Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-11
Lemoine's Love; or, the Story OF q
Picture.

There's a queer story about that
PICTURE" said Bruce Lemolne, putting
on his pipe and contemplating the ele-
CANT painting critically. would you
care to hear 1t, Wharton?"
81 should indeed" said the friend.
rs it dramatIcI'
.'Well, rather, but you shall Judge
for yourself. During his wandsrings
come years ago an artist fell In love
with very beautiful girl, the most
perfect woman he ever met. They
were betrothed and there seemed to be
nothing in the way Of their being mar
ried.
Zone day the lover was called away
to distant city. You may have no.
ticed a spot near the river in the pic
ture, a dark, damp nook. Well, the
night before he went away they sat
down on log on that spot to exchange
lew words of farewell. They were
there two hours, for the night was glo-
rious and they were loath to say good
by. Her heart was almost broken at
the parting In the morning.
Two days subsequently to his arrival
IN the city, as he was sitting in room
alone, thinking of her he loved, he was
suddenly started by the ringing OF a
telephone bell. He knew there was an
instrument there. if, indeed, within
the building. He listened and the
sound was repeated, yet not wire was
within sight He went down-stalrs,
and inquiry proved that there were
none within, passing over or near the
building. Returning to his room he
endeavored to dismiss the strange
fancy from his mind rather than to ac-
count for it, when the ringing quiv-
cred upon the air still more loudly,
prolonged and impatiently,"
"Was your friend a believer IN any
of the forms of spiritualism?" ques-
toned Wharton.
mot in the least. He was not given
to theosophical speculation. TO psyche
logical philosophy, had never even seen
an experiment in phreno-magnetism.
The lady of his love had been his Art,
the shrine at which he worshipped
Fame to the exclusion of all other
things"
''You are certain he was not asleep
and dreaming?''
have ample reason to know that
he was as fully awake as you are.
The third ringing was followed by a
il he had held a receiver to his ear.''
''Are you attempting to practice
upon my creduliiy2"
"If the picture you saw was reality.
and not a myth of the imagination,
then what l am telling is equally so."
"What were the words, and who ut
tered them7"
"Tell me first if there is any diff
Guilty or uncertainty in deciding with
regard to a familiar voice when listen
ing at telephoneP"
'.Not in the least"
stAnd there was not then. The
voice was that of Ethel Scott, and the
words were, Love, L am dying; come
quickly"
impossible under the conditions you
have described"
so argued the startled listener, and
fancied he must be going mad. Sub
sequent events, how ST,r, proved to the
contrary"
"Yet he must have been keenly SEN
sitive to al that followed"
''And nervously alert had not friends
called, changed the current of his
dreams, and left him few hours later
in the best of spirits.''
"Well?" questioned Wharton in dis
appointment.
'Untroubled because unthinking of
the strange episode of the day, be pre-
pared himself for slumber, turned out
the gas, and retired. Scarcely, how
ever, had his head touched the pillow
before his unclosed eyes were dazed
by a peculiarly bright light. 1t was
dihuSed over the room at first, then as
sumed shape. distinct letters, distinct
words"
';And they wereP" interrupted
Wharton, with nervous anxiety.
@These: Love, why don't You come?
1 am freezing, dying"
"Nearly the same as efo7e."
"Yes, and the instant he had re-
peated them aloud they disappeared.
''And you-the man? I should in
deed have gone mad.'
HE arose, lighted the gas, and care
fully noted the hour and minute, as
should have told you he had done
when he received the spiritual tele-
gram-I can call 1t by no other term.
He saw that by haste he could catch
the train, did SO. and in the gray of
the morning stood at the door of his
beloved. 1t was open and the house
in confusion. He met the distracted
the agonized father. the af-
frighted and useless servants. From
their il coherent stories he learned that
Ethel had been very SICK, delirlous
had escaped during a temporary alb
sence of her mother, and thus far
search had been in vain.''
"And he?" questioned Wharton,
carried ont of himself by the intensity
of his interest.
Waited to hear no more, but ran
with all his possible speed to the tryst-
ing place by the sheltered ssream.'
"Why there?''
''Something-it was as intangible as
his other warnings-told him that there
she would be found"
sand wasp"
"Yes, and just as painted. Beneath
The lily pads and bsnding swaying
reeds she lay in the shallow water,
with her arms thrown backward and
her hands clasped beneath her head.
Her pale face was toward the sky, the |
wet night-dress clingIng to the glorious |
form. but SO torn and washed aside as |
70 reveal much of limbs and arms and |
oust whittier than marble, and shaming |
he work of any chiseI. But l need |
not describe further. The painting |
AONo bboS DNllC1 lAAu WOlOo Oau. CoPCS-
ally the hair that floated in waves OF |
shining gold around"
''Dead?" gasped Wharton.
NO." answered Lemoine, rever-
entity. ''God be thanked, not dead. |
md to rescue and carry her home was
,rief labor, and''--
"She recovered?''
"Yes, and is alive to-day'-
"Thanks to the loving care Of the |
.ruest, warmest and best heart on
sarth," came In soft whispers to their
as if floating out Of space.
Wharton sprang to his feet in aston
shment, In terror, saw a reality, not a
spiritual shadow, that had stolen into
he room unseen, unheard, and ex-
claimed:
''Great HeavenI The lady of the
picture
"And my dear wife," answered his
riend as he drew her tenderly to hi=
ide.