Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-19
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in his face, smiled with an unspeakable
piteousness, and gently glided away; her
whole manner saying, "Ah, my darling!
you don't wish to do it, and why do you
do it,"
lis it possible that she gomprehcnds
me?' thought Ernst, folding his arms and
shaking his head with the air of a man
who is trying to stand firm against him
self. He appreciated fully the self abne
cation and herosm of Jnuet's character;
he knew that if he once confessed to her
that he did not love her, she would in
stantly free him from his engagement;
and there was the image of Nellie plead.
ing with him for his sake, if not for hers
also, to make the confession. He shook
his head and set his teeth until he had
faced down the temptation, and had de-
cided that, whether Janet permitted it or
not, he would inform her cousin of the
betrothal.
But during the day, while supcrintend-
ing her classes with her usual conscien-
tious thoroughness, Miss Holcum also
came to II decision. On reaching home in
the afternoon she sent Nellie out on some
distant GRAND and then walked slowly
up to Ernst's room.
My tear Chanetl l am so glad to see
you' he said, coming towards her with
extended hands and his sweetest smile.
My poor child, you look tired, he added,
glancing pityingly at her unusually pale
face. There, sit down, und take some
rcbose. Do you see my picture? / have
made some changes"
Raising her patient eyes to the canvas,
Janet perceived that the portrait of Nellie
had been so altered rs to be no longer
recognizable. Throbbing with admiration
Al / L
so perfectly, and who could do what must
have been hateful to him at the mere bid
ding of his sensitive conscience, she rose
up with suddenly flushed checks, seized
both his hands, printed one hot kiss on
his smooth, white forehead. and then
drew back, holding him at arms length,
in order to worship him.
Ernst, | know what you have done.
she said, firmly. II thank you for your
noble intentions. But sacrifice for sacri-
flee, Ii is my turn now. Ernst, my own
darling, we must separate. | was born
for you, but you were not born for me.
We must end this engagement, | must
end it, or despise myself do end it.
break it. You are free, There!''
She tore herself away from him and
attempted to rush out of the room.
"Chanct Chanet" he called spring
ing after her and Selling her in his arms.
1T must not pc so. You are the noplest
woman on earth. l worship you. l can
not lose you"
"Oh, DON'T mplored Janet, looking
up at him in despair, for he was taxing
her almost beyond her strength. After Il
moment, raRyng all the power of her
soul, she added: See here, Ernst let us
speak the truth. Do you love me better
than you love any one else?'
How could he have the seeming cruelty
to answer. her MOI" He did what most
gentle hearted men would have done-he
told her a pitying. self sacrificing false
hood. He said, Il do"
See was too clear sighted to be deceived,
and too high souled to accept an unwill-
ing heart.
Look at this Bible, Ernst" she con
tinued, drawing from her pocket little
Testament that never quilted her. put
your hand upon it," and here, selling his
fingers, she clasped them around the book.
Now tell me whether you love Ilc better
than any other"
you trife me into corner, replied
the artist piteously. "Well, | swear.
swear that | resbect unit atmire you more
than other human peing Is it not
enough
''Do You love Nellie?"
She is so like he stammered.
well, she will soon be in love with
you,' said Janet, with a last supreme
effort. Take her. Make her happy"
She had been leaning away from him
She now turned, with the revulsion of n
billow, threw her arms around his neck
covered his face with kisses and tears,
and then once more leaned back from him
to look at him.
THAT is the end of all between us, " she
said, in hoarse, deep voice, totally un-
like her usual utterancc "Henceforward
shall do my duty, and You must help me
do it. One thing-never tell Nellie this:
it would darken her happiness. And now
good by
She dragged herself away from him. ran
down stairs, and locked herself in her
room.
"Mcin Colt" murmured Ernst, left to
himself. Il shall lose a heart worth den
tousand of mine, But it is peter She
is wiser. could not lofe her. | should
end by making her unhappy as now-und
more so. She is wise for us poth.
The next day, to the establishment and
annoyance of Nellie Fisher, but by the
positive dictation of Janet Holcum, the
two women removed from their lodgings
TO cheap boarding house. There was,
however one good thing about the change:
the boarding house had parlor where
Mr. Hartmann could be received with a
sense of spotless propriety and what
was delightful, he always had to be re-
ceived by Miss Fisher, the elder cousin
oXcusing herself on pretense of business
illness, etc. One can easily see that all
this had to end in second troth plight
and that the parties to it could not be
other than Ernst and Nellie. 1t was
'pctter' youth must have youth; love
must have love. In these bargains mere
respect and gratitude are not fair cx
change for the unreasoning, instructive
potent impulse of the heart
Almost the first use that Nellie made OF
her betrothal was to run down to Ernst >,
studio entirely, she declared, to look a
the new picture; but mainly, no doubt, t.
look at the artist She, too, like Jane
before her. observed a change in the per
sonages Of the little drama. Sho la,
never known that her likeness had beer