Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-08-01
THE LOST PICTURE.

per:
cit is said that the rising young art
ist. Mr.. Clarence Greyson, whose pic
ures made such success at the Acade-
my this year is shortly to be united in
widow, Mrs. Edith Vane. The marriage
will take place some time during the
autumn or winter"
The newspaper fell from Rose Testers
trembling hands, and she flung them
up to her face with bitter cry:
ooh, God it can't be true !"
Then she arose, and stood before a
picture, for it was the only one upon
the bare, staring walls.
1t was a water-color sketch, small, but
beautiful-the laughing, blooming face OF
a fair young girl, peeping from out q
bower Of clustering roses. One white
and lovely hand appraised, was full OF
the glowing blossoms, and made as il
about to fling them at the beholder. II
was simply framed, and underneath it
was written, IN mans hand: "My
Rose of Roses. %
1t was her own portrait.
%Only three years !" she sighed bitter
ly, and dropped her face upon her
hands with dry fearless sob of pain.
Too long a test for mans constancy.
1 shall be true TO him until [ die"
And then her memory went back to
the olden days when first she knew and
loved him. That was during her father s
lifetime.
Clarence had been engaged to give her
drawing lessons merely. The reputedly
wealthy Mr.. Lester stared aghast at the
presumption of the poor and struggling
artist who dared raise his eyes with a
thought of love to his heiress and only
child.
Though I won't be too hard upon
you," he said, Il desire only to secure
my daughters welfare. She is young
yet, only is, and can afford to wait a
what you can really do"
The cunning man of the world said to
himself:
"lf oppose them [ shall only incite
her to rebellion. I'll seem to sympa-
thize, and separate them quietly; Rose
will forget the fellow when he's gone"
But there are some natures that never
forget, and Rose Testers was one of
them.
Mr.. Lester exerted his influence to
obtain for Clarence position to travel
with wealthy amateur to Italy.
He was making collection of paint
Ings, and wanted the assistance of some
more experienced judgment than his
own. The journey would secure to the
artist many advantages and fair salary.
At their parting, Rose gave her lover
the portrait which his own hands had
painted. 1t had been her fathers, but
he said nothing against the disposition
she made of it.
will keep the original said he,
'sand when you claim her you can give
the picture back"
So Clarence babe farewell to his Rose
of Roses, and she set herself to the task
of waiting patiently for his return. Oh,
if that weary waiting had been only for
one year
But it had heightened into three
three years without sign, without
word-three of strange and bitter
changes; and to-day Rose Lester had
only the picture that had strangely
come back to her, and her own heart
pangs left of the old sweet love, and ru-
NOR assigned Clarence to another.
1'But that may be untrue" she
thought, trying to escape from her own
Jealous anguish. Glow seldom does
common rumor speak the truth? And
to Edith Vane, above all others Surely
Edith would have told me fit were so :?
She is not like the rest of the cold world.
hSNcIcS VI 1OIluu0 las uOG 1OUD0u lu0
of her sympathy and friendship, though
it raised her from poverty to wealth.
and dragged me down from wealth to
poverty. She loves me still, though I
am but her paid embroideress. | will
take home her work to-day, and ask her
the question"
''You read it in the papers !" laughed
Mrs. Vane, as she looked over and ad-
mired the delicate work that Rose had
brought her. How do these papers
get at ones little secrets SO, | wonder?
There is grain Of truth in it, dear; and
you shall do some extra fine work for
the occasion, if you will, when it ar
rives; but - Why, dear Rose, how
hard work is killing you! Do give it up
if only for a while-and come and
live with me. Nay, dear. don't be so
proud; when you were rich heiress,
or supposed to be one, and / poor
governess at your schoo-fve years
your senior, and with only little beau
ty Tor my dower-didn't you take me to
your house one vacation? And isn't it
to that that | owe all my present
wealth? How else should / have
known the generous man who loved
and married me, knowing my poverty I?
oh, that be had lived did love him,
hO50. A1dIClOS OIdy SOi Will OIL LIS
fame and fascination, will scarcely re-
place the love [ lost. But will you
come and visit ME for while? | am
sure you must be very i'll, or you would
not be SO pale
But Rose declined, and rose to 60.
II will bring home this skirt next
week, if possible" she said. Then,
with sudden, generous impulse, kiss
ing her trends blooming cheek: land
i wish you, from my heart, much hap
piness in your engagement, dear"
"Oh, as for that, there's nothing posi-
lively settled yet" laughed the merry
widow. ''Bnt I'll let you know when
the day is named"
So Rose went quickly back to the
lonely, comfortless place she called her
home, and turned the pictures face
against the wall.
~ might have known it." she said,
with the calmness of despair. would