The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-03-14

Most sincerely your Trend

j u0AA4h AHA-iA-A M
There was moment of profound 81
leuce. Then Mrs Pratt said, with a
sigh:
..How fortunate the engagement has
not been announced No one need know
of this "
There was no answer. Agnes seemed
stunned.
perhaps, under the circumstances, -"
Mrs. Pratt said, ''we had better say
nothing yet of the broken engagement.
Mr. Lawrence has gone abroad, they say !;
50 there will be no apparent quarrel"
Nor real onel" cried Agnes. 81 have
been miserable ever since 1 saw Gardiner
last. will write to him and end this
wretched arrangement"
u heard to-day" Mrs. Pratt said,
chat his uncle, Charles Gardiner, is i'm
mensely wealthy and has no children. He
lives in Florence, having weak lungs.
Did you ever hear of himl"
''Yes. never heard of his wealth,
but Gardiner is very fond of him. You
are surel"
mot at all, but it might be well to in
quire about TT
The winter was a gay one, and Agnes
Warne held her old position as the most
beautiful woman of the season. She
danced, sang, hirted, as of old, and her
cold, naughty face gave no token of the
feyerish eagerness with which she watched
for letter that never came, the heart
sickening suspense, and final agony of
despair. Having lost Gardeners love,
she placed a value upon it that she had
not held even in the happy past, upon
whose memory she dwelt continuously.
She knew, at last, that it was the one
absorbing love of her life. Even pow
erty began to lose its horror, as she
folded her love closer and closer in her
heart. She heard constantly OF Gardi-
ner, a fayorite in his circle of friends.
Knowing nothing of the broken engage
ment, her friends talked freely of their
news from Italy; of the success the artist
had made there; of the fame he was ac-
curing. Three years passed, and the
few pictures Gardiner Lawrence sent home
sold Immediately at high prices, while
his name constantly appeared in foreign
journals among the leading artists of the
day. News came at last of the death of
his uncle, and his own inheritance of a
large fortune. Then Mrs. Pratt deter
mined to spend a winter in Italy.
"Since you are so absurdly constRnt.
and will not accept any offer" she ,said
to Agnes, "let US try if the sight q YOUR
face will win your lover back Grief
! has not altered lel, Agnes; you az more
beautiful than ever
It was a perfect day when Sidney All
yard and Gardiner Lawrence, working
busily in their studios in Florence, we're
interrupted by visitors. Two ladies,
richly attired, rustled in; the elder one,
ELUSIVE, cordial, full of delight at renew
ing an old friendship; the younger one
/ pale, silent, and with a pensive melan-
choly upon her perfect face
Gardiner Lawrence, looking into that
face, felt not one quickened motion OF
his heart; greeting her as calmly as if
they had parted but yesterday, without
emotion. There was some chat of the
past years of separation, inquiries for
friends in America, congratulations upon
the success Of the two artists. Then
I Agnes stood for moment before pic
ture, the portrait of a girl.
"Without actual beauty" she said,
"whet lovely face that is. It is like a
Greuze, so child-like, so pure and sweet.
Is it portrslt.n