Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-28
A SAD CHOICE.
An Artists Love of Ease Blights
His Manhood.


evening that makes one think of green
fields and placid meadows aud tho moon
rising over towering hedges.
Bell, watching by the window from
whence she could soonest hear step
which camo not, smothered sigh She
was NOT much addicted to signing, sure
ly. Her days were too busy. But this
particular day had been 50 long and
trying and the children had been SO
troublesome. Aunt Bells hands had
been more than full; not large hands,
either. Rather very small and delicate,
though the fingers were little rough
cncd by contact with this and that.
Vane Stephenson had resented the
amount of holpfulnoss volunteered by
those small hands more than once
why do you drudge soP" he had
said, angrily.
Then Bell, patiently, would explain
Jessie so delicate, and poor Tom out
of a position, and the children--what
else could she doP Vane would be 81
lcnccd
You're little SAINT. Bell"
This, or any other word Of endear-
ment from him, was almost enough TO
bring the roses TO her checks, even
though tho charming face might have
looked trine pale and wan before. The
color came now with sudden rush, MS
the well-known form turned the corner
at lastl
Vanc was absent-minded tonight. lie
took no notice of the pretty dress, made
by her own deit fingers, in colors his
artists eye approved. 1t had cost her
many deprivation, that dress, cheap
and simple as II was; and II had been
made only that she might be pretty in
his sight. Poor little Bells eyes sank.
But sho sat down by his side in the small,
shabby parlor in silence.
whats made you late, Vnno, dearP"
she said. softly, at length. 1t was rare
| ly she oven questioned him thus far.
Her reserve and rct,ccnce amazed and
inccnsed her sister. 1t was not that
Jessie was unkind wilfully, only she did
not believe In these long engagements.
"Oh, I've been harrassod in hun
drcd ways" replied Stephenson, ir-
rilably. 'Thc whole thing Is n bcastly
grind. My Francesca da Rimini' has
been sent back from San Francisco.
Ecly thought he could sell it so casilyl
Well, this is the result And-oh, well,
the usual troubles. No usa retailing
them over TO you. Bell. We ought to
talk Of something else beside filthy lucre
or the want Of it. "
lie laughed. though triilc harshly.
Il am very sorry, " murmured Bell.
"By the way" no continued, chang
ing to lighter tone, in which there was
perhaps the least little sign of embar-
rassment, not unnoticed by Boil gentle
ears, II am going off TO leave you for a
few days-out of town. My brains
(what there Is of them) are fairly dry
ing up. Unless give them a soaking
into some refreshing fluid by change OF
scene and atmosphere that great picture
which is TO make one person immortal
and two eternally happy will never get
itself done. Do you mind my goingp"
"a think 1t will do you good and be
better for your work, too. An artist
can not drudge in one groove forever.
No, / do not mind. And it is getting
80 hot now also in the city,"
II wish you could have O change,
little girl, " said Vane, taking her sim
hand in his. Don't you think you'll
get away for q few daysp"
NO" said Bell, softly, Poor Tom
you know"
Vane could not master amovement O
impatience. Poor Toni" II ever ther,
was shiftless individual
Ho stayed quite late, and was more
tender than he had been for some time
AS he was going AWAY ho took her deli
cate facet looked Il triile drawn, ant
D there were rings about the dark eyes-iI
both his palms
Don't forget me while I'm away
he said, smiling down at her. "An,
take good care of yourself Don
sacrifice yourself too much, child. Dt
, you hoarp"
j She managed to smile in return.
81 shan't forget you" she said yer,
!. low.
He stood thus moment longer
They made n picture such as Mlllais
brush would have loved. The fair, pal
girl with the dark eyes, and the tall
handsome fellow. for Vano Stephenson
was conspicuously handsome, without
doubt. Among tho artists he went b.
the name of Beauty Vain" Then h
stopped and kissed her, and rs he 90
TO the corner he turned again and from
I her post at the window she saw him no,
y at her, smiling once more, standin,
there in the moonlight. She RENAME,
there a moment after he had disappear
od, and the hand that rested against th
curtains trcmblod little.
"Woll!" cried Jessie's somewha
shrill voice from the back room, ''ha
Vane gonoP When is he comm,
D againp"
jesse lay on the lounge shapeles
mass of wrapper and shawls, as usual
/, despite the sultriness of the night
] She had had one of her attacks dur
ing the day and was more querulou
than customary.
"Yane is going away for littl
whilo-out Of town"
, "Going to some fashionable place,
suppose, with some of his fashionabl
friends!' cried the invalid. Then, o
her sister made no reply; "If he save