Middletown transcript., 1893-08-12

!. streamed through the window, stoo
t the easel, covered no longer, and facin
a me, as I paused on the threshold, wa
t the picture. stood there too amaze
. to speak or move. 1t wa
} magnificent. If had not known tina
/ only a woman's hand had converte'
that canvas into living, breathing
history could not have believed it
There was nothing crude or weak o
feminine about it. The power ant
force of genius spoke out like living
voice, and seemed to demand the hom
age it SO grandly challenged. Suddenly
I became aware Of sound in the still
ness-the low, stifed sobbing of 9
woman. l saw her then,
thrown face downwards on the couch
at the farthest end Of the room, her
face buried in the cushions, her whole
frame trembling and convulsed with a
passion of grief. oh, Mauricel' she
sobbed, and then again only that name
-'Mauricei Maurice! Mauricel'
81 closed the door softly and went
away. There seemed to me something
sacred in this grief. II could
not intrude on it. She was so near to
Fame. She held so great a gift {.
and yet she lay weeping her heart out
yonder, like the weakest and most fool
ish of her sex, for-well, what could l
think, but that it was for some mans
sake2 :"
He paused, his voice seemed a little
less steady, little less cold.
ION the morrow" he said, abruptly,
'sshe was gone, leaving note of fare
well, and-and thanks for me. l felt
a momentary disappointment. I should
like to have said farewell to her, and
it was strange, too, how much 1 miss
ed her and Denis. The loneliness aud
quiet of my life grew more than lonely
as the days went on, and 1 at last
made up my mind to go to London.
Whether by chance or purpose found
myself there on the day the Academy
opened. All who are artists know
what that day means for them. L
we'll, was artist enough to feel the
interest of art triumphs, and the sor-
row Of its failures. I went where half
London was thronging, and mingled
with the crowd, artistic, critical and
curious, who were gathered in the
Academy galleries. ] passed into the
first room. I noticed how the crowds
surged and pushed and thronged
around one picture there, and 1 heard |
of praise and wonder from
scores of lips as 1, too, tried to get |
sight of what seemed to them so mar
vellous and attractive. At last break |
in the throng favored me. I looked |
over the heads of some dozen people in
front of the picture, and 1 saw-the |
picture had gazed at in such wonder
and delight in the studio of Musette
Delaportel Deservedly honored, it
hung there on the line, and already its
praises were sounding, and the severest
critics as well as the most eager enthu-
'iasts we're giving it fame.
81 Iturned away at last. My steps
we're, however, arrested on the out
kirts of the crowd by sight of a wo-
nan whose figure seemed strangely
amiliar. Her face was veiled and
omewhat averted, but I knew well
'nough that pose of the beautiful head
hat coil of gold brown hair, just lifted
rom the white neck. She-she did not
ZEE me as for a moment 1 fingered
here. Then l noticed she was not
lone. Leaning on her arm. was a
nan his face pale and worn, as if by
Ong suffering, his frame bent and Grip
led. AS his eyes caught the picture I
aw the sudden light and wonder that
capped into his face. I saw, too, the
lory of love and tenderness in hers. l
rev nearer; the man was speaking.
How could you do itp' he said; how
ould you?' 'Oh. Maurice, forgive me-
aid that low, remembered voice. Dear
st, are we not one in heart and soul
nd name? l only finished what you 3
ad SO well begun. You we're 50 ill
nd helpless, and when you went into
he hospital, oh, the days were so long
nd SO empty. meant to tell you, but
vlen it was finished 1 had not the cou- |
age; so just sent it, signed, as usual,
1. Delaporte. II never dared to
ope it would be accepted. After all.
hat did do? The plan, the thought,
le detail all were yours; only my poor
eak hand worked when yours was
elpless.'
! was SO close heard every word, so :
lose that saw him bend and kiss
18th reverence the hand that she had
allied poor and weak, so close that l 7
card the low-breathed murmur from
is lips, God bless and reward you.
~ noble wifel''' -
And she was married all the time!n '
lid Denis, plaintively. "She might
ave told usl''
Jasper Trenworth was silent.-The I
trand. 7