The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-14

JOU kNAl,
Rose to her mothers house, which was but q
short way from the Ashes. He was to try and
walk back.
II am rather pleased with the drawing-room,"
said Rose, as she led the way into lofty,
spacious, artistically- furnished room; but a
large picture hanging on the wall caused Regi-
maid to start.
do you like my purchaser" she asked, OBJ
serving him.
Whose is it7" he asked, somewhat dazediy.
''Whosep she answered. "And don't you
know your own work.
NO." he replied decidedly, while a sudden
light seemed to rush in upon his brain. 1T is
not mine! 1t is Fullerton's of course-Fulle
tons great picture The Shadow of Death
saw it while it was in process of painting-but
how came you to possess itq"
1T was bought for large sum by an English
gentleman, who took it with him to his house in
Italy where he passed most of his time. be-
came acquainted with him when I went there
last winter. He died suddenly; his property
sold by auction; bid for this picture, and / had
to bid high, but | was resolved to have it, be-
cause | knew, in spite of the name marked in the
corner being Edward Fullerton that-unac-
countable as it might seem-some fraud had
been practiced. and that the picture was not his.
but yours"
mo fraud has been practiced! What should
make you think the picture not his2"
See, Reginald" She said, ''the girls face is
my face, as you have shown it to 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 has been in family for generations,
which the most experienced jewelers. have said
it would be impossible to initiate! Besides, do l
not know the attraction which DEATH as pres
ence waiting liz the background has always
had for you2 And you ask how know it to be
yoursl"
I'm justice to Fullerton he rejoined. tread
this" selecting letter from his pocket book.
She took it from him, and read in q hand which
was certainly not Reginald's:
'PARK LANE March S.
my Dear Longhurst-Y Your praise Of nv lust
completed picture. The Shadow of Death, was
so unstinted and generous that fear did not
seen to appreciate it to-day as I should have
done, though indeed did. fatter myself the
subject is something in your wav did work
very hard to get into the girls face just that
look of WEAKNESS which I am sure girl feels
when listening to the rawlings of man for whom
she cares nothing. The necklace is, as you re-
mark, very rare. The man who sold it to me
said ne believed there were only two more like
it in the world, SO I counted myself fortunate in
having secured a treasure. Hoping the world
may indorse your generous verdict, remain
Most sincerely aud gratefully yours,
"E FULLERTON"
$50 you will not trust mel" Rose said, with a
proud hurt look, as she gave the letter back.
Il am going to trust you most absolutely in
everything If now ask you to trust me in one
thing. will you not do it'll"
In his tenderness her pride melted as snow
meits IN the sunshine. She flung her arms
around his neck saying she could do anything
he asked her. SO the sunlight dissipated all
Clouds, though to Rose the picture still remained
a mystery.
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 followed
by that gentleman in person.
he had not long lost his wife, who had allied,
report said, most unaccountsbly. ever since her
marriage, and had died of painful and linger
ing Illness In consequence of having lost the
woman he really loved, the mans face looked
worn and weary. as if he slept little, but had a
more earnest look than it had ever worn before
After few words upon the weather. or what
not he informed them that he had Joined the
Roman Catholic Church. and designed eventu-
ally to become priest
Il have come to speak about that picture. he
went on. looking first at it and then at Reginald,
and what now say | wish the world to know
That. my confessor tells me is my duty and
that myself feel it to be- may be a super
sntious man, but it seemed to me an ominous
sign that my dear wlfe's health should begin to
fail in the first week of our marriage
Reginald replied gravely:
DO as you think right. The matter is one
out of which myself do not come with clean
hands"
my confession is briefly this said Fullerton.
addressing himself to Mrs. Longhurst, "This
picture In which you must see now, your own
face. which has won fame for its creator is not
the work OF my hand. but of your husbands
just when the picture was finished he asked me
for thousand pounds" Rose shuddered and
her husband looked uncomfortable Fullerton
continued:
Il knew the picture had been shown to no one
but myself. l knew it could not fail to be q
brilliant success. / believed that as successful
man could win the hand of the girl longed for
The talk had come to be whether was merely a
pretender, or really man of genius The temp
tation was too strong for me. paid the Ell 900
OF condition the picture should pass as mine To
guard against any discovery in the future gave
your husband a letter from myself, which he
should be bound to show in case of the question
ever arising. I knew I could depend on his
honor to do this I doubly armed myself by
having from him a letter supposed to be in an
swer to mine, recapitulating his admiration of
the picture and enumerating some of its most
salient features. While she lived do not think
could have borne the disgrace of an exposure
for her sake! But she is dead, and God has
pardoned me-"
And man, too" said Rose Longburst, in her
gentlest tone. But l knew the picture was
Reginalds from the first moment saw it."
THE END.
BE Gay and Mirthful.
Henry Ward Beecher's Sunday Sermon.