Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-10-05

cess who crowned me once with roses. Does
she. too, remember it ~ ss s@. .t
For Q moment doubt was in her face; but as
he looked fxedly st her il vanished IN GER
| taintY A smile inst touched her bright lips.
1T was you, then, on whom j forced my
roses? A princess who gave away #honors un-5
asked How often have wondered since
| She stopped, turned to the canvas, and added
abruptly, 'sbut was child then, and here
Here You are q woman, said Carradine,
completing the unspkoken sentence. 1T ls so
| hard to understand The same power that
kept the child in my heart showed nae into what
she would ripen." 5.
She did not look at him now, but at the pic
ture, as she asked him in 3 low voice. land
whom am I to thank for such an honor?n
MY name is Hubert Carradine," he an
swered, and saw at ONCE that it was no unfa-
all these years your fsce has haunted me al
ways, but your name never knew y :, =
She hesitated q moment, then turned to
him. g % =
''You never knew my name? Then think
Of me still as you have thought of me through
all these years. she said, half emile 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 ell remembrance of place
or circumstance, into the unreal realm Of
imagination in which his wish was supreme
ruler.
Il have thought Of you always as my life and
y1ove," he said, half consciously, his dreamy,
deep gray eyes glowing upon her face. She
blrshed suddenly, and then paled in an ill.,
slant. just then her former companion en-
tered the room.
II am Leila Auvernay,'' ehe said hastily,
"and this is Cecil Wyndham, my-my betrothed
! man approache led Carradiue fell back step and
| looked at the two. His Was fair, handsome
face, so little marked as yet by time, that it
woul1 be hard for an Impractical eye to con-
lecture with what lines the shaping character
would yet stamp it. Nevertheless, with one
keen gaze Carradine estimated both present
and future.
She said few low spoken words to her COM
panion, who presently moved toward Cara
dine, and addressed him:
II have the honor of speaking to Mr.. Cara
dine, the painter Of this picture?"
Carradine bowed without speaking.
evil you pardon me for asking if it is a
fancy sketch? p" continued Mr.. Wyndham.
"Party 80. but suggested by the face of a
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 it--at
your own price?"
1.-THE picture is not for sale" said Carradine,
that cool, steady gaze which had already caused
him to betray hesitation, almost confusion,
very unlike his usual easy confidence. He
seemed to have an instructive knowledge
that the artist was measuring him, and to
shrink from that measurement with uncon-
scious dread
Carradine SAW Leila Auvernay once more
before she returned to her home in distant
town. Then he took his picture from the acad-
envy walls and hung lin bis studio, where his
away from his work For lie did not give up
work; yet, among themselves, his friends pro-
nounced him an altered man, and maryeled
what had caused so subtle difference. Al
ways silent, he now seemed to live in an ideal
world of his own; and, whatever he might oc-
cupy himself With, there was that in his man.
ner which appeared to ply that it was only
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 unconsciously ex-
pecting.
The latter was from Leila Auvernay. He
went to her at once. She met him with
laughing light in her eyes sucn as he had not
seen there when she stood in the gallery be-
side her .betrothed husband; light which re-
called the merry child who had smiled down
on him so long ago.
ssMr. Carradine," she said Il told you that
my fortune was gone, but did not tell you
how utterly it had been swept away, am
nothing better than beggar. Will you take
me- for one Of your students, for charity's
sake9"
He looked sesrchingly into her smiling face.
"And Mr.. Wyndham?" he asked, in low
voice.
She laughed without 50 much as flush of
emotion.
''Mr WynGham has gone with the rest of my
worldly possessions. Did Dot say that had
lost everything? You sea, Mr.. Carradine, that
l am not of as much worth now as my picture"
The words, as she said them, did not seem
bitter. He took her hands,
s'Leilia,n he said, 'does your loss make you
unhappy"
':Do look sop she asked gay]y. s,As for
the marriage, it was my fathers wish, and to
crafty his dying request Observation-Disclosures
knew my own heart" Here, quick, vivid
color shot into her cheek, but she went on:
s'Tnere never was love on my side; and on his
well, money Is more than love-with some
natures. do not wish to blame him.
Carradine's grasp frightened on her hands.
S'Leila," he said, ''once your answer put q
bar between us when I spoke words that were
surprised out of my heart Would it be 80
now, if I should say them once more? Ny
love, my life, will you come to me?"
"Will l come!' she repeated, looking up in
his eyes aud drawing nearer, until his arms
silently folded about her.
And so Carradine fonud his love at last.