The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-03

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| Of ecstatic admiration on his paintings,
which he received for what they were
worth; but the few words uttered in
Li!ias' low, steady tone, and the flush
| OF animation on her otherwise calm
face, were things he treasured. His
studio was filled with original designs.
AS rule he looked down Oh cOpyists,
but he had continued the copy of the
Angel of the AInunciation," making
his work last just 80 long az the time
Lilias took to finish hers.
Meet us at the CertOsa tomorrow, :"
said Mr.. Calyon to Ralph; "Lilias has
promised to accompany us Oh Il round
OF farewell visits we wish to make to
all the principal sights before leaving
Florence. For leave we must this week
If Eustace does not appear. We have
waited long enough for him, the heat is
becoming really insupportable."
"Eustace" was Il son Of Mrs. Calv0n
and bad been expected to join them,
but whose business appointments in
London had hitherto delayed him.
Ralph Alverton felt sorry that the
Calvons were leaving, partly for their
own sa ke-they were pleasant friends
but still more because il would mean /.
cessation OF those constant meetings
with Lilias.
In the middle of the cloister garden
OF the convent Of the Certosa there
stands al old well. "At what are you
looking?" asked Ralph, leaving the rest
to follow the monk who acted as show
man, and coming across TO where J.ilias,
| STOPPING over the wells side, was gaZ-
ing down earnestly into it's dark depths.
II was trying to think of a wish, -
she said, looking up with /. smile.
"Ihese old wells always give me a
childish fancy to wish; they make one
think Of the wshing-wells in which one
used, as il child, to believe"
81 know what l wish, - said Ralph,
with Il tervOr which was quite earnest.
There was nothing in the words; wheth-
or it was the tone, whether it was
something she read in his eyes rs they
stayed fixed on hers, or whether it was
some electric message in the air, Lilias
could not have told; but there, by the
convent wall, she guessed for tho first
time that Ralph loved her.
Together they leaned over the old
stone sides, and looked down into the
deep, round abyss to where far, far be-
low, the water reflected their faces
against background of blue sky, across
which at that moment a tleecy cloud
was sailing. Ralph's wish was that the
day might come when Florence's river
should divide them no louger. Lillas
wished that the morrow bright might
bring Eustace Calvon to Florence. So,
silently, the two contrary wishes We're
sent down the old well-Ralph guessing
nothing Of how the other wish cIashed
with his own, Liljas just conscious
/ Il kN{ ~,
agree.
Then they recrossed the sunny garden
TO join the carriages waiting in the
shade at the entrance gates, and they
all drove back to Florence. And the
solemn, silence-bound monks, mmind.
fui or the worlds love stories, came
out at sunset to draw water at the old
we'll, which to them was nothing but Il
source Of common usefulness.
a few days afterwards, in the early
! morning, the artists were left standing
on the station platform, from whence Il
pile OF luggage from the hotel de = Eu-
rope had just cleared, waving adieux to
the express train going north. Both
were sorry for the departure of their
mutual friends; both also had special
cause in their regret. Liias would
| nave liked to have met EuStace CalVon
again; she would have described him as
AN Old friend--nothing more;" and SO
when he did not come she was not
broken hearted, but bore the disappoint-
ment very philosophically. Had they
mot that summer the old friendship
might have ripened into something
stronger, but business claims detained
young Calyon in England for three days
% Al ,~fl l,s.,
could endure, and when he was free il
was in Engardine--not III Florence
that he joined them.
N1r. AlVertOn soon made the d discovery
| that the old ladies--the chief occupants
OF the pension where Liii;is was living
! We're most charming and delightful
people. And 50 it happend that at last
his evening visits bee. me a scarcely less
| regular custom than the appearance of
| the O'Clock tea tray with it's two
large tcapots of watery tea. 1t was
never dingy, never u smoky place.
that saloon,to Ralph, for tho girl with the
golden glory hair of the angel was there
and her presence made it seem to him
all earthly paradise. And somehow,
even though the surroundings wero a
! crowd OF old maids in smart evening
caps, bad tea, and Il cracked old piano.
| l.ilias learned better every evening
what the wish was that Ralph had at
heart; and her own wish faded out of
memory. Eustace was far away, and
had never been more than IAN old
friend;" Ralph Alverton was close,
and made her understand that he would
not be content until he reached high
er standing than mere friendship.
Lilias surrendered. They settled it
III 50 many words one day at the far
end Of the Cascine where Ll.as had
been left to wait for friend. The
friend was late III keeping her appoint
ment, and Mr.. Alverton happened to
arrive instead. There on stone seat,
just beyond the monument of the India
prince, Lilias promised everything re-
quired Of her, while some light fluffy
seeds from q tree overhead fell, scatter
ing at their feet, and eddied lightly
aronnd-north, south, east, west, like
emDlems Of uncertainty; but words
were said which sealed two fates, and
close beside them flowed the yellow
Arno, which sOon should separate them
10 longer.
Happy days were those which follow
ed; happier day was that to which they
looked forward in June. But before
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