Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-10-12

may still win the prize.
Roy felt as if the voice came from
without, and turned and looked about
him. He saw the rolled up picture lying
on the table, and thought there could be
no harm in taking one more look. He
stretched it upon his easel, and gazed at
it with envy and delight.
CATER all, 1t would harm no one" he
thought. II would have done anything
for him-living. 1 would not have de-
serted him on a barren island or thrown
him to wolvesi l would not save my
self in any way at his expense. Blu now,
If l can save myself without injuring
him, why not?"
And then commenced one of those I'M
seen battles on the battle ground of the
human heart, where no banners wave
nor trumpet sounds tell Of victory-no
muffled drum of defeat, but where the
destiny of souls are ofttimes decided, and
all is lost or won for time and eternity
So three days passed, and one day, i'm
PEELED by an irresistible force, Roy turned
into the street where Lang had his hum
BILE room. But as he reached the corner
he saw a coffin borne out, and turned
shuddering away. 1t was all over, then.
Lie OOulu w liz llltIu III udll III, tNtu l.
he won the prize through himl
Roy painted no more his Ineffective
pictures. Each day he gloated instead
over the magical island, with its wind
swept ferns. its lambert skies and lumi-
nous air. Each day he looked into the
blue eyes of the island queen, and felt
assured of his own triumph. 1t was a
time of fever and unrest till the final
day, when, mounted in a frame that had
cost his very last franc, he sent the picture
to the judges, and sat down to wait. He
pawned his watch and lived upon the
proceeds while he waited. He did not
sleep well any more; his old ~buoyancy
had deserted him.
He took q step forward. There was
time, and he would save himself yet.
What matter if chaos came afterward2
He would nave done his duty. But how
could he face those ranks of spectators
and tell his crimel He faltered and fell
back-it was too late. He heard a hum
of voices. Some n was speaking, but
he could not distinguish the words. He
did not know till some n pushed him
forward, and a voice said in his ear:
Look alive, old fellow! 1t is your
name they are calling. Your picture
has taken the prize, and no wonder.
How you have blossomed out. It's no
more your old style"-
Roy felt himself pushed over toward
the platform. Was there no help2
He made a strong effort to speak as he
met the smiling faces on every hand.
sit is not mine" he managed to say.
''There is a mistake"
rraot l,,rIor, cao~o1I b. ,1n -or
from him at these words. He could lift
his head once more among his fellow
men! He was no longer a perjured
cheat!
A murmur rose on every side. What
did it all mean? The professors stared at
him and at one another.
"What does it mean, then? Why are
you here? Let the painter of Miranda
come forward and claim the prize
you're fading away, my boy" one
Of his fellow painters said, OF meeting
him the morning of the decision. "And
what has become of your chum2 He
was always ethereal. Has he sailed
away like thistle down en- a puff Of
wind9 thought he was painting for the
prize2"
$50 he was," stammered Roy, with G
guilty flush IN his face. ''but sickness:
and''-
Your place, m~essieurs," cried a sterr
voice, and Roy felt relieved.
He was trembling, nevertheless. 81
felt giddy, as one who stands on the verge
of a precipice. He stood by a window
and could catch a glimpse of a blue sky
and one heecy, wind swept cloud. Could
any n look down from those shining
battlements2 he wondered with q vague
SILVER. Could one know the griefs ano
joys, the temptations and triumphs O
those left behind? His head seemed in
whirl, as if q hundred wheels were turn
ing there. lie ionged to stop It ali for ,
moment that he might think.
Roy s%huddered. From what pale rank!
of disembodied spirits would they cal
back the artist Of the prize?
I'll will explain" he began.
But the words were frozen on his lips
for before him, pale, gaunter than ever
hollow eyed, purple Tipped, with slow ant
wavering steps, he saw his friend ap
pear.
Il am heret' q hollow voice said nea
him. II was i'll, and my friend sent tn
picture for me-"
Roy heard no more. The excitemen
Of the past six weeks had done thei
work. AT that voice from the dead, 70
30 it seemed, he staggered and fell
When lie came back to his senses, Ian
bent over him kindly.
you're all right now, old fellow" h
; said II ought to have given you war;
q ing. I'm just able to be out"
y Don't take my hand. am a swir
der" cried Roy. 'You don't know.
@ meant"-
"But you didn't. You were brave {
Q the last, in the face of ALI say you al
q trump. Come, never speak of it agar
q Let us take a studio togather, and L
l. stand the expense out of the prize, ii
you do something really good. Wor
will do it, old fellow"
. Roy did succeed at last. His bait
e had taught him something.-H. ". Pie
son in Once a Week.
y A Safisfactorv AnsyveR.