St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-18
LOVE AND AMBITION.

1t was while spending few months
In the country, where she had gone to
regain her health, impaired by the study
of art, that Lucille Wagner met Reuben
Hart.
He soon expected to take the place or
DIR. Brougham. at whose home she was
staying, venerable clergyman who
had been her fathers friend, and who
would shortly resign mis- pastorate to
Mr.. Hart
The summer passed by like dream
for the young man was always devisIng
some new amusement in her honor. She
was hardly prepared, however, for the
proposal he made for her hand the day
before she went away.
81 have determined never to marry"
she said. cart alone shall be my mas
ter"
Lucille" the young man exclaimed,
sit cannot be that you mean to sacrifice
for ambition all the tenderest emotions
of lifep'
The calm depths of her dreamy eyes
answered him as decisively as her
words:
''It will be no sacrifice. To me the
laurel wreath of fame is more to be de-
sired than husband or home.''
A stern look flashed into the young
mars eyes.
'.Some day you will be punished for
these words" he exclaimed. sin the
years to come, though the laurel wreath
encircle your brow, it will not bring
you cOntentment. Then. in your lone
illness, you may repent that for ambi-
ton you rejected an honest, loving
heart"
Back to her chosen Iife-WOrk with
feyerish energy the girl went; but the
palette and brush seemed to have lost
something of their fascination, and at
length she was obliged to confess to her
self that the heart she so proudly had
declared beat for ambition only had
bowed before new shrine.
Too late she learned that she loved.
But was it indeed too late? Only
short year and once more she would be
all inmate of her uncle's home, and then,
with soft glow rising to her very brow.
she thought to herself how different her
answer would be.
The next letter which came from her
aunt said that her husband, much to his
regret, had lost his trusted assistant.
Years went by and LucilIe's parents
died within a short time of each other,
and their daughter found herself alone
in the world.
Though she had labored assiduously
in her art hitherto. she had achieved
nothing which could surround her name
with the luster she had dreamed Of.
Upon her easel now rested the first
picture which had attacted any notice.
1t had been judged worthy of be-
ing upon the line at the approaching eX-
hibition. But though success was at
last hers, as Lucille stood up before it,
pale and sad in her sOmber mourning
robes, she felt that there was void in
her breast which gratifed ambition
could never fill.
A few days later with friend she
visited the gallery in which her painting
was exhibited. A small group had COZ
lected about it. Suddenly a familiar
voice fell upon Lucille's ear. Without
turning she knew it was Reuben Hart
who was speaking.
Look around, Lucille" whispered
her friend. Just behind you is the
slion' of the season. You have read the
book by 'R. A. which every one pro-
nounces such a masterpiece-that is the
the author.
That night, alone in her room, before
her mirror, Lucille pushed away the
dark masses of hair from her brow and =
gazed long and earnestly at her own
features.
i am beautiful no longer" she muir
INJURED sadly. 'This pale, colOrless face
can never hope to win again what the
girls fO0liShneSS lost"
A few weeks later at reception she
came unexpectedly face to face with
Reuben for the first time since, seven
years before. he had rebuked her for
her words of ambitious pride.
He had changed, too; but time in
passing had only given fresh power and
greater manly beauty to his noble face.
AS he pressed her hand with few in
different cOmmonplaces of greeting, it
was with difficulty Lucille could repreSs
the bitter tears from yelling up to her
dark eyes
HE despises me-" she thought, land
/ cannot blame him.
Only few moments he was left by
her side. The talented young minister,
whose powerful book had attracted such
universal notice, could not be allowed
to hide his light iii a corner. and Luz
ellie soon found herself alone.
Unnoticed she bent he steps toward
a distant conservatory, and there. Sc
tropical foliage. she restrained 10 long,
er her tsars of regret and disappGint-
ment.
Suddenly quick tread sounded upon
the tiled floor. With a hasty move
ment Lucille dashed the tears away but
not before they had been seen.
1t was Reuben Hart. He came to her
side.
.:Weeping, Lucille? Then, when 1
thought that read in your eyes, as we
met tonight. that you were not happy,
l was right. | saw you come here, and
l followed you: for, Lucille, yours in
an impressive face, and it told me some
thing besides-SOmething that caused
hope which thought could never revive
again to spring to sudden life"
He took her hand, and forced her TO
look up into her face.
Lucille" he said. earnestly. shave
you not learned that far beyond worldly
ambition. beyond the love of fame or
gold, i S human affection! Did / read
your eyes aright-that during these
years of absence you have learned to
prize the heart you once rejected?"
A sudden color restored to her face.
which of late had grown so pale. its
girlish loneliness; her soft fingers
trembIed in his clasp. but the hand was
not withdrawn; and Reuben knew that
the prize which had once been denied
to him, but which he had never ceased
to covet, was his at last.
He cIasped his arms about her. and in
that embrace all Lucille's unhappineSS
vanished. as the dark cloud meltS be-
meath the rays of the sun.
SO it is. and so it should be.
When Love, equipped to conquer, en-
tiers the lists, Pride and Ambition had
better take heed, for their downfall is
decreed, and will sooner or later inev-
itably be accomplished.
--rzr