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

Then his gaze returned to the paint.
ing.
Astretch of yellow sands, dotted here
and there by huge boulders and piles
OF snowy pebbles, against which the
overhanging cliffs looked almost bleak.
Gentle little baby waves ripping in TO-
ward the shore, while majestic purple
hued, silver-edged clouds seemed float
ing en- masse toward the golden, Grim
son-barred sun that flooded the sky and
water with its warm light.
In the center of the picture, where
the beach formed q curve resembling
horseshoe, was an old boat, turned
bottom upward some few feet of, the
figure of ayoung man, apparently walk
ing hurriedly away. Although the face
was not visible, the gazer felt that the
man suffered; that the glorious sunset
was this day as naught to him. Per-
haps it was in the tightly. clasped hand,
the veins of which stood out like great
cords; or, maybe the mans apparent
total disregard OF his surroundings.
To the right of the picture the figure
of young girl, trailing a parasol in
the sand, as she appeared to move
slowly in the opposite direction from
her companion. Only little bit Of a
delicately. shaped ear and q mass of
glossy braids showed from beneath the
shade hat, but one could readily be-
lieve that the pretty girlish figure be-
longed to an equally attractive face.
About half way between them, traced
upon the sands, were the words, "Fame
versus Love-"
els it not lovely, Edwin ?" and Mrs.
Bennett laid her hand upon her hus-
bands arm as she added:
"Yet how sad it somehow seems. l
can't help feeling sorry for them. I
wish could see their faces. feel as
if I wanted to turn them round"
Clasping the little hand that rested
SO confdingly upon his arm, Edwin
Bennett inwardly thanked God for the
gift of his fair young wife, as he said:
"Come, dear, they are commencing
to close up. Baby's tired, too"
"Ess, mes tired. Baby wants to
tiss mamma" lisped the child, holding
ont her tiny arms.
Husband and wife failed to notice a
lady who stood near, gazing at paint
ing. As the pretty young mother
stopped down to receive her baby's
kisses, which the little one lavished on
her cheeks, lips and brow, deep,
yearning look gathered in the strange
lady's eyes and she turned hastily
away.
"Oh, Edwin T. exclaimed his wife as
they passed the silent figure in black.
Wouldn't it be nice If baby should
grow up to be great artist like this
Miss Armstrong"
"God forbid, ANNIE" came the earn
est reply, followed by "let her grow up
to be true, loving woman, that is all 1
ask" The lady's hand tightened its
hold upon the back of settee as the
words reached her ears, but she did not
move until they were out of sight.
Then lifting her veil she went and stood
before the painting that had won such
fame. Tears gathered in her eyes as
she gazed, and with the words, " 1 will
never look at it again." she, too, passed
out of the building, and in her own
handsome carriage was driven home.
Scorn shone in her dark eyes as they
fell upon the costly works of art scat
tered in lavish profusion about her lux
furnished apartments. Hastily
throwing aside her wraps, she crossed
over to mirror. A very handsome
face it reflected. Not looking the thirty
years it had known.
Helen Armstrong-for it was She
had heard of Edwin Bennett's mar
riage heard that he had succeeded in
business beyond his most sanguine ex.
pectations; heard that his wife was one
Of the loveliest and gentlest of women,
and that E Elwin Bennett idolized both
wife and child. This day she had seen
them.
Then came the thought that she
might have stood in that wife's place;
she, too. might have had those baby
lips pressed as lovingly to hers but
she had put it from her. She had
chosen Fame versus Love. If she
could only go back to that day on the
sands, how differently she would now
act.
Turning away from the mirror, she
bitterly:
- IT