The morning call., 1892-06-13

| it seemed to become endowed with life. l
worked like one inspired.
Often the older woman would sit aside,
apparently unconscious of all surroundings,
her eyes rivetcd for hours at time upon
the bOyish face in the lOcket. But not so
with Louisa-the older woman called her
| that. She fitted about my studio, setting
| things 10 rights, then leaning over my chair
| to watch the progress OF the picture. She
learned to hand me the brushes as l needed
them. She seemed almost TO anticipate
each stroke, and was ready with applause
/ or criticism.
"Oh. II only I were an artist" she would
| exclaim. Il have his pictures here IN my
! heart" pressing her little hand to her side
| Il should make him so realize might come
| back and speak TO us.
you have never told me- ! said one
day, when we bad finished work and she
| leaned over the picture scrutlnlZlng 1t
anxiOusly; you have never told me what
! relation he bore to you. Is il rude in me to
ask? Was he your brOtherP
She turned her dark eyes me In childish
surprise and answered simply
'He was my husband"
Then she resumed her study Of the pie
ture.
1T is very like to-day. Something has
come into 1t that was not there before"
Truly l made Of his a face such as poets
There was the broad, thinking brow. and
the grave, clear-sseing eyes of q prophet;
the delicate. sensitive features of a poet;
the firm, manly chin that controlled the re-
fined features, and the sweet mouth that
showed why these women loved him SO de-
YotedIy
When it was all finished how Louisa wept
over him!
at was so like! So like! It brought It
all back again afreshl | told you you would
succeed, and you could not have done bet
ter had he been alive and sat for his p0r-
trait" she said.
The older woman bsamed on me with
gratitude and kissed the little lOcket Is she
fastened ii about her throat. She Insisted
upon my accepting sun out OF all pr0pOr-
ton to ms labor, aud when l demuTred
thrust il upon me, saying:
I'VE can never show our appreciation In
any other way. We leave the country at
once; no one will see your work, we shall
not be able to help you in obtaining other
patrons. In the morning we will send for
the picture"
Louisa fitted about nv studio, putting
little f5menine touches here and there for
the last time. and l have not had the heart
10 change them since.
Good BY" she said "You~bave made
US very happy" And l am sure there we're
tears in her eyes.
That evening. after they had cope. could
from my thoughts. was standing before
the picture OF the man who was so iortu-
nate as TO possess her love. He deserved it
all. a glance at the noble face proved that
had grown to care for the picture-it was
so interviewer with her sweet presence, the
touch OF her fingers as she handed me the
brushes and her breath on my cheek as she
bent to study my work.
had nOt-tlme 10 put il out of sight when
the door suddenly swung open and the
friend Of nv bOyhOod, Dick Steel, was
shaking ne vigorously by the hand We
talked till midnight Dick was a reporter
on Western daily and we hadn't seen
each other for several years. AS the clock
struck L he rose to hunt up his hotel and
then for the first time began looking about
the room.
"Ah, you've done some fine work. old
boy, since l saw yOu." he exclaimed ad-
miringy, stopping before one picture and
then another. These things aren't in my
line and yet think l know good picture
when / see it,"
Then he stopped with a quick, surprised
exclamation before the portrait had just
finished.
Hello, who's this? I've seen this man
somewhere, John. What's his name?"
'Muriatt," l answered. That was her
name, Louisa had told me.
:. "Muriatt? l never knew any one called
that" Dick answered. Are you sure
you're right?"
Yes" l said shortly
bad reason enough to be sure.
QUEER can't place him for the life of
me" Dick continued musingly. meet so
many people In my line Of business. but [
never forget face. 1t may come to mind
over night. If 1t does | will drop in in the
mOrBlng and let you know. It's so deuced
late nOw-gOOd nightw and he was Off
For some IneXplicable reason | was sorry
mat DICK had seen the picture at all. Il IT.
Itated my soul that this ideal being
Louisa's husband-had ever been q real
flesh and blood man Ia world OF men and
women. 1t was long time before [ fell
asleep, and IL seemed but few minutes be-
fore l was awakened by the loud rafting of
my door.
LET ne in, John. It's I-Dick," fami-
liar voice shouted.
When had unfastened the door Dick en-
tered and made straight for the picture.
DO you know that this COMPOUNDED thing
haunted me all night? But its finally come
to me who tie man was. MuIiatt? guess
SO! Did you ever hear OF Anthony Red
wood? What did you take the portrait
from? IL ever the devil was tricked out as
an archangel he is in this picturep
What do you mean?" l gasped be-
wildered.
why. man, aren't you awake yet? Have
you never heard of Anthony Redwoo ?
Anthony Redw0Od-that notorious Western
CtlullH dl-bhdI CuIOutci6 Oh ali cTlmPS( lie
was hanged six months ago. / was at the
execution, so there's no mistake The pic
ture IS like" he said, studying it curiously,
Il never would have thought it possible
Tor a saint and devil to wear so similar a
guise. How did you manage it?"
We'll, just ran across the likeness" /
began feebly.
Dick broke in with little laugh.
"0h, never MIND, if you don't care 10 tell
Even reporter can sometimes exist with
out pryiDg into private affairs"
Thank you, Dick, old fellow. / don't
care to tell. But iii ask you a question
Did he have a wife,"
A wifep Dick echoed derIsiyely, lyon
don't comprehend that manner of man. He
had half Dozen"
But was he married to none OF tbem-to
| one" "
. He may have been married to all. Two
or three appeared against him at the trial"
My poor little wroDged Louisa! Nv
broken lily! Ii only the villain were alive
who robbed me of her-but it is useless
warning with the dead
Ihey sent servant for the picture. |
| never saw my darling again and | still
wonder at that blind, clinging affection
which In spite of sin and wrong and wicked
! ness had seen only the angel in a criminal
and felon. Yes. wOman's love must al
| ways remain a mystery.