Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-19

II am rather pleased with the drawing
roOm," said Rose us she led the way into
u lofty, spacious artisticaly furnished
room; but a large picture hanging on the
wall caused Reginald to start
$40 you like my purchase ~ she asked,
observing HIM.
Whose is it ?" he asked. somewhat
dazedly.
Whose ?" she answered "Aud you
don't know your own work"
M" he replied decidedly, while Il sud
den light seemed to rush in upon his
brain. at is not mlne Ii is Fullerton's,
of couise-Fullert, us great picture. The
shadow of Death saw it while it was
in process of painting-but how came you
to possess ii ?'
at was bought for u large sum by an
English gentleman, who took it with him
to his house in italy, where he passed
most of his time became acquainted
with him when | went there last winter
He died suddenly; his property was sold
by auction; | bid for this picture, and |
had to bid high, but | was resolved to
have it, because | knew, N spite of the
name marked in the corner being I'D ward
Fullerton that-unaccountable as it
might seem-sume fraud had been praC-
tlced, and that the picture was not his,
but yours"
NO fraud has been practiCed What
should make you think the picture not
his ~
"See, Reginald" she said, "the girls
face is my face. as YOU have shown il to
me many times III sketches you have
made Of it, She wears the dress which
was your 1aNorlte dress OF nine Round
her neck she wears the very necklace
which has been in our family for genera
tons, which the most experienced jewel
erS have said 1t would tie impossible to
initiate. Besides, do not know the at
traction which Death. Us IA presence wait
ing in the background, has always had
Tor you? And you ask how know 1t to
be yours -
I'm justice to Fullerton he rejoined,
read TINS selecting Il letter from his
| pocket-book. She took it from him, and
read III hand Whlch wa, certainly not
| reginald :
PARK LANE. March !.
"MY!DEAR LONGHURsr- Your praise of my
just completed picture, The Shadow OF
Death, was so uns',nted and eenerou tnnt
lear uid nor seem TO apl,rech5e II to-day as
sn0r nTf u4 the ,nHG lusen ana
vour way. did work Very hard To- pet int"
/ the giri's face Just that Took OF WEAKNESS
which am sure a girl feels when listening to
the rawlings of man Tor whom she cares
thing. The necklace IS as you remarked
heTy Tnie, ne maj WIZ Sp'm !, ~ me su
n thn word sn n,nted ;Snvsnr f"ri,n ,iMe in
having secured a treustlIc. iI0ping the world
may ndorSe your generous verdict.
II remain,
Most sincerely ana gratefully yours.
H. FULLERTON
SO Won will not trust me-" Rose said
with proud, hurt look, as she gave the
letter back.
II am going to trust You most abso-
lutely in everything, If now ask you to
trust me in one thing, will you not do
it :"
In his tenderness her pride melted as
Suov t,.lts in the Sunshine She tuu,,
her arms around his neck, saying She
could do anything he asked her SO the
sunshine disspated the clouds though
to Rose the picture still remained mys
terry.
They had been married about three
months, and one evening were alone in
the drawing room after dinner, when the
servant handed in the card of Mr.. Full err
ton, and was at once followed by the gen
tleman in person.
! He had not long lost his wife who had
allied report said, most unaccOuntahly
ever since her marriage, and had died of
a painful and lingering illness. In con
sequence of having lost the woman he had
really loved, the mans face looked worn
and weary, as if he slept little, but had a
more earnest look than it had ever worn
before. After few words upon the
weather, or what not, he informed them
that he had Joined the Roman Catholic
church, and designed eventually to become
Il priest.
81 have come to speak about that pic
ture," he went on looking first at it and
then at Reginald, land what now say
wish the world to know That, my con
fessor tells me is my duty and that | my.
self feel it to be- | may be Il supersttious
man, but it seemed to me an oninous
sign that my dear wife's health should
begin to fail in the first week of our mar
riage"
Reginald replied gravely:
80 as you think right The matter i,
one out of which do not come with clean
hands"
My confession is briefly this" said
Fullerton. addressing himself TO Mrs
must see now your own face which I'M.
won tame Tor Its creator, Is not the work
or my nand, Dut OF your husband 5. JUS
Nhtn the picture was Hnlsheu ne ASKED