The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-08-18
A SAD CHOICE.
An Artists Love Of Ease Blights
His Manhood.

The evening was warm-the sort of
evening that makes one think of green
fields and placid meadows and the moon
rising over towering hedges.
Bell, watching by the window from
whence she could soonest hear step
which came not, smothered sigh. She
was not much addicted to signing, sure
". Her days were too busy. But this
particular day had been so 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
ened by contact with this and that.
Vane Stephenson had resented the
amount of helpfulness volunteered by
those small hands more than once
"Why do you drudge soP' he had
sad, angrily.
Then Bell, patiently, would explain
Jessie so delicate, and poor Tom out
of position, and the children-what
else could she do? Vane would be 81.
fenced.
You're little SAINT, Relln'
This, or any other word of endear-
ment from him, was almost enough to
bring the roses to her checks, even
though the charming face might have
looked trihe pale and wan before. The
color came now with a sudden rush, as
the well-known form turned the corner
at last.
Vane was absent-minded tonight. He
took no notice of the pretty dress, made
by her own deft fingers, in colors his
artists eye approved. 1t had cost her
many deprivation, that dress, cheap
and 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, dear?'
she said, softly, at length. 1t was rare
ly she even questioned him thus far.
incensed her sister. 1t was not that
Jessie was unkind wilfully, only she did
not believe in these long engagements
''Oh, I've been harrassed in hun.
dred ways replied Stephenson, If.
ritably. "The whole thing is beastly
grind. My francesca da Rimini' has
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 tt
talk of something else beside filthy lucrt
or the want of it.
He laughed. though trifle harshly.
Il am very sorry" murmured Bell.
"By the way he continued, chang
ing to lighter tone, in which there wa:
perhaps the least little sign of embar
BASEMENT, not unnoticed by Bells gentle
ears, 81 am 90 NC off to leave you for {
few days-out of town. My brains
(what there is of them) are fairly dry,
ing up. Unless give them soakin!
into some refreshing fluid by change o
scene and atmosphere that great picture
which is to make one person immorta
and two eternally happy will never &c
itself done. Do you mind my going?'
ii think it will do you good and b,
better for your work, too. An arts
can rot drudge in one groove forever
No. do not mind And it is gettin!
so hot now also in the city,
Il wish you could have Il change
Little girl" said Vane, taking her sin
hand in his. don't you think you'll
get away for few days?'
No" said Bell, softly. Poor Tom
yoa know
Vane could not master amovement Q
impatienee Poor Tomn If ever ther
was a shiftless individual!
He stayed quite late, and was NOR
tender than he had been for some time
As he was going away he took her del
cate facet looked trifle drawn, an,
there were rings about the dark eyes-i
both his palms.
Don't forget me while I'm away,
he sad, smiling down at her. ''An
fake good care of yourself. Don
sacrifice yourself too much, child. D.
you hear!'
She managed TO smile in return.
Il shant forget you," she said yer
low.
He stood thus moment longer
They made a picture such as Millais
brush would have loved. The fair, pal
Slrl with the dark eyes, and the tall
handsome fellow; for Vane Stephenson
was eonspicuously hand ONE, without
uoubt. Among the artists he went b
Inc name of Beauty Vain Then h
stopped and kissed her, and as he GO
10 the corner he turned again and fror
her post at the window she saw him no
at her, smiling once more, standin
utefe in the moonlight. She RENAME
mere moment after he had d sappeal
eo' and the hand that rested against tn
curtains tremb.ed little.
Well" cried Jessic's somewha
snr III voice from the back room, cha
'ane gomez When is he comm
C"'h!