Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-05-15

hours of the winter ceaseiessly laborinS
to perfect work already perfect.
The painting was greatly admired.
The critics were Unanimous in their EN-.
thusiasni. bat they declared that such n
face could not exist except in the mind
of n poet or in the imagination of "A pain.
ter. Maurice listene, To all this with a
smile and kept 10 himself the secret az
the sweet face that had inspired him.
iic received ilattering offers for his
picture: none Of his previous paintings
had commanded so high price: he dc
clincd {" sell it. he also refused to allow
II to hc engraved. As no WAS Unable 20
POSSESS the model Of the picture lac Was
determined tn Keep the latter.
IL was autumn when he returned To-
the village where he had met the little
maid with the yellow hair. Since Inc
had painted her portrait. twice had the
boG.ircs IF 81. Johns Eve seen the bands
Of joyous peasants dancing about them
and US lac thought of the young girl lie
smiled sadly, wondering which Of the
village ruGtics had made her his choice
His Inst pilSriniaGc WAS To the forest
OF ckcS;nuts. AS darkness comes quick.
ly on Oc,obcr evenings. he hastened
along the forest walk: but il was not yet
dark end rays of amber light still tray
erscd the forest. falling upon the leaves
that trcablcd on their branches and
upon those that rustlcd under his fee,
With the odor OF dead leaves came a
thousand regrets. soTrowful memories
AMI bitter thoughts which filled him
with unspcakablc sadness, with Il greater
'listastc for life chan ho had ever before
experienced.
When lac reached the S,adc he seated
himself in the same place whore two
years before no had sketchc,t the picture
which had crowned his fame. The cold
stonc on which he sat seemed to mock
all his tender feelings.
~ pcaeant! u coQlettc! She would
/ have loved me had | wished it. he said
| to himself. Others like her have loved
/ artists and followed them 10 Paris. where
they have disappeared bcncath the foam
! 81 the sea Of life which surgcs through
/ The great city, without numbering with
( bonGG those who introduced them into
,hc world Of art and intellect He is a
fool who sacrifices to his dreams, IL ar
idea. t.ic good things OF this worll. tho
love of woman. tho glory which talent
brings, the opportunity which leads to
1 success"
Whnc lie taus renowned the gods o.
his youth. lie saw approaching him. over
tho we'll known path. the Giil who had
been his modol,-now l.rgc young
woman. She was not alone, u peasant
walked beside her, holding her by the
hand; he was n handsome follow. atronG
and we'll built, and well-to-do for one OF
his class. He leaned toward her. and
f.c.c time e. time kissed u tear from her
check
Whom they saw Ma;.ri-c they rauscd,
CONFUSED and surprised.
And tiiS." hc thoaght, lis the girl of
whom have dreamed"
But lac took pity on her when. in Il
voice of signs. she said to him:
They do not wish Us to marry. am
poor, he is well of. and his mother does
not want me for daughter-in-law; she
oven taltG of disinheriting him"
"-Aad YOU. you do not wish TO ho dis
inheritcdy' slauricc said ironically to the
young man.
why. one must liye!"
That IL truc. am sorry for you, my
children"
The departed. Maurice. when left 10
himself, took his head between his hands
and thought for long time.
Ills ideal was destroyed. In this young
peasant woman, still handsome, but
about 10 develop into commonplace
matron. naught remained OF his pretty
model with the yellow hair.
Thus it l. with our Dreams" he said
% he arose. "All that remains il the
opportunity of doing little good"
He wrote TO Paris that Same evening,
and a few days afterward he presented
himself ut the house of the young woman.
Il havo sold your portrait" he said &c
her in the presence of her astonishcd
mother. 1t has brought large price
indeed little fortune. | have brought
the money To you in order that YOU may
marry your lover. TRANSLATED from the
French OF Henry Grevillc by y. r. Haven
for Tho Epoch.