Smyrna times., 1892-02-17
SUNSET.
BY sLNsHINE LAWRIE.

A bay window, stand filled with
| flowers, lounge, an easy chuir. a girl
mandolin, attached to broad blue
ribbon hung around her neck. She
wore quaint, lowered gown cut low
at the throat, with short, pulled sleeves
and her hair was cOiled, IA mass of rip
pllng sunshine, on the top of her head.
Her eyes were brown.
Opposite on the lounge lay a Young
man IN a VelVeteen painting Jacket
The afternoon was fading, and the late
western light hIckered through the
ho~ers down upon his upturned face,
with its blue, bOyish eyes and brown
moustaChe.
An air from Madame Augot" foated
through the room aud ceased. The
young fellow turned his head impa-
| tiently.
now p
An expression of mock surprise
crossed the girls piquant face.
How could | know you were wait
ing? You did not say So" she said in
differently.
But you knew it. Oh, Therese,
why will you trifie with me? You
know | love you, you know | can take
care OF you, and yet, aud yet"
lie had risen and vas raining kisses
upon the little cold hands that Law in
his so passively. For one moment she
looked down into the tender eyes and
burning flush swept over her face !;
then she turned her head away.
"Therese! )! Don't you love me-not
even littleP Oh, my dearest, l could
be so patient, so good to you | could
teach you to love me if you would only
try"
No, you couldn't. Her ewes were
bright with pain, and she rose. her
head still turned away. She spoke
almost roughly. You COLD never
teach me to love you. I'm sorry.
Carl, but you had better leave me
now"
Sorry ~ he repeated DULY, rising
to his feet. You are sorry ? That Is
not true. You could not be sorry if
you tried, for you know you have no
heart"
She clung to the mandolin fiercelv.
NO." she reiterated coldly, II have
no heart. AN glad you found it out.
You had better 20 and love some other
woman, but before you tell her about
it be sure she has one" A bitter little
smile played about the corners of her
mouth.
He stood for a moment looking at
her, aud then come back. He seemed
to have grown manlier in the few min
utes that had elapsed.
"Therese," he said simply, "you are
talking nonsense. | am sure YOU love
me. and it will be best to acknowledge
it, for some time it may be too late.
Try to realize what you are doing"
he stood close beside her, his ewes
fixed upon her rippling sunshiny hair,
for head was bent so that he could not
see her face. He could only see the
tip one crimson ear, and the full, snowy
throat, that rose aud fell too quickly
for comfort, and for one moment his
heart thrObbed with hope. The next
his house of cards lay shattered. She
drew a long breath, raised her head
and looked him in the face with eyes
that never flinched,,
Carl, she said gently, 81 will be
frank with you. / never thought YOU
were in earnest until nOw-and it is
too late. We have been such good
friends, you and l. You could never
never teach me to love you, l know.
but I'm sure you'll forget me in time.
Don't think me heartless, for I'd have
given my very life to have saved YOU
this. Oh, believe me, Carl, dear, be-
lieve me that | would have prevented
it, had known"
He wondered why her voice trem-
bled so, why the b'ue veins in the little
hand she laid in his stood out so prom
inently. He bent and kissed the soft,
slender fingers, and left her with a
muttered:
God bless you, Therese l believe
it,"
She raised the pOrtiere and looked
after him until he had passed out of
sight. Then she laid the mandolin on
the chair gently and went to the win
dow. The sun had gone down, and
only rosy glow remained to tell the
tale of its glory. She flung herself
face downward on the lounge, and one
great sob burst from the dry lips.
rs the chance worth the sacrifice ?"
she cried hOarsely. III it only turns
out all right, l shall be content. And
to think that I've lost him Oh, Carl.
come back, come back ~
But it was too late. "The "Carl.
come back ~ that re echoed through
the high ceiled studio beyond was the
only answer. The rosy light faded,
the sky deepened, and crescent moon
high up in the heavens did its best to
Outshine the stars. In the alcOVe,
Therese Caruthers still fought to gain
the mastery over self and nature.
Some one tapped on the outer door
for admittance, but the girl on the sofa
did not hear. A light step crossed the
studio, and the pOrtiere was pushed
aside nOiselessly. In the opening
stood young lady in street costume.
She was small, slight and delicate
looking, with a sweet face, eyes like
purple ViOlets wet with dew, and an
aureOle Of soft fair hair. She stood for
moment, taking in the details Of the
picture, the lounge, the PROSTATE fg.
ure, the mandolin, aud "a crescent moon
shining down upon II ALL Then she
softly withdrew.
CHAPTER II.
Miss Carthers received once a month,
on Wednesday, and the two studios
were always crowded. Miss Caruthers
was a rising artist. It was said that
she would be famous some day, and
| the remark was cOntradictad Har