Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-04-30

iilItSn III Ills Itdll.
Still, the object of his search, what
ever it may have been, does not appear;
and one day, discouraged at last, he re-
solved to go no more on so frutless an
errand. Shutting himself in his studio,
he began to paint, but, strive us he
would, he could command neither hand
nor fancy. Finally, tired of repeated
failure, he abandoned work, and yield
ed to an impulse which drew his steps
in the customary direction.
When he entered the small side room
in which his picture hung he found
but two persons within, Il young man
and girl.
Carradinc could not see the faces of
these two, but, with an earnestness for
which he was ut n loss TO account, he
followed their retreating figures as they
moved slowly toward his picture. But
| the next moment an exclamation of as
constituent burst from the lips of the
| young man.
"Why, here is your portrait, Leila!
What does it mean? Who can the
painter bep'
With that he hurried out to purchase
catalogue. Carradine advanced quick
ly TO the girl.
:" / am the painter" he said
She turned and looked ut him with
one steady gaze from those glorious eyes
that had haunted his visions for so many
years. Then she spoke:
"You painted that pictureP and
howp"
"From remembrance" he answered.
cit was my only tribute TO the little
unknown Princess who crowned me
once with roses. Does she, too, re-
member itP"
For u moment doubt was in her face;
but as he looked liXcdly at her it
vanished in certainty. A smile Just
touched her bright lips.
at was you, then, on whom forced
my roses? A Princess who gave away
honors unasked. How often | have
wondered since
She stopped, turned to the canvass,
and added abruptly: But | was n
child then, and here"
"lIcre you are q woman," said
Carradine, completing the unspoken
sentence. "Is it so hard to understand
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 picture, as she asked him in n low
voice: "And whom am | TO thank for
such an honorp"
"My name is Hubert Carradnc,n he
answered, and saw at once that it was
no unfamiliar word to her. "And
yoursP Through all these years your
face has haunted me always, but your
name | never knew"
She hcsitated n moment, then turned
to him:
"You never knew my name? Then
think of me still as you have thought of
me through all these years." she said,
n half smile lingering about her mouth,
but never lighting the great dark that
was shaded by some subtle sadness.
The look, the tone, transported Cara
dine beyond all remembrance of place
or circumstance into the unreal realm
of imagination in which his wish was
| supreme ruler.
81 have thought of you always as my
life and my love-" he said, half con
sciously, his dreamy, deep gray eyes
glowing upon her face. She blushed
suddenly, and then paled in an instant.
just then her former companion entered
the room.
Il am Leila Auvernay," she said,
hastily, land this is Cecil Wyndham,
my-my betrothed husband -
Not another word was said. AS the
young man approached Carradne fell
back step and looked at the two. His
was fair, handsome face, so little
marked as yet by time that it would be
hard for an Impractical eye TO conject-
IRE with what lines the shaping char
acter would yet stamp it. Neverthe-
less, with one keen gaze Carradinc cs-
timated both present and future.
She said few low-spoken words to
her companion, who presently moved
toward Carradine, and addressed him;
81 have the honor of speaking to Mr..
Carradine, the painter of this picturep'
Carradine bowed without speaking.
"Will you pardon me for asking if il
is fancy sketchp" continued Mr..
Wyndham.
Partly so, but suggested by the face
of little girl" answered the artist.
"But the likeness is so very strik-
ing" muttered the young gentleman.
:" / must have it at any rate OF course,
you will part with tat your own
priceP"
"The picture is not for SALE" said
Carradine, quietly, still regarding the
young man with that cool, steady gaze
which had already caused him TO bctray
hesitation, almost confusion, very un-
like his usual easy confidence. lie
seemed to have an instructive knowl-
edge that the artist was measuring
him, and to shrink from that measure
ment with unconscious dread.
Carradine saw Leila Auvernay once
more before she returned to her home
in distant town. Then he took his
picture from the academy walls and
hung it in his studio, where his eyes
could find it whenever he looked away
from his work. For he did not give uI
work; yet, among themselves, his
friends pronounced him an altered man
and marveled what had caused so subtle
n difference. Always silent, he now
seemed to live in an ideal world of hi:
own; and, whatever he might occupy
himself with, there was that in his man
ner which appeared to imply that it was
only temporary diversion until the
coming of some event for which he was
waiting.
So passed half year, at the end o.
which there came letter to Carradine
1t was very brief, but IL was enough tc
assure him of that which he had beer
almost unconsciously expecting.
The letter was from Leila Auvcrnay
He went to her at once. She met him
with laughing light in her eyes such
as he had not seen there when she
stood in the gallery beside her betrothed
husband light which recalled the
merry child who had smiled down OF
him so long ago.
''Mr. Carradine," she said, IL tolC
you that my fortune was gone, but ]