The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-24

l
person, be, with the mercicss instinct of his
nature, would have spurned Der. And she was
suterng
20, Daphne!" he cried in an agony of
Tcmorse, forgive me!n
Hour after hour passed rs he struggled with
himself until the strained nerves gave way
and he fell heavily. 10 was past midnight
! before he recovered consciousness. lie lay
where he had fallen his eyes closed, lie
beard the sound Of carriages rolling home
policeman's steady beat on the pavement
below-a girls laugh.
4 There il was again! lie could sec IL IN the
4 dark with eyes shut that deformed, hideous
/ face, and yet hers always hers. The horror
Of il almost maddcncd him.
4 With a violent effort he controlled himself
I How cl0se the rO0m was! The darkness lay
/ like weight on his chest. lie was suhocating!
Rising, he staggered TO the window aud leaned
ont. The keen breeze blew against has lace
aud throat, crept into his hair. lt was as
/ though the breath Of n spirit went through
! him, refreshing his inmOst soul. On the dis
TAM beach he could see the sand glitioTing IN
the moonlight the simmer on the sea- the
waves breaking in long white nipples on the
shore.
lie lifted his haggard face up TO tho serene
\ sky. o for little of its peace 10 drop upon
! has heart and still its ungOvernable longing
! He stood solitary, his only thought one OF
misery. His glad future dissolved itself into
4 pain. Backward be dared not look
AZ last there came 20 hlm the quiet Of eX-
! haustiou. lie knott down and rested his head
on the acknowledges How little 10 all mat
i tered! Whether happy or soriowiu good or
evil, il was the same in the end. Death stood
waiting, waiting aud mo- one could escape hun,
! Hclaughcd out suddenly, bitterly, then checked
/ himself in thinking. u was morbid, unhealthy
10 carry thought 50 far.
The gTUy dawn creeping into the room Found
/ him standing bul0rc his wile's picture gazing
az ii with namecss tenderness, until his eyes
were blinded with tears aHd The suhocailng
/ pain in his heart overwhelmed him. Aud yet
the thought comfortcd him iuoXpressibly. time
could not change nor stain thai ialT face. There
! in the picture she would be always this young
girl, In all the purity aud dclicaCy Of her blame
/ less life, in all the radiance Of her youth.
4 Never would tho rcd young lips saddcn, or
the hairs young gold tum gray. The bcauti-
! iul pictured eyes looked iut0 the depths OF his
! soul. Ia them lay eternity. lie felt the exalt-
ing separation Of all worldly things, and grew
calm, almost peaceful.
Outside the birds were singing a perfect
] jubilee. Even tie vines at the window tFcin-
4 bled their dew-wet leaves Tor very JOY IN the
clear sunlight. But for the first time in his life
Jasper Gray turned away from the glad conf
dence OF the morning.
AbAlAAAr tAA way III " VIC 10 lis WIG ~ az -
/ he thought Of going directly 10 her, but shTank
4 from the idea with curious dread. lie might
/ lose las seli-cOntrOl aud wound her feelings
! terribly.
! lie sat down 10 write, feeling crushed and
! chilled. Every word was written with an
effort, and sounded cold, lileiess. lie tore up
the first two letters aud commenced third
My Dearest Daphne" lie paused and looked
/ az the words cuTiOusly. Ii seemed like writing
] "a an had 4 fa1 Ila r3G "a aud stood
/ long before the portrait Of his wife. lie laid
4 his hand gently over hers IN the picture. SO
! DE might have done IL she had lain white aud
/ still IN her collin. IL was impossible 10 think
Of her as SCARED and dist cured. The picture
he drew Of her thus was that Of different
woman.
/ NIth an effort he turned to his wriiing-"My
Dearest Daphne" The words seemed 20 mock
him. Daphne was dead. Who Was this woman,
this stranger lie was addressing by her name?
/ 10 was aaclllCEe, He tore up The paper. then
/ looked II the scattered fragments with savage
! self-contempt lie had always been slave 10
I his love Tor the beautiful. lie supposed he
always would be- lie ground his teeth together
] Ia hls lmpUtent self rage.
Then he wrote and mailed bis letter in IL
1 he said that 10 was absurd 70 imagine her mis-
| fortune could diminish his affection or make
the slightest difference ia their future. lie
/ lmplOred her 20 return. lie sent the letter OF
with vague dissatis. action. 10 sounded forced
and cold. 4 few days later il was returned
the address was unknown.
Well he would leave this place tomorrow
aud hBd his wiic,-make her return TO him. Yet
tomorrow came and passed without his going
dc would take a few days 10 accustom himself
70 the knowledge that she was no longer beau
/ tliul and 10 learn sel-Contro Yet even ii be
! did start 70 find her, where would he search z
1 She could not care much for him il she would
leave him thus. Besides, did he not have TOO
much pride 10 force her 10 return 10 himG
Nearly week later, as be sat painting dreaT-
] lly, child belonging 10 Deighboring family
came into the studio. The little fellow had
been a great pet Of his wile's
Where is ze pity lady zat plays VIII me "
| be asked, resting confidently against the young
4 mans knee.
Gray took him mp on his lap.
"Pietro, you see thaty" pointing 20 a china
image Of dog on the table. Well, will
I give IL 10 you IL you will answer a question. /"
Ess will answered the child, Slipping
down and getting The coveted article. lie
scrambled back TO his former position on the
young mans knees.
Suppose, said Gray, "suppose he avert
ed his eyes from the chld's clear, bright gaze,
aud spoke with an effort" that the lady who
used 10 play with you were no longer pretty,
but looked like, well like that" indicating a
hideous little image Of a Brahmin god.
" sood slap her, put in the child, eagerly,
for looking naughty" lie nodded has pretty
head positively Ess, / sood hit her 90,
striking Cray with lis tiny hand.
The young man rose suddenly, pushing the
child roughly away from him. The china dog
fell, broken, on the floor.
Oh, 70 doggici 70 poor little doggie!" cried
! the child.
Gray raised bis hand and struck him. I,
was the hrst time in his life he had ever done
such thing
The boy picked up his broken plaything and
1 crept out OF the room frightened. The young
man went back 70 his painting.
The ungrateful little brat, he mutterred.
he put back his bead and surveyed his work
critically through half-closed eyes.
That yellow is just a little harsh -
de glanced up unthiukingly az his wife'E
picture. It's eyes met his responsibility. The
hot, shamed blood rushed 10 his face. lie
turned away and painted doRgedly for a few
moments. Then be rose, walked over and
turned the face Of the picture 70 the wall.
Alter that day an apathy settled upon him.
he kept 20 bis old habits, working much a,
usual but he seemed 10 have lost his former
skill. His paintings lacked life aud color. Hc
neither Joyed nor grieycd but lived AS one in q
dream.
IL was impossible 20 realize the loss Of biz
wife. lie felt as though some beautiful estate
had been taken from him. Nearer than thai
be could not bring his grief. The only emo
tlon he experienced was one Of savage se.i-cOn
tempt al his GOODNESS.
Yet there were times when the bright breez,
from the bali called the color 10 his check
~ H.