The Arizona sentinel., 1886-08-21
A SAD CHOICE.
An Artists Love of Ease Blights
 His Manhood.


 His Manhood.
 The evening was warm-the sort oi 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- ly. 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 so?" he had said, 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 si- fenced.
 You're a little saint, BelIr'
 This, or any other word of endear- ment from him, was almost enough to bring the roses to her cheeks, even though the charming face might have looked trife 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 delft fingers, in colors his artists eye approved. It 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. It was rare ly she even questioned him thus far. Her reserve and reticence amazed and incensed her sister. It was not that 
 not believe in these long engagements.
 ''Oh, I've been harrassed in hun dred ways" replied Stephenson, ir- 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 to talk of something else beside filthy lucre or the want of it.
 He laughed, though trife harshly.
 T am very sorry murmuredBell.
 By the way" he continued, chang ing to lighter tone, in which there was perhaps the least little sign of embar- rassment, not unnoticed by Bell S gentle ears, '1 am going off to leave you for a few days-out of town. My brains (what there is of them) are fairly dry ing up. Unless give them a soaking into some refreshing fluid by change of scene and atmosphere that great picture which is to make one person immortal and two eternally happy will never get itself done. Do you mind my going?"
 Il think it will do you good and be better for your work, too. An artist can not drudge in one groove forever. No, do not mind And it is getting so hot now also in the city,"
 "I wish you could have a change, little girl" said Vane, taking her slim hand in his. Don't you think you'll get away for few days?"
 '-No," said Bell. softly. Poor Tom, you know-''
 Vane could not master amovement of impatience. "Poor Tomr' If ever there was a shiftless individual!
 He stayed quite late, and was more tender than he had been for some time As he was going away he took7her deli cate face-it looked trifie drawn, and there were rings about the dark eyes-in both his palms.
 Don't forget me while I'm away" he said, smiling down at her. ..And take good care of yourself. Don't sacrifice yourself too much, child. Do you hear?"
 She managed to smile in return.
 '1 shan't forget you" she said very low.
 He stood thus a moment longer. They made a picture such as Millais' brush would have loved. The fair, pale girl with the dark eyes, and the tall, handsome fellow;- for Vane Stephenson was conspicuously handsome, without 8 doubt. Among the artists he went by the name of Beauty Vain" Then he stopped and kissed her, and as he got to the corner he turned again and from her post at the window she saw him nod at her, smiling once more, standing there in the moonlight. She remained there moment after he had disappear ed, and the hand that rested against the curtains trembled little.
 "Well!" cried Jessie's somewhat brill voice from the back room, 'thas Vane gonep When is he coming again?"
 Jessie lay on the lounge shapeless mass of wrapper and shawls, as usual,