The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-09-08

I
happy with her. Come nowi don't be
hasty."
II will not be hasty. 1t all defends on
whether she lofes me a great teal. We
will see"
When Ernst, convinced that Janet
'lofed him great teal" felt himself
bound to declare an affection for her and
ask her to bo 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 threadbaro cushion,
and sobbed out spasm of mingled joy
and terror.
"Ohl can this be true?" she finally
burst forth, when she became conscious
of his hand IN hers. "Is it true?" she
demanded, sitting up and looking eagerly
at him. eff it isn't, take 1t back. Don't
tell it me any more. 1t would kill me
to find out it isn't true-oh, it would kill
| me-"
1T is endircly drue, my tear Chanet, e."
was tho adorable falsehood of tho chival-
rous German II owe all to you. My
life will not pay the debt. But l do not
insist upon marriage excebt when you
wish it. You must chudge for yourself
when it will be prudent"
At this moment Janet caught a view of
herself in her mirror. Flushed with joy
| and love, she looked almost handsome,
and it seemed to her for moment that
she was young and desirable. Drawn by
Ernsts plying embrace, she believed that
| it was the embrace of affection, and she
! let her head fall upon his shoulder with
the words, ooh, 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 wise) Janet. With
her, life was delicious dream forgetful
altogether Of the hard past and careless
often of the doubtful future. With him,
life was point of honor and of duty, an
obedience to self respect and 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
suspiciousness of her humble and shy
nature. In the main she believed en-
tirely in his affection, amazing as the &c
| QUESTION seemed TO her, and much as she
doubted her worthiness of it. 1t is quite
possible that there was not at that time
in New York :. happier woman than this
almost penniless old maid, betrothed to a
| 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; the other half transit
tory
At last THE Rescue" was sold STAN
ley went with Ernst to the picture deal
er's; demanded, with much pomp of man.
ner, a private audience; exposed the can
vas in the best light, and asked $500
| for it.
at is worth it," confessed Mr.. Moineau.
"Only there is no name. If you would
put your name to it, Mr.. StanleyY"
"Minel l an only portrait painter"
Yes. But you are known. It would
sell the picture"
'Gif him the name" interposed Ernst,
with the eagerness of beggar grasping
at aims
Its downright swind1e, . said the gem
erous American. Il couldn't do such
group to save my life. won't take
the credit of it"
'tBoth namesY" suggested the dealer in
genius.
1t was agreed to; the picture went on
the market as the joint production of
Stanley and Hartmann The latter, per
feutly satisfied, and indeed ovcrjoyed,
, pocketed the $500; the former, in spite
Of his private disclaimers pocketed soma
thing considerable in the way of glory.
At Ernst's request Janet Holcum had
/ kept strict account of her expenses in
his behalf and although he had used
sharp economy, the balance against him
amounted to 1880 On reaching home,
he went to her room, gave her q smile of
childlike Joy in response to her smile of
anxiety, and tossed the sum Of his earn
ings into her lap. Instead of hailing his
good fortune with gladness, she seemed
to shrink from the money, laid it coldly
on table, rose to her feet with pale
face, and said in strange voice, well
| you are free"
mo, my tear Chanet," he replied. Il
am your slave"
'drhat is not what want, she STAN
mered, trembling visibly. Il cannot sub
nit to any such understanding Mr..
Hartmann, it is my duty to tender you
your liberty"
My tarling Chanel, what does this
meanf" asked Ernst, putting his arm
] around her waist and drawing her to him.
my self respect impels me to it,, she
said, beginning to cry II fear that you
proposed to me out of a sense of oblign-
ton. Tho obligation is now cancelled. 1t
was weak in me to accept you. | must
make amends for it. Indeed, indeed
nlust--you are free"
The gentlest caresses, the sweetest pro-
testations answered her and overwhelmed
her fainting resolution. After minute,
and very little minute it was, too, she
could not help letting her head go on his
shoulder and sobbing out: "0h can
believe your You make me SO perfectly,
happy that must believe you. Oh, you
are my life, my all. worship you"
For week or more this sunshine of
confidence and joy shone through an un-
cloudea heart. She loved her man-'her
first man, remember-gather late in her
maying-with sort of double affection
the love of betrothed and of mother.
| And because he returned it, or rather be-
cause she believed that he did, she felt
! that she owed him life of gratitude.
alteration, obedience, every sweet SON
timent and every good work. She
was amazingly influenced by him;
one might almost say, revolutionized. A
teetotaler, believing that the wine rec
commended by Paul to Timothy was not
Intoxicating and that all drinkers of ale
and cider deserved the names of tipplers
and guzzlers, she found nothing hateful
now in the smell Of lager. A Halter Of
tobacco, she filed Ernsts pipe. An adj
mirer, of Johnsonian diction. she talked to
4 aAA1. Il =.