St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-12-14

/ Az tilat ulGtlenE suptle SDicS SEEMED
! TO whisper:
But his work lives after him. 1t
may still win the prize.
Roy felt as if the voice came from
I without, and turned and looked about
him. He saw the rolled up picture lying
on the table, and thought there could be
| no harm in taking one more look. He
stretched il upon his easel, and gazed at
it with envy and delight.
CATER ALL it would harm no one," he
| thought. Il would have done anything
| for him-iving. would not have de-
| serted him on barren island or thrown
him to wolves! I would not save my
self in any way at his expense. But now,
| if [ can save myself without injuring
him, why not?"
And then commenced one of those I'M
seen battles on the battle ground Of the
| human heart where no banners wave
nor trumpet sounds tell of victory no
| mutfled drum of defeat, but where the
destiny of souls are ofttimes decided. and
ell is lost or Won for time and eternity!
! So three days passed, and one day, i'm
! PEELED by an irresistible force. Roy turned
| into the street where Lang had his hum
bic room But as he reached the corner
he san coffin borne out, and turned
| shuddering away 1t was all over, then.
| He could do lis friend no harm, even if
he won the prize through him!
| Roy painted no more his ineffective
! pictures. Each day he gloated Instead
over the magical island, with its wind
| swept ferns its lambert skies and lumi-
| nous air. Each day he looked into the
| blue eyes Of the island queen, and felt
! assured Of his own triumph. 1t was
| time of fever and unrest till the final
| day, when, mounted in frame that had
| cost his very last franc, he sent the picture
to the judges and sat down to wait. He
| pawned his watch and lived upon the
| proceeds while he waited. He did not
sleep well any more; his old buoyancy
| had deserted him.
| He took Il step forward. There was
| time, and lie would save himself yet
| What matter if chaos came afterwards
| He would have done his duty. But how
could he face those ranks Of spectators
and tell his crimel He faltered and fell
bacl--it was too late. He heard hum
| Of voices. Some one was speaking, but
he could not distinguish the words. He
did not know till some one pushed him
forward, and a voice said in his ear:
Look alive, old fellow! It is your
name they are calling. Your picture
has taken the prize, and no wonder.
How you have blossomed out. It's no
more your old style"--
Roy felt himself pushed over toward
the platform. Was there no help2
He made strong effort to speak as he
met the smiling faces on every hand.
1T is not mine" he managed to say.
There is q mistake. y
A great burden seemed to roll away
from him at these words He could lift
his head once more among his fellow
men! He was no longer perjured
cheat!
\ murmnr rose on every side. What
did it all mean: The professors stared at
him and at one another.
What does it mean, then? Why are
yoa here? Let the painter of Miranda
come forw"rd and claim the prize"
You re fading away, my boy, one
Of his fellow painters said, on meeting
him the morning of the decision. And
What has become Of your chumi He
was always ethereal. Has he sailed
away like thistle down on a puff of
wind? thought he was painting for the
prize2'
so hc was, stammered Roy, with a
guilty flush on his face, 'dbut sickness
and''-
Your place, nessieurs, - cried a stern
voice, and Roy felt relieved
He was trembling, nevertheless. He
felt gilty as one who stands on the verge
of 4 precipice. He stood by window
and could catch glimpse OF II blue sky,
and one tleecy, wind swept cloud. Could
any one look down from those shining
battlenents3 he wondered with vague
shiver. Could one know the griefs.and
joys, the temptations and triumphs of
those left behind? His head seemed in,a
whirl, as if q hundred wheels were turn
ing there. He longed to stop it all for a
moment that he might think.
Roy shuddered. From what pale ranks
q. disembodied spirits would they call
back the artist Of the prize?
TT will explain he began.
But tie words were frozen on his.lips,
for before him. pale, gaunter than ever,
hollow eyed, purple Tipped, with slow1and
wavering steps. lie saw his friend APP
pear.
Il am here!'' il hollow voice said pear
him. I was i'll, and my friend sentsthe
picture for me.
Roy heard no more. The excitem ent
of the past six weeks had done their
work. At that voice from the dead, fbr
SO it seemed, he staggered and fell
When he came back to his senses, Lang
bent over him kindly.
you're all right now, old fellow" he
said. Il ought to have given you warn
ing. I'm just able to be out .
Don't take my hand am swim
dIer,' cried Roy. "You don't know. ]
meant -
''But you didn't. You were brave, at
the last, in the face of all. | say yousare
6 trump. Come, never speak of it again
Let US take a studio togather, and, TN
stand the expense out Of the prize, till
you do something really good. Work
will it, old fellow
Roy did succeed at last. His battle
had taught him something.-H. w. Pier
son in Once a Week.
A Satisfactory Answer.
Mrs. Newma-Now tell me, Mrs. Bar
sins, do you believe in one cows milf
for the baby?
Mrs. Barkins that depends or