The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-12-08

dependent idler, but worker in one Of the
many fields of art that lie before me. That
you, my dear father, may think of me as
leniently as possible, is the hope OF your at
~ KEITH ST. CLAIR.
Mr.. Palmer laid down Keith's letter,
and glanced around upon the group.
The countenance of each implied in
tense interest, but the colonel was the
first to speak.
"It's mistake-a great mistake on
the young fellows part-nay, more, a
delusion! l never anticipated this, and
believed some serious accident had de-
tanned him.
THAT would have been BETTER" said
Mrs. Hastings, bitterly; 'for then we
should have mourned our hero's fate
But now, the expected tragedy having
turned into farce" .u.
"Oh, do not blame him." interrupted
Evelyn. II admire his independence,
though deeply regret that am to be
surrounded by every comfort and dear
friends, while Keith has chosen life
of hardship and isolation. But, Mr..
Palmer, | never, never could be happy
in the belief that this property was to
be mine, and he utterly excluded. Oh,
dear sir, my uncle will listen to you.
Persuade him to let Keith have more
Justice, were it only for his dead faith
er's sake"
Il can offer no opinion, Miss Evelyn.
Mr.. st. Clair is. | understand, twenty
four. He has attained the aye of man.
hood, if not of discretion. But excuse
me, for have an appointment in the
city this evening and must hurry
away"
Even the matter-of-fact lawyer was
glad to escape from Evelyn's fearful
eyes and pleading tones.
The colonel would return no reply,
but his wife's womanly heart yearned
to the poor, self-exiled young man, and
she wrote these few lines:
Though deeply regretting your decision,
| dear Keith, yet l pray you, II In any
trouble, fail not to communicate with your
| old friend. MARY ASHFORD"
Then, with Mrs. Hastings, she left
the room to hand her note to the mes
senger, and from him they learned that
Mr.. St. Clair was on the point OF start
ing for Rome, at which city ne pro-
posed to remain throughout the winter.
"To Romer' cried Mrs Hastings,
clasping her hands. Granville has
raved about going there ever since we
were married. Oh, dear Mrs. Ashford,
come out with me on the terrace. Even
YOUR great house is too small for my
little body at this moment Come, and
| will unfold to you charming plot
that woman's wit suggests"
And during that promenade Mrs.
Ashford shook her head and demurred,
and uttered impossible"
Yet Cecil, somehow, always gained
her point when taking the reins of gov
eminent into her own hands.
The little lady's tastes had altered
marvelously within a few hours. She
cared nothing for art, and had no ven
GRAFTON for antiquities, yet now was in
"a state of enthusiasm" to use her
own words, over this pilgrimage to
Rome"
| Finally, it was arranged, and every
obstacle to the contemplated journey
removed.
More pleasant receptions than those
of Mr.. and Mrs. Granville Hastings
were not met with throughout the
Roman capital.
Beauty and talent, rank and wealth,
from every country, were there repre-
sented, while many young, hard
working artist found liberal patron in
their host, and sympathizing friend in
his wife.
But perhaps the loadstar of attraction
was young friend of Mrs. Hastings
who had accompanied them from
America.
The soft darkness of Ethel Vane'
eyes was not eclipsed even by the far.
famed Italian senoras; nor her graceful
form and perfect figure outrivalled by
the fair bellies of any clime-Keith St
Clair, who was frequent guest, being
among the early captivated.
And then commenced struggle be-
tween art and love.
He was urged by Mrs. Hastings tC
paint the portrait of her young friend
the design to be his own selection.
So the picture, after some study, was
commenced.
The surroundings wild Italian
scene-were in admirable keeping witt
Ethel Vane's classic type of beauty
glow from the sunset tinting the white
dress and face, that might have beer
thought shade too pale, whilst thu
painter had caught the dreamy yet ten
der expression Of those dark eyes.
She was represented as leaning on {
broken column, the suggestive sombre
ness of a ruin being relieved by TIT
wild roses that, growing at its base
twined around the sculptured marble
But name had to be selected TO
that picture, which would some day b.
exhibited.
1.-The Tenth Muse proposed Mrs
Hastings.
i" AN English Girl" said her hus
band.
"'An Unknown" was Ethel
choice
But Keith had decided upon his from
the first moment,
His humble fortunes precluded low
If one wild CLEAN shot through hi
heart it was perforce crushed out-bu
alteration was not restrained, and tina
picture was to be named ''The Artist
Ideal"
al fear Keith is far from rich.n sal,