The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-05-16

I two big diamonds ia her ears. 1T would
be great pity not to have the picture
! quite, quite perfect. 1t Is such very,
! very good likeness"
Three or four more sittings," muir
INJURED Roth. He spoke tritie hoarsely
and busted himself with his brushes and
! paint tubes
That evening Croft dined at Mrs.
Ritcheys house He was very quiet
man. All animation in him seemed
centred in his shrewd. obseryant eye
Yes" he remarked. as he sat little
| apart with Ethel In the course of the
evening, ''Roderick Roth has great
future before him. ! cannot but feel it
to be pity that he should be bound by
this engagement TO Miss Peck, although
it is one of those things that seem pre-
destined and unavoidable. Any marriage,
however, would be hampering. perhaps,
at the very outset of his artistic career.
And il this case, Of course, the disparity
of years
In the moments silence that followed
upon his words he could feel the change
that came over the face of the girl. lie
purposely avoided looking up TO see it.
1t was as he had imagined. The tie that
bound Roderick to Lavinia Peck had not
once been suspected by her Croft was
just enough to exOnerate Roth from
blame IN this secrecy. 1t had probably
seemed impossible to him that this b al
tiful Young woman of fashion could he
Interested IN anything concerning him.
lie had not mentioned his engagement
because he had never mentioned any
personal matter whatever before her
"How did such an engagement come
sbout2"
Ethel Ritchey had commanded herself
quickly. Croft knew her thoroughly.
Though he had discovered her secret, he
was capable of hiding it we'll Beneath
that exquisite exterior there was a sup
pie, flexible moral strength, like the
strength of a delicate steel blade. Poor,
proud child She had been foolish
=nough-the world would call it folly
10 lose her heart to the young artist. and
now she must suffer But Croft knew
that she would suffer bravelv.
'Ah, well, simply enough, poor fell
low" he replied she used to keep the
boarding house where Roderick took
room. That was some years ago. 1t
was a little room, but Roderick could
not pay for it. He painted night and
day in a bare loft somewhere, but he
found no purchasers for his WORK.
Roderick would sacrifice his art to moth
ing, you know He might have daubed
pot-boilers and sold them, but he
wouldn't. He preferred to die. And
when things got very bad he did prepare
to die. He spent the last piece of money
in his pocket for laudanum enough to
Kill ten men Yes. This is a sad chap
ter in poor Roderick's life. You did not
Know that such things actually occurred
in real life, Etheli Alas, they are all
around US. But they are not made for
such dollhouse flowers rs you to hear!
Well, Lavinia Peck discovered his in
tention. She has lost her youth, and
she is neither pretty nor attractive. But
she is noble, tender hearted woman.
Perhaps she loved him even then. In
any case. she helped him. Roderick's is
one of those rare natures which can &C
cept rare fayors without loss of self
respect. He asked nothing but to be al
lowed TO paint, to work out his concep-
tons. E: he was grateful-profoundl
honestly. loyalty grateful. He could do
but one thing in return. And he did it.
He asked Lavinia Peck to marry him.
Now he has been famous year. But if
one should ask me whether l think he
has ever allowed himself to regret his en-
gagement | should say no. Yes, he is
loyal fellow, is Roderick Roth
When he stopped Ethel stood upright,
her hands tightly sped, before him.
Thank you for telling me-" she said
in a yhisper Her ewes shone, .'Thank
Won -
There was no pretense at concealment
She saw that this old and faithful friend
had read her soul and had wished to
warn her, to guard her from great
wrong to the other She nut out her
hand and Croft took it with firm gentle
ness.
lyon ALWAYS were q good little pirI
FtbeIw
"Tbere should certainly he one SITTING
more ar least Ethel :, uroed Mrs
R;tchov
"\o mamma it's really not necas-
sary."
Mrs. Ritchey had never quite under
stood her dauThter. nevertheless she was
a,t TO rive awav before wh,t She termed
Etbers onint oIstipacv
"Verv well I should sunnose Won
would like to have the portrait perfectly
finished and complete But Won are =
ouaer sirI Iu;sb Won, ware ,ot,,,
u-aar;ir " W. 1 'L. 80, Az aaIn -
IA 49,. o,."r ,,,li To,;n
n,,,ob i,O ernant H. l,o.,lin .h;s
resoII,t;on ST. must nassr .aa;n @
Rod.-,cI, po+h g sba oo,,Id go -.
never allow him 70 SOP ber For he loved