The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-08-13
A SAD CHOICE.
In Artists Love of Ease Blights
His Manhood.

pnidI The evening was warm-the sort OF
Eening that makes one think of green
a.ais ,autu Ields and placid meadows and the moon
nsntjtsing over towering hedges.
Sis aoss1 Bell, watching by the window from
& l. Ehence she could soonest hear a step
Ehich came not, smothered a sigh. She
vas not much addicted to signing, sure
aE. Her days were too busy. But this
I particular day had been so long and
lying and the children had been so
Troublesome. Aunt Bells hands had
IIzsy been more than full; not large hands,
y i,s Either. Rather very small and delicate,
''0' though the fingers were a little rough
n 1ned by contact with this and that.
ses Eane Stephenson had resented the
kmount of helpfulness volunteered by
rsr, hose small hands more than once.
iTfa. 4 e.. "Why do you drudge sop he had
lrsSs sSs laid, angrily.
IL 9isT. T. Then Bell, patiently, would explain
-Jessie so delicate, and poor Tom out
bf position, and the children-what
mss blse could she dop Vane would be si-
fenced.
you're little SAINT BelI!''
'',. oa. This, or any other word of endear-
light ment from him, was almost enough to
o.. bring the roses to her cheeks, even
IT, though the charming face might have
much looked trife pale and wan before. The
''' tolor came now with a sudden rush, as
AT the well-known form turned the corner
:. lat last!
Cd Vane was absent-mindedt tonight. He
:, took no notice of the pretty dress, made
us. by her own deft fingers, in colors his
egts artists eve approved. 1t had cost her
many deprivation, that dress, cheap
- land simple as it was; and it had been
made only that she might be pretty in
his sight. Poor little Bells eyes sank.
But she sat down by his side in the small,
shabby parlor in silence.
"Whats made you late, Vane, dearp''
Lshe said, softly, at length. 1t was rare
Fly she even questioned him thus far.
Her reserve and reticence amazed and
incensed her sister. 1t was not thai
Jessie was unkind wilfully, only she die
mot believe in these long engagements
"Oh, I've been harrassed in hun.
dred ways replied Stephenson, ir
, Iritably. ''The whole thing is a beastly
grind. My Francesca da Rimini' ha
, been sent back from San Francisco
| Eely thought he could sell it SO easily
Well, this is the result. And-oh well
the usual troubles. No use retailing
them over to you, Bell. We ought t.
talk of something else beside filthy lucr
.-or the want of it.
He laughed, though a trife harshly
Il am very sorry," murmured Bell.
'sBy the way" he continued, chang
ing to a lighter tone, in which there wa
perhaps the least little sign of embar
-- rassment, not unnoticed by Bells gentl
ears, 81 am going off to leave you for
few days-out of town. My brain
(what there is of them) are fairly dry
ing up. Unless give them soakn
!! into some refreshing fluid by change c
as scene and atmosphere that great pictur
which is to make one person immorts
and two eternally happy will never g
itself done. Do you mind my goingp
Il think it will do you good and /
better for your work, too. An arti
1 can not drudge in one groove foreve
No, do not mind And it is gettin
SO hot now also in the city,"
II wish you could have chang
little girl, said Vane, taking her sli
hand in his. Don't you think you
a. get away for few daysp'
10. mo" said Bell, softly. 'Poor Tor
you know"
| Y
" impatience. Poor Tomr' If ever the
was shiftless individual
He stayed quite late, and was mo-
tender than he had been for some tim
, h As he was going away he took1her de
cate FACET looked trifle drawn, al
,Ia there were rings about the dark eyes
~ ~ both his palms.
AS, Don't forget me while I'm away
a. a. he sad. smiling down at her. .sAl
,uS' mS take good care of yourself. Dor
e. sacrifice yourself too much, child. !
p you hearp"
eW She managed to smile in return. Z
aSs II shan't forget you," she SAID We
low.
PIE He stood thus moment longs
ms They made a picture such as Milla
81 brush would have loved. The fair, ps
girl with the dark eyes, and the ia
oa handsome fellow;-f for Vane Stephens
was conspicuously handsome, without
doubt. Among the artists he went
the name of Beauty Vain. y Then
|- stopped and kissed her, and as he Q
to the corner he turned again and fre
a. her post at the window she saw him n
Il at her, smiling once more, stand
It there in the moonlight She remain
. there moment after he had disappe.
ed, and the hand that rested against t
4. curtains trembled little
a. WELL" cried Jessie's somewl
shrll voice from the back room, ii
Vane gomez When is he comi
u againp
= Jessie lay on the lounge shapel,