The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-01-28

y
and he was poor; she was famous and
his name was scarcely known; yet it
seemed as if her trium II Ia k d the
triumph of revenge.
One evening at a little dinner party /
given in her honor Edith heard that .
Stretton was very i'll and in really des- |
titute circumstances.
: She sat perfectly silent, while a
small fire of ejaculation ran round the /
table. Nearly every one knew and |
liked Stretton, and were all lawfully /
sorry" or very much distressed" as
their inclnations were toward slang
or pure English.
The fact was that Stretton was too
true an artist to become tradesman
in his profession. He studied nature
and scorned all triclSs--those tricks
that make money in this world.
Yet he was by no means failure
and people were beginning dimly to
appreciate his wonderful ability when
this illness came and "knoclSed his la
bors all endways," as little Boggs would
phrase it.
Edith merely looked grim and asked
for his address, which she took down
Caretully IN ner note DOOk.
The following day she had the whole
thing fought out in her, mind. She
would 90 and visit him in all the glory
of her prosperity; she would let him
see that the artist whose picture he
had treated with such open scorn had
found success, but she checked herself;
it was not right to give way to such
feelings.
The poor fellow was sick and help
less. She could not go to see him just
from revenge. She began to think that
cherishing hatred had warped one side
of her nature.
So that afternoon, with what are
called ''mixed motives" believe, she
stepped into her little brougham,
dressed in the richest of black silks,
to express lcng bank account and car
rying basket of peaches and white
grapes to express the Christian charity
part
She stopped at q careworn-loolSiDg
house, where neat, faded old woman
opened the door and upon Mr.. Stretton
being inquired for directed her to the
second floor, front"
She was lame, or she would go up
herself, and her sister was out who
usually answered the bell"
So Miss Grierson mounted the stairs
alone and tapped at the second floor,
front" In moment little Boggs ap-
peared with very red eyes and rather
sternly ushered her in without word
of greeting.
Edith began graciously: How do
yoh do, Mr. Boggs? L came" but
stopped short, petritied. Was that her
Scene from Macbeth" hanging over
the mantelpiece?
As sure as 1t was May 21, and that
she was alive and breathing. Aud
what were those smaller ones on either
side? Two studies from Shakespeare,
with "E. G. in the corner.
She slowly surveyed the wall. They
were covered with her earlier pi ctures
those she had carried to Snells with
her own hands.
"Well, you've found it out at last
said little Boggs, watching her with
folded arms.
"'What does it mean?" she gasped.
"Mean!" cried little Boggs, reckless
ly. "Well, he can't live more than two
hours, and you might as well know all.
1t means that he has sacrificed his
whole life"
And there, in that little Second
floor 'front.' that warm May afternoon,
Edith Grierson heard the whole story
how Stretton had bought her pictures
and praised them to other peoples how
he had neglected opportunities that
she might profit by them; how he had
helped her in secret and served her like
slave; wasted his life, his time, his
talents to atone for few hasty words
that he had spoken and she overheard.
Miss Grlersou just sat down on the
hardest chair in the room and began to
cry, with her face hidden in her hand.
but l thought he had a spite against
mep' she said, at length.
''Spite!" snorted little Boggs, with
unreasonable ferceness, considering
that he had given her the impression
himself. "He never had a spite against
anyone in his life. He made me come
and tell you that, because he thought
you wouldn't feel so mortified then at
what you had heard"
lis he really dying?"
"Well, no. returned little Boggs,
"but he is in great danger"
"Boggs!" called a faint voice from
the next room.
Miss GrierSon started up.
Here is some fruit-perhaps he may
like" she said, thrusting the little
basket in to his hand. "I'll come to-
morrow. Let me know if-I can-do
anything" So the fruit brought in half
triumph was given in whole kindness.
"God bless you" said little Boggs,
relenting at her tear-stained face. Then
she hurried from the room and he went
on tiptoe to Stretton's bedside.
"Well, old fellow, how do you feel
now?"
"Eh?" said Stretton, languidly.
"How do you feel? Never mind, you
needn't speak, old boy. Who do you
think has been here? Miss Grierson!
e. g. you know, old fellow, and
has brought you these grapes-aren't
they jolly, old fellow?-and she's COM
ing tomorrow. Don't you think you'll
be able to see her, old boy?'
81 know l shall, 4" said Stretton, slow.
ly.
Edith and her mother came the next
day, and the next-in fact every day
and though his friends focked to the
sick bed, as is the wont of English.
men, only too anxious to do anything
and everything, they constituted them
selves the chief ones
| And after awhile naonla hepan IN nm.