The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-09-04

paul Barr. though we have long diff
fersd on many suhjects- I'VE. have been
friends. But after what ] have heard
and seen today we must meet hence
! forth as strangers said MIR Spence,
with fire had never known him to dis
play before. -
Il adore her and / am human See
therer' He pointed 10 the portrait which
! hitherto had escaped their attention.
Il would give even that for another
| kiss
At the sight of the picture Mr.. Spence
gave a start. for the likeness was mar
velous. As for Miss Kingsley. she wins
/ pered in my ear
did you sit for it, dear
NO, did not" answered
''Detestable philosophy" continued
Nh. Spence. looking from the canvas TIC
! the artist There was the making of
man in youths portrait showsit But
! 1t is TOO late. The brute is rampant. and
genius is no more.
she could have nodded me IN her
hands like clay" said Paul Barr
| could not help feeling touched by the
despair II his voice.
''How distinctly piteous." murmured
Miss Kingsley.
i have no more TO say. You have
heard my decision, Paul Barr"
MIR. Spence seemed greatly moved and
excited l could see him tremble Il
was very bitter to me TO feel that ON my
account friends of lifetime were to be
separated The big artist pulled at his
| beard, and with another of his fawnlike
! looks exclaimed:
Il understand You want her for
yourself But you cannot rob me of
those kisses. ha! ha! They shall lie IN
the grave with me- and | shall still
smile
Mr.. Spence grew paler yet. He seemed
about to speak. but controlling himself
by an effort turned to leave the room.
motioning Us to precede him.
How distinctly prteousr' repeated
Miss Kingsley, as we went down stairs.
He acted shamefully. OF course. and
there Is no excuse for his conduct But
though 1t Is impossible TO Justify him,
can pity him, can't y0u? His nature Is
SO impressionable: and when he is inter
esTed IN anything there Is no half way
with him; he wants the whole or moth
ing. If you will excuse my saying SO.
several of US have been afraid OF some
| thing of this sort | wanted to warn
you; but | said to myself, IT may be
| Virginia really likes him. SO | decided
not to speak IF had done SO all this
might have been prevented, for II was
very evident to the rest Of Us that he
was desperately IN love with you. And
by such a man Of course the very small
est marks of favor are construed as more
significant than open encouragement
would be by less poetic temperament. /
hive no doubt the poor fellow wears over
his heart every rosebud you ever gave
him. and knows by rote every word of
sympathy you ever said to him. And then
that portrait-what volumes it tells Of
itself! Fancy that ardent soul toiling
over the canvas to reproduce from mem
DRY your image you tel me you did not
SIT to HIM. and when the masterpiece of
his life was finished inviting you to his
studio (as | suppose ne did, and then, IN
moment of deep ard passionate love,
casting himself at your feet-and-and
forgetting himself, Oh, Virginia, there
is something e1quisitely pathetic in the
thought! But how fortunate. too for
YOU that we arrived when we did In
his sober senses Paul Barr would rather
die than injure hair of your head: but
none Of Us, however self reliant, is free
from dread IN the presence of a man who
has been Over indulging in stimulants
even though sure CT his affection. My
poor dear, how you must have suffered
What viii your Aunt agnes say? II was
only two days ago she said TO me she
hoped the affair was at an end ! tod
her then that one can never be sure O. 2
thoroughly Bohemian nature; IT is liable
to burst into fame al the moment when
one least expects It. e'he result shows
the correctness of my prediction. Poor
Mr.. Barr What viii become of him
wonder? l only hope he viii not at
tempt his own life: that would be worse
than anything"
Neither Mr.. Spence nor | mad spoken
as she ratified ON in this manner, going
down the long flights of stairs to the
j
in her remarks to make my frame of
mind still more wretched, and l could
barely refrain from requesting her TO
keep still. Mr. Spence was evidently
much disturbed by what had occurred
The expression of his face showed that
he was under THE influence Of violent
emotions Once or twice, TOO, | saw
him glance almost impatiently at Miss
Kingsley. as if her prattle annoyed him
But she WAS SO Drumming over with
volubility as TO be bind to everything
but the fancies she saw fit 10 evoke in
regard 10 the scene she had Just wit
messed
When, however. we reached cross
ing of streets where her way separated
from mine M Spence said, in tone
that for him was abrupt. j shall see
Miss HARLAN home.
ITO BE Continued