Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-23
w.

CHAPTER XIV.
The city is on the qui viye of eXpecta-
ton. A grand reception is to be given by
Pauline, the artist. Her pictures all are
to be exhibited. The night arrives. Car
thrOng the streets, the drives. The
is beautifully lighted. The house is
one blaze of brilliancy. The usual crowd
is surging in the parlOrs of Laurel Hill,
but many more older men and women are
observed thar generally attend amuse-
Senators, lawyers and eminent
men of all classes are glad TO be there,
the guest of the new artist, whose Won
derful fame is on every ones lips. Pauline
is dressed in a soft, clinging, artistic
dress. Never was her beauty so dazzling.
Admitting eyes followed her every step.
Her large, soft eyes were luminous with
Her husband followed her
form with such fond, lOVe-lit eyes that
some one SAID every glance was a caress.
Reginald had beard of his wife's paint
ings, but she had not allowed him TO see
them until tonight. He had not known
till now how hard she had worked, and
how we'll she was appreciated. He was
talking to-an old ~gray-haired artist of the
pictures, when the old man said he could
not understand how that q fair, happy
faced woman like his wife could paint
such melancholy pictures; ''but," he add
ed, 'such true artistic work was never be-
fore done in the South, no doubt about
that"
Reginald turned away with mingled
pride and grief. He knew only too we'll
why melancholy had lowered like a pail
over Pauline's spirits.
1t seems they are expecting something
extra in the way Of a song, tor everyone
is nearing the piano. Reginald follows.
Prof. LathrOp plays. ''His wife is going to
sing" thought Reginald. 'Pu like to
hear her. Can it be true! Yes; Pauline
is going to assist" Such p~laintiYe, sweet
notes were never before heard in those
parlOrs. The silence is intense. Some
one is weeping. Reginald came ear
and nearer, until he stood by his Wife's
side. When the last note died away, re
unconsciOusly drew her to him and
pressed a kiss upon her brow. He had
forgotten the crowd. Those who saw the
action did not appear shocked, the song
had been so sweet and touching. The
Governor, who sat near, exclaimed;
"Giye here another for me, please" and
wiped away a tear.
Some one laughed at this, and good hui
nor prevailed. The professor, full Of
pride in her success, congratulated her.
Others declared she possessed all the tai
ents, and she must expect to be a target Of
jealousy.
''Do you know what l am going to do
for YOU, Pauline darling" said Reginald
later in the evening. 81 am going to take
you to Italy very soon."
"Ah! l cannot realize that happiness in
store for me. 1t has been the dream of my
life, but n | never for a moment hoped 10
see realized. / read somewhere once that
the first awakening of the artist in Italy
is like the sudden blowing of a flower.
All previous life seems but a trance-sad,
cOlOred and heavy with mOnOtOny. All
that were hueless dreams before take form
and color, and the Vaguest ideals all at
once grow real. The hunger of the desire
of the mind ceases, and a dreamy, ethe-
real content steals like music on a south
wind over the intelligence. which ceases
to question and accepts and enjoys. Man
never seemed so great nor God so near as
there. Art is strewn broadcast in the
common ways In other lands it is said
love may be an accident of life, but in It.
ally it is life ITSELF"
''It is tina to me here in our matter-of-
fact America" Reginald replied, smiling.
"YOur guests are preparing to leave, Pau
line. You must come back from Italy,
mine hostess"
She was at once the charming, gracious
lady of Laurel Hill, and all departed, we'll
pleased with her and with themselves.
Irene had been a close observer of all
that had transpired during the evening.
When she saw Pauline looking so UNI
usually brilliant a jealous pang shot
through her heart; but she thought with
satisfaction, with all her loveliness she
does not possess the richest prize Of all
Reginald's love.
Later on, when she found Pauline being
sought after almost as if she were indeed
a queen, heard her quaint, gay sallies to
those about her, marked the admiration
her pictures called forth, she was filled
with indignant wrath. When she saw
Reginald's eyes following his wife's every
movement, and noted how he avoided her.
she felt she was discovered. She heard
the song, saw the miserable by-play, as
she called it. Thinking over it all a mo-
ment, she decided that not only was she
found out in her tricks, but that Reginald
had been playing a part to mortify her.
"They have arranged tonight to show
me their triumph" was her inward con-
clusiel. "lll stay no longer to see it, nor
the torrent of abuse l may expect to have
poured upon my defenseless shoulders"
Self-pOssessed and smiling she turned to
her shadow of the evening and said:
Il will change my answer which l
made to you early this evening. l said l
give you an answer tomorrow. 1
have decided to return home early to-
morrow, and give your your answer now.
1t is yes. L Will say goodbye TO o
now, as l hasten to my room to make
preparations for my early departure. No;
do not thank me now and here. You may
see me in the morning and at my own
home. Good-bye~
The banker goes home too. He is deep
ly in love with the pretty widow, and hap !
py as old men generally are whens success
ful in their second wooing.
The last guest has departed. The SER
are busy putting out lights and
closing doors. Reginald, Pauline and
their mother find themselves alone. Mrs.
Mayield knows she has treated Pauline
lnjustly, if not unkindly She has seen
The world she so worships paying her
homage. She begins to feel proud of her,
and more like speaking of her as ''my
laughter" than ever before. She decides
TO be more friendly in the future, and goes 1
up now to Pauline, saying something
about how she has distinguished
and added:
81 feel quite proud of you, Pauline. {
The professor has done wonders for you.
[ had no idea you had a voice. / never
lear you practice. Is it true you never
at all until he taught you?"
81 knew a little about music, but never
Knew l had q voice until Prot. Lathrop
ound it for me-"
pauline" said Reginald, 81 must ask
-ou to leave us for a moment. [ have
something to say to mother"
He went Over her niece's conduct from
to last without sparing details, and
nded with a searching look into his moth
face; and "Of course you knew moth
ug of ali this"
II am very hurt that you should ask
ne that question. 1t is true l would have
Wished to had you marry Irene; Imade no
ecret OF it. 1t is also true that l may
ave shown my disappointment too plain
but 1 certainly never meant to harm
All you have told me is new to
ne. 1 can hardly believe it of I~rene;"
ut little things she had not noticed at the
ime were recalled, and she could not de-
y the charges as she would like to have
.one.
"Howeyer," continued Reginald, ''every-