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

bookkeeper in his button factory as you
could have at any time, and so farewell.
Your lovin' aunt,

boOkkeeper In his button factory as you
could have at any time, and SO farewell.
Your lovin' aunt,
"RoxANNA MATHER."
Roy had crushed this letter in his hand,
and walked on with the feeling that he
had nothing more to hope or expect in
this world. He had, in fact, been work
ing against hope for the last month, with
a cold, despairing feeling settling down
about his heart. He was one of the COM
petitors for a prize, but each day he
passed his brush over the days work
with an angry vehemence, celebrating
his failures.
Il am a gigantic mistake" he said to
himself gloomily. There's nothing left
for me but to go back to the button fec
tory. There's nothing In me. / can't
get up the ghost of a conception for a
picture. My figures look as if cut out OF
pasteboard. my skies are like Aunt Rox-
anna's bluing, my rocks are pasty.
Heighol l could almost wish I'd lived
in those wonderful days of magic and
wizards. If any obliging gentleman in
black should appear now and say, Roy
Mather, you shall have your hearts de-
sire for the paltry consideration Of
Halloo. who are you tumbling over?"
A fierce '~'sacre" came from the adj
v~ancing foe, but the next moment it was
changed to a greeting. A sallow faced,
dark eyed gentleman in black stopped
suddenly, and then said:
at is Monsieur Mather, ell? Ali you
come, l suppose, from your friend-ah!
the poor young man-cut down like a
fower"-
"What do you meant" cried Roy, rec
nizing a fellow student.
as it that you ask me2 Why, l
thought it was with you, Damon, and
what you call the other?"
Never mindl What is the matter
with Lang?"
"Oh! he is dying, that is all!'
Roy turned away and walked rapidly.
He had been SO occupied with his work,
having a studio of his own now, that he
had hardly thought of Lang for three
weeks, and his conscience smote him.
But certainly Mather could not be so
desperate, OF his friend would have let
him know.
He made his way up the dim stairway,
meeting no one. When he pushed open
the door of Lang's room there was no
light or anv sound save a half smothered
moan from the bed.
He found a match after awhile and Lit
a candle. Then he called his friend by
name, but there was no answer.
He took the light in his hand. A hor-
rible fear was clutching at his heart as
he walked toward the bed, for the moan.
ing had ceased. And at the first glance
it looked as if the shadow that lies in
wait for all of III had indeed crossed thai
threshold, and laid a dim hand upon one
aching brow.
HE is gone. poor fellow!' thought
Roy, land no one beside him to hear hi!
last words or to hold his hand in the SUI
preme moment. Perhaps, though, there
may be some faint pulse of life. If l hat
some stimulants"-
He bathed the cold face with watel
first, and then looked about for some
thing stronger.
In doing this he saw an easel, ant
upon it stretched a finished picture, tina
even in that faint and dim light glowe(
with life and power. There was a tai
headland, pine crowned, draped will
dainty ferns. Above it the misty al
seems like amber, the sky is of meltin,
gold. Below, the sea, with its emeral,
light and foam crested waves and fam
opals of light. And where the reed
seem to thrill with the wind stands on
!, like a lily queen,
A miracle Of snow and gold.
1t is Miranda on her island. She look
) at Roy with fearless, innocent but tende
eyes.
She lives! 1t would hardly seem
miracle if she stepped forth and touche
his hand. All! this is genius! He recog
nizes it with a groan.
? And the man whose cunning hand ha
done the work is lying there dead 1t
nothing to him now, that he would hav
3 won the prize. What are earthly laurel
to him, who sees the amaranth's death
less bloom2 What are all the triumph
:. or the toll to one on whom a new da
/ dawns in the land where there shall b
' 40 night2
/ II must take care Of this picture,
t said Roy. He would have given it t
me, and it will not do to let it fall int
a the hands Of
2 He had rolled it up with this though
I and hearing the door open turned to fac
Y q virago.
I $50, some n at last. And how Is
that you make your way into my hous'
and ask no leave2 The doctor it Is VIII
D has forbidden?". .
a 1.-THE poor fellow Is q friend Of min
!. and if you will get a little wine, I thin
he is In a faint"
.'Winei Ali but heari Does he N
o owe me fifty francs' And he was TO pa
@ with his grand prize, and here he hi
escaped-died out Of pure malice
cheat me. But l will have all-all l
n has had the grace to leave. Typhus, to
n that frightens my dodgers. All, / I'm
" lone woman, and have no one to take n
parti"
IT ''Typhusr'' cried Roy, looking at Il
bed with a fear for himself selfish
spnnging up in his heart. 'Here. tai
this, and | will send some wine for him
Ia He offered the woman money, al
st then stopped once more over his frien
h There was no pulse
Thanks; monsieur Is O gentleman
exclaimed the woman. ~ win do