Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-10-24
'That old girl down stairs is in love with
vn,1 - he said.

III
"That old girl do,cn stairs is in loue 1Tith
you."
What old curl2" asked Ernst. staring
with the calm innocence Of q child.
miss Eolcum."
II hope you are mistaken, replied the
German, gravely and almost solemnly, as
if he already perceived an awful duty be.
fore him.
II should think you might see it,"
grinned Stanley, II saw it the first even
ing we called on her. 1t was plain enough
today when she travelled up here to look
at the picture. She can't come near you
without coloring and shaking"
Ernst became still more solemn. and
was evidently in profound thought.
You must be careful and not tride
with her young affections, Stanley con-
tinued, with q rather hard hearted smile,
asch as we accord to the heart troubles
Of old maids. a..
II shall not dryvle with them" replied
Ernst, with q seriousness which silenced
the American.
During Stanley's next visit Ernst said
to him: NJ have peen seeing for myself
md I Deheye YOU are rirht."
Fright? Oh, about the shadow"
mo. Apout Miss Chanel Elolcum.
believe she is in love with me-"
"Well what ore you going to do!"
laughed Stanley.
Il hat put one thing to do. If she
wish to marry me, ! must marry her. l
owe her my life. owe her this picture,
which you say is goot. hat lived on
her money. As a nan of honor must
sacrifice myself to her; that is. If she
wishes it. What else can / do"
GOOD Lordl don't be a fool" remon-
strated Stanley. You don't love her,
of course"
81 hat the very highest resbect for her.
She Is an admirable woman"
eyes. I know. I suppose so. But
this is carrying respect and gratitude a
little too far. She is twelve or fifteen
years older than you. You could not be
happy with her. Come nowl don't be
hasty."
II will not be hasty. 1t all defends on
whether she lofes me q great teal. We
will see."
When Ernst, convinced that Janet
''lofed him a great teal" felt himself
bound to declare In affection for her and
ask her to be his wife, the poor, lonely,
hitherto unloved girl was fairly broken
down by the revelation. She burst into
tears, threw herself on her old. hard sofa,
buried her face in the threadbare cushion,
and sobbed out O spasm of mingled joy
and terror.
"Ohl can this be true?" she finally
burst forth, when she became conscious
of his hand in hers. us 1t true?' she
demanded, sitting up and looking eagerly
at him. "If it isn't, take it back. Don't
tell it me any more. 1t would kill nc
to find out it isn't true-oh, it would kill
me-"
1T is endirely drue, my tear Chanet,"
vas the adorable falsehood of tho chival-
rous German. II owe all to you. My
life will not pay the debt. But | do not
insist upon marriage EXCEPT when you
wish it. You must chudge for yourself
when it will be prudent"
At this moment Janet caught @ view of
herself in her mirror. Flushed with Joy
and love, she looked almost handsome,
and it seemed to her for q moment that
she was young and desirable. Drawn by
Ernst's plying embrace, she believed that
it was the embrace of affection. and she
let her head fall upon his shoulder with
the words, "Oh, my darlingl"
Henceforward they were engaged,
though when they would be married
neither of them could say, not even the
old and wise (only half wisc) Janet. With
her, life was q delicious dream. forgetful
altogether of the hard past and careless
often of the doubtful future. With him,
life was q point of honor and of duty, an
obedience to self respect and a rendering
of obligations. His ways were natur-
ally so caressing, and he was so conscien.
tiously %assiduous in his attentions to her,
that he thoroughly deceived even the
su~spiciousness of her humble and shy
nature. In the main she believed on
tirely in his affection, amazing as the &C
QUESTION seemed to her, and much as she
doubted her worthiness of il. 1t Is quite
possible that there was not at that time
in New York a happier woman than this
almost penniless old maid, betrothed to 9
young artist who was encountered with
debts, and WHO did not love her. Such
are the Joys of this world: half of them,
at least, delusions; tho other half transi'
tory.
At last THE Rescue" was sold. Stan
lev went with Ernst to tho picture deal
ers; demanded, with much pomp of man
ner, a private audience; exposed the can.
vas in the best light, and asked $500
for it.
1T is worth It," confessed Mr.. Moineau,
"Only there Is no name. If you would
put your name to it. Mr.. Stanley2"
"Minel an only q portrait painter
Eyes. But you are known. 1t would
sell the picture"
"Gif him the name, interposed Ernst,
with tho eagerness of a beggar grasping
at aims.
"It's o downright swindle, said the gen,
erous American. II couldn't do such 6
group to save my life. I won't take
the credit of it."
Both names?" suggested the dealer il
genius.
1t was agreed to-; the picture went or
the market as the Joint production OF
Stanley and Hartmann. The latter, per
fectly satisfied, and indeed overjoyed
pocketed the $500; the former, in spite
of his private disclaimers, pocketed some
thing considerable in the way of glory.
At Ernst's request Janet Lolcum had
kept o strict account Of her expenses Ii
his behalf; and although he had usec
sharp economy, the balance against him
amounted to $3.50. On reaching home
he went to her roora, gave her a smile Of
childlike Joy III response to her smile Of
anxiety, and tossed the sum Of his earn
ings into her lap. Instead Of mailing hi:
good fortune with gladuess, she seemed
to shrink from the money, laid it coldly
on q table, rose to her feet with a pale
face, and said in a strange voice, "Wel-
you arc FREQ"
mo, my tear Chanct," he replied. :"
am your slave"
THAT is not what I want" she STAN
mered, trembling visibly. Il canno sub
nit to any such understanding. Mr.
Hartmann, it is my duty to tender yor
your liberty"
"My tarit1s Chanel, what docs thi:
mean" asked Ernst, putting his am
around her waist and drawing her to linl
my self respect inlpels me- to it," she
said, beginning to cr:;. Il fear that you
proposed TO me out of q sense Of obEga
ton. The obligation is now Cancelled. II
was weak in me- TO accept you. must
make amends for it. Indeed, indeed
must-you arc free"
The gentlest caresses, the sweetest pro