The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-05

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| instantly in the direction whence the pebb.
came aud stepped ont OF the sunshine int
| the shadow OF soma Vau.tad masonry
There before an easel stood the ION
! man in the world to me-" He drey
me TO him in the shade tue large cauva
on the easel forming friendly screen BE-
! fore us. He l0oSeI into my eyes, anC
kissed my lips; and what wonder tina
my pulses throbbed, aud that N Y hart bea
| high with happiness! NY short life. b tn
erto so weighted with care, seemed battle,
| in sunshine now.
Il nay tell Mrs. Dalyel our secrets"
asked Horace as we were about to part Il
meet again on the same spot next day.
mo, Lucy" he said, mot vet; but soon
| And as his will was mine | agreed to kesI
tho secret OF my enypg amcat yet Ettls
! longer.
Three days went by. three happy days
:or each morning l NIT my lover at oul
chosen AM apparently safe tryst;ny place
| But Oh th3 fourth, as we sat in our COO
! retrcls. l saw TO m ia91presIible dismay
| the TIL and graceful figure o: Mrs. Dalyel
crossing Ieisurely the open space before Us
Horace, whispering mo ID st still, ro5c,
altered quickly and doxt ,roTsly tho posi-
! ton of his easel-So that while it still serve
! as screen to me, he him self stool out in
the sunshine-then took up his brush and
palette and began to paint. Mrs. Daiyel
saw him instantly, an | WAS struck with
the l0oI that came i1to her face on doing
so. II WIS Enthusiastically one Of rccogni-
ton and Of startled, glad surprise.
Mr.. LorenZOi" she exclaimed, WAN SD :
had come quite close to him. Horace
raised his hat, but apparently do not see
the out>tretcle1 hand.
No doubt you are surprised to fial me
here, Mrs. Dalyei, he said. Il left Rome
about month since and came to Lon
don. ran down hero because" The
pause he made appeared 81 yniicant.
You knew that l was in Bath! You
came to seek me-"
Her voice was SO soft and low, it thrilled
me. What a revelation it contained.
Scarcely breathing, awaited his reply.
Here is my excuse" he answered, eva
siyely, calling attention to his work You
see am painting picture of this place. |
am building up these ruins as they may
have been in the golden days OF their glory.
and peopling them with figures of the past. s"
The pastr' she echosd 20, at seeing
you again, L can think but of one past. Tae
time, five years ago. The scene, Rome.
The actors you and myself Have you quite
forgotten, LOrenzoH
Il have forgotten nothing" he answered.
in the hardest bittereSt tones | ever heard;
and he continued to paint vigorously, while
Mrs. Dalyel, from beneath the shadow of
her deep lace-bordered parasol, watched
him with a feverish look in her fine dark
eyes.
''Since we parted. Mr. Lorenzo" she said
gently, Il have seen your name rise grad
ually to fame. Fortune has been kind to
you whilst /"
Whilst you are as handsome as ever; a
rich. and / trust as happy" She laughed,
a little disdainfully, it seemed.
You judge by appearances. she said.
ITO tell you the truth, am most greatly
changed
NJ L .
in deep, concentrated tones that made me
shiver and turn cold. Then she bent her
proud head close to hiS-so close-and
spoke rapidly few words that | could not
hear. But he drew back. and To all appear
ance irrevalently asked: You are not
alone here. Mrs. Dalyel!"
mo. have with me little protegse;
young girl whom have taken up
Another within of the moments" he
asked bitterly.
What would you." she returned. with
slight shrug and her most pronounced
French manner. 1--WE idle women who
have no ties-we take what you English
call a craze for this or that
when this or that msans man Or
woman, then / say The play is sometimes
dangerous for the victim, he interrupte |.
Perhaps | speak too fesling,y. This is
the place, nor is it yet time to
enter on
Come to the hoteI,'' she said not allow
ing him to finish his sentence. when
may expect yoU."
For a nom 9nt he seemed to hesitate,
then said IN a firm, low voice: 1T was
nv intention to call on you this evening.
will do so.''
He went on painting. 1 saw a flash of
triumph leap into her eyes. Then she
bowed and turned away. L rose from my
lark corner, thinking to pass HOracs un-
perceived. He addrOpped his brush and
stood gazing after Mrs. Dalyel. seemingly /
ost in thought-thought that was plea sur |
able, for he smiled.
''Don't run away like that, Lucyr he |
cried, hurrie lily catching at my dress Is |
Dru Shsd by. dared not trust myself to |
speak, much less to rem lin. but shaking |
myself free from his Obtaining hand. l fled |
across the open space and up the WOO len !
adder, scared and breathleSS. Tnere | |
turned, and looking down on the scene had |
Quilted, saw the sunshine gliding the |
broken columns. gliStening in the waters |
)f the bath, and Horace stan ling where | |
lad left him with bright SIN lie on his lips. |
pressed nv hands before my eyes to shut |
)ut tia sig 1t, and Shivering mademy way |
back to the hotel.
Too miserable, too mystifisd, to dare to |
most Mrs. Dalyel at lunch, M lds an ex- |
Joining her later, was struck with tho |
change in her. Her cheskS were fluShed, |
ler beautiful eyes beam I'll with n new light |
IN them. She looked handsom ar than had |
aver seen her. And II WATCHED her with !
a pain at my heart that was new and |
strange to me. When the wretchsd dinner |
was over-which one OF US could not tou n |
for happiness, the other for very misery
was about to leave tbs room but Mrs
Dalyel called me t. her. bidding mo bs
seated on a low stool at her feet. my hanl
close clasped in hers. she said: Lucy.
my liking for you is no idle within. 1 love
you dearly. As proof OF this l havo
somsthing to tell you that concerns you
very clos ,ly. But first of all shall make
q confession to you that rsgar Is myself
You love ms, child!" sho aSke1 leaning
Ovar me.
For sole reply, pressed my lips upon tn
hand hstd, while shs continu I'd:
When quits young l married Mr.. Dali
vel. My parents arranged the marriage
Six years ago my hu i5and died leaving me
4 large fortune, the bu k of which, how
aver in the event OF my making q secoad,
marriage, goSS to his only relative; man
)f whom know nothing, except til 1t b.
1isgraced himself in my hu ban Is eyes By
going into trade. The first year OF nv
over, l went to R0ms. Whsn |
here took a craze for art, studied for
several months undsr one of the frs |
artists and became acquainted with
Touug man named Lorenzo. als) study ing
u the same studio. He was many years
than myself; very Handsome a
charming companion, devoted to art, and |
very soon bacsme eJuaIly-or perhaps
"a her more-ievotsd to ms. Well what
would you! l encouraged him-as pas
inns. of c9urSe-but never for one mo-
nsnt believed he was suffi ,iently infa5u-
stad and preSumptuouS to ask IN to marry |
him. He not only I'D m to BE- his wife |
~ hut ,-N- la H.
'etusal. l laughed at him, ridiculing to |
'corR a proposal from a man SC, young. |
unknown. and above all peanilesS. W.
parted in bittersSs anger; for he was proud , I,
passionate as-mysslf But |
Is time went by, l found, too late, alas, |
hat Lowell this proud young artist. whom |
had scorned in Roms-lovad him with
! love YOUR girlish heart clnlI