St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-03

forget me, but remember only that l
prayed for your happiness and success.
Again, fareweliI'
you tell me to become a great artist"
he said impetuously. Give me an OBJ
iect, and | can be anything. Only tell
lay it at your feet"
Then, putting the rosary into his
hand, she turned away.
Percy Hilton did not speak again, but
moved slowly to the door, and, pushing
the heavy draperieS aside, went out,
mechanically, like one walking in
dream.
The princess sank into an armchair
and gazed at the neglected logs in the
fireplace that gave out feeble glow.
In few moments she spoke. half aloud:
what does it mean? l might have
taken him to Russia. and made his
fortune. But no. when man has once
been permitted to kiss woman she is
powerless to prevent him afterwards,
and the boy of nineteen reached his
manhood in a mighty boundi Yes, it
was wiser to send him away"
Ibis eXcellency the ambassador"
was announced at this moment, aud the
princess was once more the stately
lady.
Percy Hilton went back again to the
little garnet in the Latin Quarter in
which he lived, and packed his KNAPP
sack. His chum and roommate, Berthe
Merrill, asked where he was going, and
received for reply a terse ITO the
deviln' which so surprised him that he
could ind no words for further Ques-
tioning.
Early in the morning Percy set off,
without word. His friend saw that
something was mentally wrong, but
there was strange look in the boys
lace-a curiously aged eXpression-that
kept him from even attempting to learn
what it was.
For six months no one knew anything
of him: then Hilton reapp cared as sud
denly as he had gone. Once more he
went regularly to the atelier, once more
he joined in the jolly little suppers in
the lodging rooms of the "boyS," but
no one asked more than once where
he had been, and no one ever knew. 1t
was known that one inquisitive fellow
student, who said: ''Oh. come now, old
chap, tell us where you've been these
six months" was briefly answered: ''In
purgatory? and there the queries
stopped. But it was generally &C
knOwledged that PercyHilton looked ten
years older than on the morning he went
away.
Some time went on. Hilton worked
hard, and successes began to come. His
pictures were accepted in the salon, and
Hilton began to feel some of the salts
faction that is the best reward of faith
ful work.
He was singularly alone, having
hardly relative, and had kept aloo
from close companionship with his fe l.
low-artistS, but in the new warmth
the friendly congratulations and sincere
goodwill that met his success he was
beginning to enter again into the gayety
that once marked his disposition aud
won him friends, when one day a car
riage passed him, and in it he saw--the
Russian princess. She saw him, also,
for his great height lifted him above the
crowd and-who knOws?-his intent
gaze may have won her glance. She
beckOned slightly to him, and spoke q
word to her coachman. In an Instant
the artist was beside her carriage.
us it Well?' she asked, with a kind
smile.
May l see you-just once?" was all
his answer.
''At O'clock" she said.
He was admitted to the little sitting
room, that was rather boudoir, so we'll
remembered. In moment the princess
entered. She extended her hand, an d
would have spoken a graciously con-
ventlonal greeting, but the dumb pas
sion that shOne in his eyes silenced her
"Ihank heaven. see you againp he
said.
Then you have not forgottenP" she
asked, gently, realizing in an instant
that she could have said nothing more
unwlse, for he impulsively replisd:
II have lived over every moment in
which we were together, day after day.
have hungered and thirSted for the
sight of you. Your kisses have lived
on my lips as your face is imprinted on
my heart. o, my princess, forgive me!
But am mad with love for your'
The words rushed from his lips like a
torrent. and as he ceased he lifted her
hands to cover them with passionate
kisses.
You must not! 1 was wrong to let
you come. This folly must be forgot
tell. l cannot be harsh with you. as |
ought, because 1 do not forget that l
owe my life to you; but you speak
truiy-your words are madneSSw
"Ihen you utterly refuse to let me
love you?" asked the man. II do not
ask more than that. Only allow me to
love you-to see you sometimes. |
swear that l will not trouble you. l
will not ask word of tenderness in
return. Why should you refuse me
thiS?"
lit is more than ever impossibIe,''
she said. Il join my husband ill Rus
STA next week.
"Your-husband" Hilton muttered,
looking at her with wide, blank eyes.
Good heavens! | did not think of
that"
And it was even so. Their spheres
mad been so widely apart that he knew
nothing of her life, and, strangely
enough, it had never occurred to him
that she might be married.
Then my love is a dishonor to you!
No"-with sudden passion-''neverth that;
but to tell you of it, that is dishOnoring."
He turned to go, and the princess
made no attempt to detain him.
One day the little peasant girl who
was his model for the time came to him
with her voice broken by sobs, her eyes
dim and red with weeping. Kindly he
asked her what troubled her.
'Oh, m'sieu," she cried, "he is dead
my father! | know not where TO go.
How shall L now live? There is no
money; l have of relations not one"
"DO not worry. | will think about it
and plan for YOU" the artist said.
"Ah, the good cure told ME that lie
bon Dieu would care for me, and if
you help me L shall know that it is
true. May l not keep your house for
YOU? l can cook and sew" the girl ex-
@imad.
| Ton worked that day his
I~ugt-t IS were less on his own troubles
than had been the case in many weeks.
| The helplessness of the child-for she
| was only seventeen-touched him deep
ly, but he was perplexed by the situa-
J ton. Her suggestion that she might be
! his housekeeper was, of course, out of
! the question-eXcept, came the thought,
as his wife. He started in horror as the
! idea first presented itself, but it re-
| to say to himself:
"Why mol? What has life for me? |