The Portland daily press., 1883-02-03

She did not look at him now, but at the
picture. as she asked him in low voice,
7sand whom am to thank for such an hon.
or?''
'sMy name is Hubert Carradine,' he an
swered. and saw at once that it was no un-
familiar word to her. "And yours? Through
all these years your face has haunted me al
WAYS. but your name / never kne W.
She hesitated a 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 lin
gering about her mouth, but never lighting
the great dark eyes that were shaded by some
subtle sadness The look, the tone, trans
ported Carradine beyond all remembrance OF
place or circumstance, into the unreal realm
of Imagination in which his wish was SUI
preme ruler.
and my love- he said, half consciously. his
dreamy, deep gray eyes glowing upon her
face. She blushed suddenly, and then paled
in an instant. Just then her former COM
panon entered the room.
81 am Leila Auvernay," she said hastily,
land this is Cecil Wyndham, my-my be-
trothed husband"
Not another word was said. AS the
young man approached Carradine fell back
step and looked at the two. His was tair
handsome face, so little marked as yet by
time, that it would be hard for an lnprac-
ticed eye to conjecture with what lines the
shaping character would yet stamp it. New
ertheless, with enc keen gaze Carradine es-
timated both present and future.
She said few low-spoken words TO her
companion, who presently moved toward
Carradine, and addressed him:
81 have the honor of speaking to Mr.. Car
u r. - L. xs<.4V. .rot
Carradine bowed without speaking.
"Wil you pardon me for asking ii it is a
fancy sketch?' continued Mr.. Wyndham.
PARTLY so, but suggested by the face of
little girl, answered the artist.
"But the likeness is so very striking"
muttered the young gentleman. II must
have it at any rate. OF course you will part
with it-at your own price?''
"The picture is not for sale,o said Cara
dine, quietly, still regarding the young man
with that cool, steady gaze which had al
ready caused him to betray hesitation, al
most confusion, very unlike his usual easy
confidence. He seemed to have an instinc-
tive knowledge that the artist was measuring
him, and to shrink from that measurement
with unconscious dread.
Carradine saw Leila Auvernay once more
before she returned to her home in distant
town. Then he took his picture from the
dCdu6Iuy Walls anu uuHS III III Ills otuuiOs
where his eyes could find it whenever he
looked away from his work. For he did not
give up work; yet, among themselves, his
friends pronounced him an altered man, and
marveled what had caused so subtle differ
ence. Always silent, he now seemed to live
in an ideal world of his own; and. whatever
he might occupy himself. with, there was
| that in his manner which appeared to imply
that it was only a temporary diversion until
| the coming of some event for which he was
| waiting.
So passed half year, at the end of which
there came letter to Carradine. 1t was
very brief, but it was enough to assure him
of that which he had been almost uncon-
sciously expecting.
The letter was from Leila Auvernay. He
went to her at once. She met him with a
laughing light in her eyes such as he had
not seen there when she stood in the gallery
| beside her betrothed husband; light which
recalled the merry child who had smiled
down on him so long ago.
Mr.. Carradine," she said, / told you that
my fortune was gone, but did not tell you
| how utterly it had been swept away. l am
| nothing better than beggar. Will you take
| me for one OF your students, for charity's
| sake?'
He looked searchingly into her smiling
| face.
AIN MI. w 4uuHdIus lie dSheu, III low
voice.
She laughed without so much as flush of
emotion.
"Mr. Wyndham has gone with the rest of
my worldly possessions. Did not say that
had lost everything? You see, Mr.. Cara
dine, that am not of as much worth now
as my picture"
The words, as she said them, did not
seem bitter. He took her hands.
'sLeilia," he said, "does your loss make
you unhappy
''Do look SOP" she asked, gayly. GAS
for the marriage, it was my fathers wish,
and to crafty his dying requestI consented
before knew my own heart-.o Here,
a quick, vivid color shot into her cheek, but
she went on: "There never was love ON my
side: and on his-wel money is more than
iove-with some natures. L donot wish to
blame him.
Carradine's grasp tightened on her hands.
"Leilia," he said, "once your answer put
a bar between us when l spoke words that
were surprised out of my heart. Would it
be so now, if | should, say them once more?
My love, my life, will you come to me?"
"Will | comer' she repeated. looking up
liz his eyes and drawing nearer, until his
arms silently folded about her.
And so Carradine found his love at last.