himself in his studio
he began to paint, but, strive as he
would, he could command neither hand |
nor fancy. Finally tired Of repeated |
failure, he abandoned work, and WELD |
ed to the impulse which drew his steps
in the customary direction.
When he entered the small side-room |
in which his picture hung he found but |
two persons within, a young man and
girl.
Carradine could not see the faces OF |
these two, but, with an earnestness for
which he was at q loss to account, he |
followed their retreating figures as they |
moved slowly toward his picture
But the next moment an exclamation of |
astonishment burst; from the lipa of the |
young man. II
''Why, here is your portrait, Lelia!- !
What does it meanp Who can the paint
er bep''
With that, he hurried out to purchase
a catalogue. Carraiine advanced quick
i to the girl.
II am the painter" he said.
She turned and looked at him with
one steady gaze from those glorious eyes
that had haunted his visionsfor so many
years. Then she spoke:
"You painted that picture? and
howp'
Prom remembrance" he answered.
'tIt was my only tribute to the little I'M
known princess who crowned me once
with roses. Does she, too. remember
itp"
For moment doubt was in her face;
but as he looked fxedly at her itvanish-
ed in certainty. A smile just touched
the bright lips.
'.It was you, then. on whom forced
my roses? q princess who gave away
honors unasked. How often have
| wondered since-''
She stopped, turned to the canvas and
added sbruptly. "But I was achid then;
and here"
sHere you are woman" said Car
radine, completing the unspoken SEN
| tence. ..Is it so hard to understand
The same power that kept the child in
my heart showed me into whatsh would
ripen."
She did no. look at him now, but at
the picture, rs she asked in q low voice."
"And whom am to thank tor such an
| honor?"
..My name is Hubert Carradine," he
| answered, and saw at once that it was
no unfamiliar word to her. "Andyours?
Through all these years your face has
haunted me always, but your name l
never knew
/ She hesitated moment, then turned
to him.
"You never knew my name? Then
think of me still as you have thought of
me through all these years." she said. a
half smile lingering about her mouth,
but never lighting the great dark that
was shaded by some subtle sadness. =
I The look, the tone, transported Cara
dine beyond all remembrance of place
} or circumstance, into the unreal realm
of imagination in which his wish was
supreme ruler. -
s1 have thought of you always as my
i. life and my love-" he said, half uncon'
seiously his dreamy, deep gray eyes glow.
ing upon her face. She blushed sudden
", and then paled in an instant. JUS
then her former companion entered the
, room.
81 am .Leila Auverney,' she said
hastily, "and this is Cecil Wyndham
: my-my betrothed husband"
Not another word was said. As th,
young man approached, Carradine fel
back step and looked at the two. Hi
was a fair, handsome face, so littl'
marked as yet by time, that it would b.
hard for an Impractical eye to conjec
: ture with what lines the shaping char
. acter would yet stamp it Nevertheless
; with one keen gaze Carradine estimated
{ both present and future.
, She said few low-spoken words t
, her companion, who presently Inove'
| toward Carradine, the painter of thi
8 picturep'
Carradine bowed without speaking.
"Win you pardon me for asking if
t is fancy sketch?" continued Mr.. Wynd
r ham.
4 s.Partly so. but suggested by the fac
o of little girl" answered the artist.
g .But the likeness is so very striking!
t muttered the young gentleman.
e must have it at any rate. OF cour'
It you win part with it-at your ow
d pricep"
.sThe picture is not for sale,'' sa
It Carradine, quietly, still regarding Il
+ young man with that cool, steady ga
70 which had already caused him to betrs
K hesitation, almost confusion. very u
it like his usual easy confidence. He seer
5, ed to have an instructive knowled!
st that the artist was measuring him. 81
n to shrink from that measurement WI
le unconscious dread.
Is Carradine saw Leila Auvernay on
or more before she returned to her hor
N in a distant town. Then he took
picture from the academy walls, Al
y, hung it in his studio, where his ey
in could find it whenever he looked aw
it from his work. For he did not give
p work; yet, among themselves, his frien
n, pronounced him an altered man, q
m marveled what had caused so subtle
ce difference. Always quiet, he now see'
d, ed to live in an ideal world OF his ow
vel and, whatever he might occupy hims
ce with there was that in his manner viii
sr, appeared to imply that it was onl,
ng temporary diversion until the coming
Of some event for which he was waiting.
lie, So passed half year. at the end
tie which there came letter to Carradil
at It was very brief, but it was enough
assure him Of that which he had be
ith almost unconsciously expecting.
ou The letter was from Leila Auvern'
ay He went to her at once. She met b
with a laughing light in her eyes such
the he had not seen there when she ste
,rd in the gallery beside her betrothed b
he band; light which recalled the me
child who had smiled down on him
. long ago.
or. "Mr. Carradine," she said, II I
US you that my fortune was gone, br
did not tell you how utterly it had b
swept away. Lam nothing better tt
lch . beggar. Win you take me for ont
tell your students. for charitys sakeP'
va He looked searchingly INTO her q
ing face. :.
ler. .And Mr.. WyndhamP' he asked
II low voice.
) Of She laughed without SO much a
ace flush of emotion.
Ime '.Mr.Wyndham has gone with the
ex- of my worldly possessions. Dl
not say that had lost everything!
tly. see, Mr.. Carradins. that am not
Use. much worth now as my picture"
or I The words, as she said them. did
will seem bitter. He took her hands.
- a f1.x.r ~ - L. z~sI ss1ooa voup