The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-10-12


cess who crowned me onco with roses. Does
she. too, remember lt?"
For a moment doubt was in har faco; but as
he looked tiNedly at her it vanished in cor
tainty. A smile just touched her bright lips.
at was you, then, on whom I forced my
roses? A princess who gave away honors un-
asked. How often l have wondered since"
She stopped, turned to the canvas, and added
abruptly, 'sbut was a child then, and here
Here you are a woman" said Carradiue,
completing the unspkoken sentence. SIT is so
hard to understsnd9 The same power that
kept the child in my heart showed me into what
she would ripen.'
She did not look at him now, but at the pic
ture, as she asked him in . low voice. land
whom am I TO thank for such an honorg'
my name is Hubert Carradine," he an
swered, and saw at once that it was no unfa-
miiisr word to her. "And yours? Through
all these years your face has haunted me al
ways, but your name l never know"
She hesitated a moment, then turned to
him.
"You never knew my name? Then think
Of me still as yon have thought of me through
all these years. she said. a half smile linger-
ing about her mouth, but never lighting the
great dark that was shaded by some subtle
sadness. The look, the tone, transported
Carradine beyond all remembrance of place
or circumstance, into the unreal realm of
ruler.
81 have thought OF you always as my life and
my love," he said, half consciously, his dreamy,
deep gray eyes glowing upon her face. She.
blushed suddenly, and then paled in an in
slant. Just then her former companion en-
tered the room.
81 am Leila A,lvernay," she said hastily,
'and this is Cecil Wyndham, my-my betrothed
husband"
Not another word was said. AS the young
man approached Carradine fell back n step and
looked ut the two. His was a fair, handsome
face, so little marked as yet by time, that it
wonld be hard for an unpracticed eye to con-
lecture with what lines the shaping character
would vet stamp it, Nevertheless. with one
keen gaze Carradine estimated both present
and future.
She said a few low, spoken words TO her COM
panIon, who presently moved toward Cara
dine, and addressed him: ~
~ have the honor of speaking to Mr.. Cara
dine, tho painter of this picture?"
Carradine bowed without speaking.
"Will you pardon me for asking If it is q
fancy sketch" continued Mr.. Wyndham.
Partly 80, but suggested by the face of q
little girl" answered the artist
But the likeness is SO very striking" NUT
tered the young gentleman. 81 must have it at
any rate. OF course you will part with tat
your own pricew
'The picture is not for sale, 7" said Carradine,
quietly. still regarding the young man with
that cool, steady gaze which had already caused
him to betray q hesitation, almost confusion,
very unlike his usual easy confidence. He
seemed to have an instructive knowledge
that the artist YES measuring him, and to
shrink from that measurement with uncon-
scious dread.
Carradine saw Leila Anvernay once more
before she returned to her homo in a distant
town. Then he took his picture from the acad-
envy walls and hung it in his studio, where his
eyes could find it whenever no looked
away from his work. For he did not give up
work; yet, among themselves, his friends pro-
nounced him an altered man, and marvelel
what had caused so subtle a difference. Al
ways silent, he now seemed to live in an ideal
world of his owl; and, whatever he might oc-
ner which appeared to imply that it was only q
temporary diversion until the coming of some
event for which he was waiting.
So passed half : year., at the end Of which
there came a letter to Carradine. It was very
brief, bnt it was enough to assure him of that
which he had been almost unconsciousiy ex-
pecting.
The lattcr was from Leila Auvernay. Ho
laughinglightin her eyes sucn as he had not
seen there when she stood III the gallery be-
side her betrothed husband; a light which re-
called the merry child who had smiled down
on him 80 long ago.
"Mr. Carradine," she said, 81 told Won that
my fortune was gone, but l did not tell you
how utterly it had been swept away. I am
nothing better than a beggar. Will you take
mefor one of your students, for charity's
sakep"
He looked searchingly into her smiling face.
"And Mr.. Wyndham?' he asked, in a low
voice.
She laughed without so much as q flush of
emotion. ~
NJ Wynaham has gone withthe rest OF my
worldly possessions. Did I not say that had
lost everything? You see, Mr.. Carradine, that
1 am not of as much worth now as my picture"
The words, as she said them, did not seem
bitter. He took her hands.
"Leilis,n he said. docs your loss make you
unhappy"
D 1 look So" she asked, gayly. s.As for
the marriage. it was my fathers wish, and to
crafty his dying request I con~sented-before I
knew my own heart" Here, a quick, vivid
color shot into her cheek, but she went on:
There never was love on my side; and on his
well, money 10 more than love-with some
natures. l do not wish to blame him."
Carradine's grasp frightened on her hands.
"Leilia, he said, ''once your answer put a
bar between us when 1 epoke words that were
surprised out of my heart Would it be 80
now, if / should say them once more? MY
love, my life, will you come to me?"
will l come!" she repeated, looking up in
his eyes and drawing nearer, until his arms
silently folded about her.
And SO Carladine fonnd his love at last
| H...'. ID" .-m Az