St. Landry democrat., 1886-03-13

graceful ueSilSe dDouo eHo oliS wv
perfectly symmetrical form were repre-
sented in some soft, clinging material,
all white from head to foot, relieved
only by the brightness of a silver fringe
bordering the long, flowing robe and
mantle flung with careless grace about
the shoulders. The furniture and
adornments about the boudoir, OF which
this beautiful being was represented as
the sole occupant, were likewise color.
less, tinged everywhere with bits OF
shining silver. In these, as in all the
lights and shadows of the picture, there
were some master strokes OF work.
With cunning design and wonderfully
delicate execution there was presented
the semblance Of tilmy frost-work over
the window through which the sunllgnt
reflected a mellow radiance. Across
one frozen pane the shapely hand OF the
girl was clearly defined as the tore
finger traced the letters of half-tlnlsh.
ed sentence: 'Love laughs at -.
The smiling lips and love-lit eyes ex-
pressed an all-absorbed and tender IN
terest, and could not resist an actual
pang of jealous emotion as L gazeo
upon this strangely fascinating creature
of an artists skill and a poets fancy,
for only in such an ideal world as they
can create did | dream such charms
could find their counterpart.
How long | should have stood thus
enthralled, spelE-bound. and, may as
well confess. love-smitten. | can not
say. | was aroused by 4 quick tap on
nv shoulder, and. turning impatiently
on nv intruder. found myself face to
face with Arthur Russell, an old friend
and college chum from New York. My
hand was grasped within his own i'll
warm and cordial greeting as he eA-
pressed his surprise at meeting me.
Jupiter and Mars. Matthews, the
sight of YOU here fairly takes my breath
away. How in the name of all that 5
wonderful do YOU happen to be IN
Pariso You are not looking quite we'll.
Nothing serious, l hope?
lone question at a time. old friend,
answered in Il dazed sort of way, try
ing to recall my wandering thoughts
and return his hearty welcome with an
equal show of pleasure. l did feel III a
vague sort of way that his presence was
a godsend in the unhappy state L had
fallen into physically and mentally.
s.You find me here en- route for home
after iunketing over half the world.
Going home on the l. Amerlque IN d
few days. Devilish glad to see you
Russell, old boy; [ am, indeed" Here
l made mighty effort to keep my eyes
upon my friend instead of letting them
wander to the fair vision looking down
from the canvas above us. 1t was I'M
possible, and as my glance again rested
upon it l found myself equally power
less to withdraw it, and the dim reallza-
ton that was acting part OF an I'M
mitigated idiot did not help matters IN
the least. | felt myself relapsing into
the bewildered reverie from which l had
been aroused when Russell voice again
spoke:
II say, Matthews, you re not looking
as fresh as daisy nor as rugged as an
oak: too much sigh t-seeing and pleasure
seeking. perhaps, eh?''
Here my merciless moiar, as though
angry at the brief respite it hadilgrantedl
me from torture, gave sudden grow
that made me vince, while a dentist
with all his implements of horror floated
specter-like between me. and my beauti-
full vision. [ turned almost angrily
upon Russell as | exclaimed: Il am
quite well, although neither a daisy nor
an oak: have slight cold, perhaps; in
fact, am suffering with neuralgia to,
which, you know, am a victim. 1t
a wretched disease; upsets ones nerves
fearfully.'
| knewI was a lying coward, but if
had not known it Russell's demonical
smile and another jerk from my aching
tooth would have brought me to an ex.
asperating consciousness of it. could
have struck my friend across his hand
some smiling face in my pain and rage,
| but controlled the impulse and man
aged to divert his attention to the pic,
| ture. Before he had returned to me
again had slyly whisked from my vest
pocket and hastily swallowed another
morphine powder and faced him with
forced complaisance.
We both turned our eyes to the por'
| trait again as my friend asked, banter
ingly: HAS this fair, inanimate crea'
ture awakened a fresh flame in your
sensitive breast, Matthewsp You were
apparently spellbound before it when
came in, and stood at your elbow fol
fully fifteen minutes before | dared re
mind you of my presence.
| / only looked into the beautiful face
full of dreamy love light with conflict
ing emotion such as had never known
face to face with any woman in thu
actual, living world. A strange fasci
| nation had taken possession of me
mingled with feeling longing to know
the original, if one existed, and fool
ish, unreasonable jealousy, as | reat