Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-01-13


scarcely knew how, put in the way of
good models and works of instruction.
Then one or two celebrated artists be-
gan to notice the pictures with ssE. g."
tucked away in one corner, and the quiet
little studio often held many an ar. A. F."
Edith had long since removed to d
"real STUDIO" as Mrs. Grierson called it.
and rcvcllcd in the good light and
abundance of room, her pictures gaining
color and strength like plants.
The years pass quickly by sometimes,
and yet work wondrous changes, and
when five had been counted from that
May day when Macbeth was turned out
of the exhibition, "E. g." found herself
really famous and nearly rich.
Time cannot accomplish all things,
however, and he had failcd to auench
Edith's bitter hatred toward Stretton,
that burned as fiercely Us when, SO long
ago, she had first heard that he had re-
vilcd her picture out of spite.
The tables were turned; she was rich
and he was poor; she was famous, and
his name was scarcely known; yet it
seemed rs if her triumph lacked the
triumph of revenge.
One evening ut little dinner party
given in her honor Edith heard that
Strctton was very i'll and in really dcsti.
tutc circumstances.
She sat perfectly silent, while n small
fire of ejaculation ran round the table.
Nearly every one knew and liked
Stretton, aud were all lawfully sorry"
or very much distressed" rs their in.
clinations were toward slang or pure
English.
The fact was that Stretton was too
true an artist to become tradcsman in
his profession. He studied nature and
scorned all tricks-thosc tricks that
make money in this world
Yet he was by 10 means a failure, and
people were beginning dimly to apprc-
ciatc his wonderful ability when this ill.
ness came and "knockcd his labors all
cndways," as little Boggs would phrase
it.
Edith merely looked grim and asked
for his address, which she took down
carefully in her note book.
The following day she had the whole
thing fought out in her mind. She
would go 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 scorn, had found sue
ccss-hut she checked herself; it was not
right to give way to such feelings.
The poor fellow was sick and help
less. She could not 20 to see him just
from revenge. She began to think that
chcrishing hatred had warped one side
of her nature.
So that afternoon, with what arc
called "mixcd motives" believe, she
stepped into her little brougham, dressed
in the richest of black silks, to express
a long bank account, and carrying bes-
ket of peaches and white grapes to ex-
press the charity part.
She stopped at careworn looking
house, where n neat, faded old woman
opened the door, and upon Mr.. Strctton
being inquired for directed her to the
"sccond floor, 'front.'"
She was lame or she would go up her
self, and her sister was out who CASUALLY
answered the bell.n
So Miss Gricrson mounted the stairs
alone aud tapped ut the ''sccond floor,
front" In n moment little Boggs ap
peared with very red eyes and rather
sternly ushed hcr in without IA worl of
greeting.
Edith began graciously: GLOW do
you do, Mr.. Boggs3 came"-but stop
ped short, pctriiicd. Was that her
"Scenc from Macbeth hanging over
the mantlepiece2
AS surely MS it was tho 21st of May,
and that she was alive and breathing.
And what were those smaller ones on
either sidc2 Two studies from Shakes
peare, with "E. G." in the corner.
She slowly surveyed the walls. They
were covered with her earlier pictures
those she had carried to SHELLS with her
own hands.
swell, you found it out at last" said
little Boggs, watching her with folded
arms.
"What does it meant" she gasped.
"Meani" cried little Boggs, reck-
lessly. "Well, he can't live more than
two hours, and you might as we'll 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 people; 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 tai.
ents to atone for few very hasty words
that he had spoken and she had over.
heard.
bliss Grierson just sat down on the
hardest chair in the room and began to
cry, with her face hidden in her hand.
"But I thought he had spite against
mel" she SAID at length.
'a"Spitel" snorted little Boggs with un.
reasonable tierceness, considering that
he had given her the impression himself.
"He never had a spite against any one
in his life. He made me come and tell
you that, because he thought you