Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-07

terly resented an observation she hazarded
one day when he nearly rubbed out a
head he had laboriously finished week
before, and Eileen, seeing how all oppose
ton annoyed him, sat silently at his side,
watching with dumb despair how tie once
promising picture became blotched and
blurred, discordant and confused, mass of
meaningless color, under which the fair
original outlines and intention were still
here and there dimly visible. Every now
and then Cosmo, shading his eyes with his
hand, would rise and, calling his wife, say,
pointing with his mahlstick to some vague
group:
"See, Eileen, is this not grand Watch
the forward impetus of the men, the cling
ing sorrow of the women, the martial at
mosphere. / have never done better"
She did not contradict him, but she suf-
fered acutely.
One day the brush dropped from his
hand; with half-stifed exclamation of
Finished at lastr he sank back in his
chair, and tainted
They carried him to his bed; from I'M
consciousness he fell into asort of lethargy,
which endured many weeks. When he
recovered the full use of his limbs and
senses he was completely blind. Eileen's
devotion was put to severe test. Far
more trying to her than his illness were
the constant directions he gave respecting
his picture, mingled with thanksgivings
that his vision had been spared long
enough to complete this masterpiece In
glowing words he expatiated on It's merits,
and probably in his minds eye saw it as it
might have beeu-in a sort of halo, ideal
lied and glorified. Eileen listened and
was silent, save for few words of assent.
Once he said to her:
you are very cold and unsympathetic.
One might almost think you were Jealous
of my coming triumph"
She caressed him gently, but uttered
no disclaimer
He set aside all her tlmid objections
when the time drew near for sending in
"The Departure of the Legions,' gave his
own directions for the frame and listened
with glowing face to the departing foot
steps of the men who bore it away.
Not only was the picture accepted, but
1t was hung on the line in the large room.
The public hocked to see it, the art critics
were unanimous in praising it, an Ameri-
can millionaire purchased it. Loring had
all the papers that spoke of the Academy
sent TO him, and made his wife read over
and over every paragraph concerning his
work, interrupting her to say;
"Yes-yes. You see, with my failing
eyes have left them all behind. Eileen,
you are not so good judge of painting as
l once thought you-none of the blemishes
you affected TO criticise are apparent to
others. Come, come, little woman, you
are not yet quite up to painting my repli.
cas-"
Since his blindness Loring had a NOR
bid repugnance to leaving his house, and
never went anywhere. He used to send
his wife every other day to the Academy,
so that she could report to him the opin-
ions of the picture which she overheard
in the crowd, and which she gave with
hesitation and reticence that exasperated
him.
One day he abruptly determined to GO
himself. A sudden suspicion had crossed
his mind that he was deceived and that
the enconiums on his work had been pur-
posely magnifed to pacify and console
him. His sightless eyes hidden by dark
spectacles which very effectually disguised
his identity, his figure bowed by his long
illness, he entered the gallery one afternoon
at the busiest hour, leaning on his wifes
arm, and was led by her before the picture
There was no mistaking the eager rush of
the crowd, the sincere EXPLANATIONS of de-
light, the enthusiastic praise. He could
no longer doubt. "The Departure of the
Legions" was the masterpiece of the Acad-
envy. He stood more erect, his step was
frmer, as he turned to go, and Eileen felt
the nervous, triumphant pressure of his
hand on her arm, as he passed like con-
querer through the portals that had opened
wide to receive his work. He could not
see that her eyes were moist with deeper
emotion.
The sum realized by the sale of the pic
ture enabled Loring to visit Germany, and
place himself in the hands of the best
oculist in the world The treatment to
which he was submitted was long one, !
but at the end of twelvemonth the cure
was complete, and he was told that shortly
he would be able to handle once more the
brush that had made him famous.
mot before have seen again the pic
ture to which / indirectly owe my recov-
cry" he said to Eileen.
But it is in America already" she said
hurriedly.
What of that? Let US go to New
York"
$50 long journey ?" she pleaded.
ut will do me good-nothing like sea
air."
He would not be gainsaid, and they
sailed for America. The news of their
arrival had preceded them, and Loring re-
ceived one of those transatlantic recep-
tions which are so unsparingly layished on
distinguished Europeans. He bore some
what impatiently with speeches and inter-
views, and lost no time in calling ON the
millionaire who owned his treasure With
consummate tact, after showing the way to
his private gallery, the New York banker,
pointing to large frame in the place of
honor, said smilingly to the husband and
wife:
81 viii not intrude on this happy meet
ing-you will find me in the library when
you have DONE"
He withdrew, and, to Loring's intense
relief, left them alone
A few quick strides brought him before
the picture latent dimness of vision,
increased by emotion, seemed for a mo-
ment to prevent clear and complete
view, yet he felt that he had before him a
superb work of art. Two or three times
he passed his fingers over his eyes, then
his expression changed from intense exul-
tation to startled surprise.
what is this 2" he said
Your picture, of course; don't you rec
ognize it, darling" said Eileen, drawing
closer up to him.
My picture, That my picture? No,
no; / remember it too well. | have seen
il in every detail 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
mo, no, you mistake, Cosmo' What
matter? Besides. have You forgotten?
| Was the picture not called the best Of the