The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-24

'She is very silly said sister Anne,
rather tartly, as she poured cup of tea
for him.
Agnes went to her room, locked the door,
knelt beside the bed and burst into tears.
A prize given by photographer was offered
to her competition. She had dreamed of
fame and artistic excellence. Instead of
the mountain peak where she had longed to
plant her standard, the slough of the valley
of poverty was destined to engulf her. Oh,
the scorching tears of discouragement and
humiliation which fell from her eyes At
length she rose and lighted the gas jet in
order to again read the detested advertise
ment Her room was cold and bare, par
taking of the characteristics of studio
rather than the abode of woman. In one
corner the iron bedstead was concealed by a
screen, with tiny mirror suspended near
it; opposite, a stove reached with its rusty
pipe to shelf holding several plaster busts
The windows opened on glass covered
piazza, the sanctuary of the easel Here
tthe artist indulged in reyeries, or wrought
with pencil and brush, forgetful of all else,
and oblivious of the vicinity Of a laundress,
who employed the next glass-covered piazza
for the purpose of drying linen-a practical
industry, which brought in far more salts
factory returns, in payment, than did the
color box of Agnes Clement. The latter
sought the spot now, and seated herself on
the sole chair it boasted, mechanically. A
large canvas was propped against the wall,
representing life-sized Beatrice in Para
disc" beckoning to shadowy Dante.
Agnes had concentrated the labor, ambition
and hopes of years application in this
bold attempt, had entered the lists valiantly
for exhibition in the National Academy of
Design and suffered the cruel blow Of rejec-
ton. Beyond was an "Ophelia" with yel-
low hair, who had shared similar fate the
previous year. These lovely heroines Ian
guished in the obscurity of the glass piazza
without ever having met the approving
smile of an appreciative public. Oh, the
cold selfshness of the world, and the wiiful
blindness of hanging committees and art
critics For the first time Agnes found
the smile of Beatrice insipid and her gaze
vacant. A doubt chilled her heart. Luck
lily she turned the picture to the wall, and
sought the easement, gazing forth into the
night rather than longer contemplate her
own work.
The piazza, located in the rear of the
noisy avenue, overlooked the houses of the
next street. These residences were aristo-
cratic in proportion as their neighbors were
humble. A high brick wall, bordered by
vine of wistaria, inclosed stable and gar
den of the mansion opposite, while brilliant
lights within revealed a conservatory to the
observer. The light came through curtains
of silk and lace in more remote drawing
room, where the chandelier was visible, like
great golden cone, and slanted across the
conservatory, resting here on frond of
quiyering ferns and there on IA mass of
gorgeous blossoms. At the same time the
ripping melody of piano, touched by a
skillful hand, reached the ear Of this lonely
spectator, who looked down on all this lux
ury, gayety and life, not so much with
sting of envy as crushing, overwhelming
sense of personal failure.
The night was clear, stars sparkled in
the sky above, and the radiance of a full
moon began to illuminate the city roofs.
A girl entered the conservatory, ap-
preached a sash and opened it, leaning out
to discover the moon. She wore a pink
dress, with soft white lace on neck and
arms; jewel flashed in her hair. Turning
aside from the window her sleeve caught in
the branch of a Towering plant. She over
turned it and it fell outside the window
with crash of broken pottery. The girl
uttered a little cry of dismay, glanced down
on the wreck she had occasioned a moment,
then withdrew her head and closed the sash.
The plant, an offshoot of the conservatory's
wealth of bloom and fragrance, remained
on the ledge where it had fallen.
Now the silk curtains separated, and a
gentleman Joined her. He was tall and
slender young man in evening dress, with a
flower in his button-hole.
ssThere is one for whom life is fortu
nate" unused the artist. elbow readily l
can picture him attaining maturity, smiling
and good-humored, and growing old in that
charming home, surrounded by friends y
The girl had clasped her hands on the
Young mans arm, and gazed up into his
face. He responded to this thoughtful
scrutiny by touching her hair lightly, ca
ressingly with his lips, and then speaking
with careless laugh
"Well, have consented to go to Min
nesota for the winter, May. Such nom
sense as it is. l should prefer Paris or
Italy. A mere trife of cough, and all
the doctors looking so wise and glum. They
rejoice to secure 'case,' l suppose"
May disengaged her hands from his arm
and plucked camelia Her face was as
untroubIed as his own.
II shall return in the spring for our
wedding, dearest" he continued. "What
a weather-roughened giant you will have
for bridegroom !"
sHenry, take me with you" she pleaded,
softly. 'Do not go away all alone, dear,
Let us be married tomorrow
"Without the Worth trousseau, ma mig
nome, and great reception ?" he ques-
toned, half mockingly.
"You should be gallant, and say some
thing about beauty unadorned," said May,
tossing the camelia at him.
Then the brilliant eyes of the young
man clouded, the rich color in his cheek
paled with the emotion which made his
lips tremble.
aMy noble girl Ny good little wife T
he whispered, folding her closely in his en-
brace.
Agnes Clement witnessed this scene
without divining all its significance, and a
tender smile dawned on her own face. The
homely devotion of sister Anne to her
husband in her cabbage-scented dominions
did not touch her. The meeting of the
two young people in the conservatory moved
her profoundly. Was not her artistic taste
gratifed by their beauty, the light shed
through the silk curtains behind them, the
rosy simmer of the girls draperies, and
the shadow of exotic plants meeting above
their heads? She remained there motion
less long after the pair had disappeared
her eyes fixed on the fallen plant, which
still rested on the ledge The stonework
blanched, in contrast, the delicate white
blossoms to snow, and the moonbeams
tonehed each METAL with a silyerv luster