The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-06

THE STORY OF A SCULPTOR.
A STORY BY THE LATE
H u Ct II 60 N w A Y,
PART II.-CHAPTER III.


broad and graveled terrace walk that runs along
the stately front of Acton Hail. They leant
upon the grey stone balustrade the girl with
musing eyes was looking down on shadowy lawn
and fower-bed undeneath-the young man
looked at her, and her alone. Silence reigned
long between them. but at last she spoke.
"You really go to morrowq"
'"Tell me to stay, and / will stay" he said,
passionately: 'tbut next week-next month
next year, the moment, when it does come, will
be just as bitter"
She did not urge him. She was silent. He
drew very near to her.
"Eugenia, he whispered. ''you love met"
II think So" Her eyes were still looking
over thedarkening garden. She spoke dreamily
| and as one who is not quite certain
''You think so! Listeni Before We part let
me tell You what your love means to me. If,
when first asked for it you had scorned me,
could have left you, unhappy, but still man.
Now, it means life or death to me. There is no
middle course-no question of joy or misery
simply life or death! Eugenia, look at me and
say you love mel"
His dark eyes charmed and compelled her. 81
love. you! | love YOU" she murmured Her
| he grasped remain in his, perhaps even returning
| the pressure of his own. So they stood for
| more than an hour, whilst Gerald talked OF the
| future and the fame he meant to wln-talked as
one who has the fullest confidence in his own
| powers and directing genius.
| Presently they saw Mr. Herbert walking
through the twilight towards them. Gerald's
hand frightened on the girls SO as to cause her
positive pain.
Remember, " he whispered. Life or death!
|
| means mans life or DEATH"
! Many lover has said an equally extravagant
| thing, but Eugenia Herbert knew that his words
| were not those of poetical imagery and as she
re-entered the house she trembled at the passion
she had aroused. What if time and opposition
| should work change in her feelings She tried
to reassure herself by thinking that if she did
not love him in the same blind reckless way. at
any rate she would never meet another man
whom she could love she loved Gerald Leigh.
The sculptor went back to Paris-to his art,
and his dreams of love and fame. Two years
| slipped by without any event of serious import
| happening to the persons about whom we are
concerned. Then came great change
| Mr.. Herbert died suddenly that neither
doctor nor lawyer could be summoned in time,
either to aid him to live to carry out his last
wishes. His will gave Eugenia two thousand
! pounds and an estate he owned in Worcestershire
| everything else to his son. Unfortunately
| some six months before, be had sold the Glou-
cestershire property. and. with culpable negh-
| gence, had not made fresh will Therefore,
the small money bequest was all that his daugh-
| ter could claim. However, this seemed of little
moment, as her brother at once announced
his intention of settling upon her the amount
| to which she was equitably entitled. He had
even given his solicitors instructions to prepare
| the deed.
| James Herbert, Eugenia's brother, was uamar-
ried. and at present had no intention OF settling
| down to the life OF country gentleman. Six
| weeks after Mr.. Herberts death, the greater
| a off
| Acton Hall was practically shut up. Eugenia,
after spending some weeks with friends in
/ the north of England, came to London to live
for an indefinite time with her mothers sister, a
| Mrs. Cathcart.
Since her fathers death, Gerald Leigh had
| written to her several times-letters full of
passionate love. and penned as if the writer
| felt sure OF her constancy and wish to keep her
promise. He, too, WAS coming to London. Had
she wished it, he would at once have come to
| her side but az it was he would take up his
quarters in town about the same time Eugenia
| arrived there
! The hour was at hand-the hour to which Miss
Herbert had for two years looked forward with
strangely mingled feelings-when her friends
must be told that she intended to marry the
young, and as yet unknown sculptor, Gerald
Leigh, the con of her fathers late tenantfarmer
| Abraham
She loved him still. She felt sure of that
much. If time and absence had somewhat weak
ened the spell he had thrown over her proud ma
| ture, she knew that, unless the man was greatly
changed, the magic of his words and looks would
sway her as irresistibly as before. She loved
him yet rebelled against her fate.
Her father had died ignorant of what had
passed between his daughter and the Young
artist Many time Eugenia had tried to bring
herself to confess the truth to him. She now re-
GREETED she had not done So Mr. Herbert's ap-
prevail, or disapproyal, would have been at least
staff by which to guide her steps. He had sus-
pected nothing. The few letters which
ccaIh a{ fhn haA he,
Their love was, as yet. secret known only to
themselves
She loved him, but why had he dared to make
her love him? Or, why was he not we'll born
and wealthy? Could she find strength to face
for his sake, the scorn of her friends2
She must decide at once She is sitting and
thinking all these things in her own room at
Mrs. Cathcart's, and in front of her lies letter
in which Gerald announces his intention of cali
ing upon her to morrow She knows that if she
receives him she will be bound to proclaim her
self his affanced wife.
He called. She saw him. Mrs. Cathcart was
out, so Eugenia was alone when the servant an
| nounced Mr.. Leigh She started and turned
pale She trembled in every limb as he crossed
the room to where she stood He took her
hand and looked into her face. He spoke, and
his rich musical voice thrilled her
"Eugenia-is it life or deaths"
She could not answer. She could not turn her
eyes from his She saw the intensity of their
expression deepen, saw fierce yearning look
come into them look which startled her.
rs it life or death?' he repeated.
His love conquered Gerald, it is life she,"
said.
Drunk with joy. he threw his arms around
her and kissed her until the bushes dyed her
cheeks. He stayed with her as long as she
would allow, but his delight was too delicious to
! permit him to say much about his plans for the
| future When at last, she made him leave her,
he gave her the number of studio at Chelsea
which he had taken and she promised to write
| and let him know when he might call again.
! They parted. Eugenia walked to the window.
| and for long time looked out on the CAV
| thoroughfare, now full of carriages going to
and returning from the park OF course she
! loved Gerald dearly-that was now beyond y
! doubt But what would she have to 60 through
when the engagement was annoanced-what
had she to look forward to as his wife2 Must
love and worldly misery be synonymous?