Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-24

"No; he proposed, If were willing,
30 send me to Italy for two years, he,
of course, defraying the greater part of
the expenses. He said when. I became
famous I could refund him the little
amount if wished. Was it not gen.
erous of himp Just think, two years at
work among the old masters. What
could I not do then2 1t would be such
help to me. My little income would
do, with care, I think"
"And you would go?" AS Edwin
Bennett asked this question look of
pain crossed his face.
"Why not ~ came the reply, as Helen
raised her eyes questioningly TO her
companion.
"You say you love me ; and yet you
would put the sea between MS. Helen,
wait; I will work hard and earn money
enough to take us both abroad. Do
you think I could deny you any thing !?
You should paint to your hearts con-
tent, from the old masters, or anything
else you pleased. So long as you were
happy, should be. Perhaps 1 might
turn painter, too, some day, with you
to inspire me-" he added, smiling
slightly.
"I do not doubt your love for me,
Edwin but shall never marry. in
tend to devote my life to my art. AS
wife it would be impossible for me to
do 80. I should be hindered and tram
meled in thousand ways. Believe me,
1 have thought very earnestly of all this,
and /"
"Helen, when 1 came to spend my
vacation here at Little Rock, so as t
be near you, said to myself, Now you
can ask the woman you love to be your
wife, and know that you have a home
to offer her. For your sake I wish 1
were rich ; but am still young, and
with the good prospects 1 have, I do
not see why I shall not be able before
many years to give my wife all she can
wish"
"It is not that, Edwin. I should
not love you one bit the more If you
were millionaire" interrupted Helen,
glancing reproachfully at him.
"Helen, my holiday is over to-mor-
row. ] must have my answer tonight
The words came somewhat sternly from
between Edwin BENEFITS lips.
Mechanically, with the end of her
parasol, Helen Armstrong traced on
yellow sands, "Fame versus
Love-" Then, as she became aware of
what she had done, she sought to efface
them. Too late. Edwin Benefits
hand stayed hers, as pointing to the
letters stood out, he said, hoarsely:
"Choose |"
For second she hesitated, then
slowly came the answer:
"I accepted Mr.. Hovey's offer this
morning. 1 am to sail in week"
Spurning her hand from him, Edwin
Bennett cried out, passionstely:
"God forgive you'll Icannot |" Then,
without another word, he turned and
left her.
A faint cry of edwin escaped her
lips, as her arms were held out impaor-
ingly toward him. Then they fell to
her side, and she, too, turned and went
slowly across the sands in the opposite
direction. II he had looked back and |
seen those outstretched arms, how diff
Terent their life might have been but
no, be plodded angrily along the shore.
ylancing neither to the right nor the |
left. Little by little the waves crept |
up and Love was drowned, while anne |
stood out bold and clear upon the yell
low sands.
Ten years have come aud gone since
Helen Armstrong and Edwin Bennett |
parted on the shore, and during that |
lime they have never met. Helen had |
won that which she had striven for.
She had become an artist of renown. |
Even royalty had been pleased to COM
pliment her upon her art.
For the last month one of Helen Arm
strong s paintings had been on exhibition |
1t the Academy OF Design, and crowds
mad been drawn thither to see this last |
work of the celebrated artist. The |
subject was simple, nothing new, yet |
visitors returned again and again to
gaze at it.
It was the last day of its exhibition,
when lady and gentleman, the gen.
Ileman leading little girl of perhaps
three years by the hand, passed into
the room where the painting hung.
"Ohl isn't it too bad there is such |
n o~owd. I m.ukad 70 oao 10 ~, -