The morning call., 1890-07-21

turned to go, and Eileen felt the nervous trf-
umphant pressure of his hand on her arm, as he
passed like cOnQuerOr through the portals that
had opened wide 10 receive his work. He could
not see that her eyes were moist with deeper
emotion.
The sum realized by the sale of the picture 20
abled Loring 10 visit Germany, aud place HIM
self in the hands OF the best oculist In the world
The treatment to which he was submitted was a
long one but at the end OF a twelvemouth he
cure was complete, aud lie was told that
shortly be would be able to handle ouce more the
brush that had made him famous.
mot before | have seen again the picture TO
which Indirectly owe my recovery" he said 10
Eileen.
But 1t Is In America already" she said hur-
"What of that2 Let us 60 to New York"
$50 long journey 2" she pleaded.
He would not be gainsad and they sailed for
America. The news of their arrival had preceded
them, aud L0rtng received one OF those transat-
lantic receptions which are so unsparingly
;svished on distinguished Europeans He bore
somewhat lmpatlently with speeches and inter
views, and LOST no lime in calling on the million
tact, after showing the way TO his private gallery,
The New York banker. pointing TO large frame
In the place of honor, said smlngy 10 The hus.
band anu wife:
81 will mol iutrude on this happy meeting-you
will mud me in The library when you have done"
He withdrew, and, to L0ring'S intense relief
left them alone.
few quick strides brought him before the
picture; a latent dlmness Of vision, Increased by
tHUtUH, secnltu lOf d HOtutul w prevent Il
clear and complete view, yet he felt that he had
before him superb work OF art. Two or three
times lie passed his fingers over his eyes. then
his expression changed from Intense eXuitdtfOn
To a startled surprise.
What Is this?" he said.
Your picture, u course; don't you recognize
it, darng?" said Eileen, drawing close up TO
him.
My pictured That my pictnreq No, no; re-
member II TOO well. l have seen IL in every de-
tail in the night OF my blindness. | could paint
it over again. line by line, touch by touch. This
one has been tempered with by stranger"
NO no, you mis- axe, Cosmo WhaI matter
Besides, have you forgotten? Was the picture
not called the best of the year, and you The
greatest living panter?" faltered Eileen Inn
ploringly.
He turned to her. took both her hands, and
looking into her uptulned face, tying 10 read
the faithful eyes that had ever been faithful
aud so fond, lie SAID i'll d voice that was tremu-
louS and broken:
Eileen, II you have ever loved me- | command
you TO tell me WHO touched that picture, who
took advantage of my blindness to change, alter
and add TO II, WHO has by so doing made me
recipient OF donors that are not mine God
knows what had done was worth that!' he
said, relnquishing her hands aud gazing the
picture, conscious, however, that there no
falling oil In the real painting compared with the
one OF which his Imagination had kept 50 vivid
an imprint.
Eileen crept lovingly into his arms and, with
her head Oh his breast, said gently:
Cant you guess, darling? Let me explain.
When your dear eyes We're SO bad, when you
would work IN 81 lite OF all, your hand could not
obey your will; the cOlors got mixed and the
outlines were lost; the idea-tbe grand idea
was there, but The execution failed. Well, when
IL would have driven you mad to know that tile
picture could not be sent as 1t was 10 the
academy. l. your pupil, your wife, repaIated it
in secret" He started. Yes" she continued,
still more caressingly, 81 followed all your in
tenIions worked as you taught me 10 WORK by
your example, and" she added with happy
laugh lifting her face % The level OF his-"and
your friend was rlght-the public did not know
my painting IRON yUnrS! Kiss me, love-"
He kissed her as she desired, but without an
other look at The picture he left the gallery and
the house.
From that day Cosmo Lorng hated his WIFE,"
Boston Home journal.