Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-07-20
GoodSby, boys-Good-by, Gustave.

shall never join you here again"
He left the room. They all sat gaz-
ing at each other in silence. His words
had struck home to every heart, as he
had intended them to do. One after
another Of the now quiet party stole
away with some excuse. In half an
hour after James banks had closed the
door behind him the artist sat alone by
his fireside, leaning his head upon his
hand and gazing sadly into the Goals.
"The wives, the mother, the sisters at
home who love Mou,' he muttered to
himself "They did Well to obey the
call. would have obeyed it, too, but
who lives now to care for me? Ny
mother and little May are now in their
graves, sister I have none--wife I shall
not navel All! What does it mattere
A short life and q merry one for me,
and no one will shed a tear over it's end
ing. I'll have another glass of wine
WHAT is this?"
In reaching up to the mantelshelf
for the glass he had left there, his hand
struck against the little ebony chest,
which stood in the place of honor, di-
rectly under a little water-color sketch
made from memory of the long-lost
child, May. The silver key was in the
silver lock-
The artist turned it, wondering how
the beautiful toy came there without his
knowledge. His surprise increased
when the lid flew back, displaying
beautiful drinking-cup of gold, elabo-
rately chased, and enriched with rubies
beneath the curving brim.
what beautiful thing!" exclaimed
the artist, lifting the cup from its bed of
rose-colored velvet. "Who can have
sent me such gift? Did those fellows
bring it secretly with them tonight, I
wonder? Any way, tits perfect gem;
I'll fill it to the brim with champagne,
and see if can drive those melancholy
thoughts away?"
Approaching the table he lifted the
flask. Something flashed at that mo-
ment at the bottom of the cup. Turn
ing it toward the light, he saw pic ture
framed in gems, and, bending nearer,
the large blue eyes of the lovely
stranger at the concert looking up at
him from the depths of the goblet with
an earnest, appealing gaze.
"He dropped the cup in surprise.
snatching the ebony case from the
chinlney-piece, he searched it eagerly
for some clew to the mysterious gift
Half hidden in the velvet lining he
found morsel of paper; drawing it
forth and holding it to the light, he
read:
"Not dead, but hoping and praying for you
ever. MAY.
"May Nay alive! Alive and remember
ing mel" he exclaimed. And then,
as the full significance of the gift flashed
across his mind, the crimson flu shed to
his temples, and sinking on his knees
he laid his head beside the magic goblet
dul DtISU luUO GeuTS.
Those who called at his rooms the
next week found them closed. At last
it was rumored about that he had sailed
for Europe, and a few more days proved
the rumor to be true. A year passed
by, and at the annual exhibition of the
academy of painters, picture made its
-
fashion completely by storm. Every
paper noticed it; every person spoke of
it.; and SO numerous and so approving
were the comments, that pretty Lena
banks, who in general cared not at all
for pictures Of any kind, asked her
brother to take her to the gallery tosee
this wonder on a certain day.
James, like kind brother, consented,
but with an old twinkle in his eye which
Lena could not quite understand. When
that evenings train from Boston brought
Mr.. Warburton and his adopted daugh-
ter, May, for visit of some weeks,
James eyes seemed to twinkle more
|
cord he invited Miss May to join their
party on the following day.
May accepted the invitation with a
suppressed sigh, hearing which, James
smiled so broadly that Lena speedily
hunted him into a corner, mathematical
share OF his secret, whatever it might
be.
But James proved obdurate. She
would know all, he said, at the gallery,
where the name Of the successful artist
was to be proclaimed on the following
day.
Lena reflected moment.
"Ohr" she exclaimed, and her eyes
began to dance in their turn.
But not one word said the little trait
ress to her friend May. Only she took
care that their visit to the gallery
should be paid at q very early hour, be-
fore the fashionable world had scarcely
risen from bed.