Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-13

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however, he awoke one day to life and con-
Sciousness.
A man was standing by the bedside, in whose
| some cousin: William Ash, Of whom he had
once been so insanely Jealous. The young man
understand him, that he had then the distino-
ton Of being Rose Bellward's brother-in-law,
having married Clara.
you" he said, land when we heard, through q
mutual friend, how Ill you were we took
room In the house to look after you; that Is
II thank you from the bottom of my heart"
said the sick man; and then Clara, who nad
and cried little, and let fall something about
hose being SO glad to learn that he was better:
ana at the mention of that name, Reginald
looked ashamed and turned his face away.
III was then pleasant May weather, ana IN
weeks time the invalid was strong enough to
Kensngton, with an old-fashioned, high-walled
garden at the back, lined with pear trees, where
you could sit and dream that you were miles
away from the largest city in the world, and
where Reginald did sit, feeling not unpleasantly
weak, but unpleasantly abashed for some things
In his past life. And there Clara and her hus-
band read to him the wonderful critlques on
his novel, and there he read q whole heap OF
letters from editors and publishers alike be
already, and fortune lay before him.
One day, May day, and a warm day, too.
when some one came out Of the house towards
him. There was no mistaking the unduiat1ng
Good morning" she said, in the low voice
which had in is o note of very special and
pleading music. "You are getting stronger
rise-I am going to sit down beside you. Do
you know what day 1t is?"
mo. l lose count of days in this pleasant Ian
at is the 25th OF May-my birthday"
els it, indeed, the 25th? Then wish you all
out o1 ii did
try to draw hers away, and there was silence
between them. His eyes yearned into hers,
Don't mind me-" she murmured, .but
cannot help thinking Of OLD days today"
both Of his, aRose, is It for ever impossible that
we should go back to old days-only with a man
deeply ashamed and penitent for things done
Dear" she replied, coming close to him
while his arm went round ner and folded her
TO bis side,,it is better far to be unhappy some
forever lonely apartr'
"But darling he said, ST am different man
what life meant without you, and 1 will not
make you unhappy! have longed to implore
heard you were rich! Your wealth angered me,
fiend!'
10, Rose -Roser' he asked passionately, "do
you really still love me?''
10y Yes, my dear, came ssr her low .H answer, ~
he was still weak, and his great thaDkfulness
had somewhat shaken him, he half Teclined on
while her hands played in his hair-which
trouble OF mind and illness Of body had done
much to thin. 1t is good day tor them both
should, by themselves.
1t was about fortnight after that happy day
with Rose to her mothers house, which was but
short way from the Ashes. He was to try and
walk back.
al am rather pleased with the drawing room"
said Rose, as she led the way into lofty, spa
cious, artistically furnished room; but large
start.
"Do you like my purchaser" she asked, OBJ
"Whose is Isl" he asked, somewhat dazedly.
"Whosef" she answered. "And you don't
know your own work?'
NO." he replied decidedly, while sudden
light seemed to rush in upon his BRAIN at is
not mine! 1t is Fullerton's, of course-Fuller-
toms great picture, The Shadow of Death 1
saw 1t while it was in process of painting-but
how came you to possess it?"
at was bought for a large sum by an English
In Italy, where he passed most Of his tim neuSi
became acquainted with him when went there
last winter. He died suddenly; his property
had to bid high, but was resolved to have it.
because knew, in spite of the name marked
unaceountable as it might seem-some fraud
had been practiced, and that the picture was
not bis, 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 it to me many times
in sketches you have made of it. She wears the
dress which was your favorite dress of mine.
Round her neck she wears the very necklace
which the most experienced jewelers. have
said it would be impossible to initiate Besides
Waiting in the has as
to be yours?"
"In justice to Fullerton" he reioiced, "read
thisr' selecting a letter from his pocket-book.
She took il from him, and read in hand which
was certainly not Reginald's:
"PARK LANE, March s.
"MY DEAR LoNeHURsr: Your praise of my lust
completed picture The shadow OF DEATH was SO un-
preciate it today should have done though indeed
I did l hattsE myself the subject is something in
face just that look of WEAKNESS which am sure girl
she noihns The
very The who sold it to said believed
COUNTED myse in having secured
ure Hoping the world may indorse your generous
"Most sincerely and gracefully, yours,
$50 you will not trust mer' Rose said. with
proud. hurt look, as she gave the letter back.
81 am going to trust you most absolutely in
one thing, will you not do it?"
In bis tenderness her pride melted as snow
around his neck SAVING she eeud d
he asked her; So the sunlight dissipated all
clouds, though to Rose the picture stu re-
IL
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.. Fullerton, and was at once fol-
lowed by that gentleman IN person.
He had not long lost his wife, who had allied.
report said, most unaccountably, ever since her
marriage, and had died of q painful and linger-
ing illness. In consequence of having lost the
woman he had really loved, the mans face
looked worn and weary, as ii he slept little but
had a more earnest look than it had ever worn
before. After q few words upon the weather
or what not, he informed them that he had
joined the Roman Catholic church, and de-
signed eventually to become priest
II have come TO speak about that picture "he
went on, looking first at it and then at ReQi.
maid, sand what now say wish the world to
know. That, my cOnfessOr tells me, Is my duty
and that i myself feel 1t TO be- may be O
superstitious man, but it seemed TO me an omi.
begin 10 fail in the first week of our mar
riage."
Reginald replied gravely:
do you think right. The matter IL one
out OF which myselfdo not come with clean
hands,"
my confession is briefly this.n said Fuller.
ton, addressing himself to Mrs. Longhurst
This picture, in which you must see now your
own face, which has won fame for its creator ia
not the work OF my hand, but of your hus-
bands. Just when the picture was finished he
asked me for q thousand pounds" Rose shud-
dered and her husband looked uncomfortable.
Fullerton continued:
II knew the picture had been shown to no
one but myself / knew it could not fail to be
brilliant success. believed that as q success
| full man could win the hand Of the girl longed
| for. The talk had come to be whether was
merely q pretender, or really a man OF genius.
The temptation was too strong for me. paid
4 the 81 on a condition n nj