Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-12-10

negotiations might fall through, bus
last night the affair was concluded sat
isfactorily, and we enter into posses
sion at once. As soon as you are ready
the workmen can set about casting the
group, so that 1t will be dry and be
ready for burning by the time the kiln
is i%nished-of course, old man, sup
posing that you are willing to give US
the job"
"a proper kiln and good workmen-
I ask for nothing more than that.
"You may depend on having them.
Anything is to be had for money, and l
shall be only too glad to put mine to
such good use. You know how thor
oughly 1 %sympathize with your cause.
That alone would command my fortune
but look what q start this job will give
us-what an advertisement"
Taras stretched out his hand aud
grasped his friends in a silence more
expressive than any verbal testimony
of his faith in Gordon ard recognition
OF the generous motive that underlay
his scheme.
We saw a great deal Of Gordon dur
ing the following week. On the Satur-
day there was a long consultation In
the workshop with two of the cleverest
men in the trade with respect to the
casting Of the group, which had now
received the last touch, and it was
agreed that on the Monday following
the operation should be begun. Taras
told me this when the workmen were
gone, and | found him In the work
ah1n Thnra hn ptnoH hnfOra hfQ WnFK
with folded arms, and after regarding
it in silence for a few minutes he said
with impressive force:
"This is the finest work I have ever
done in my life, Aura. 1 am proud OF
it,"
1t was the pride of conscious
strength, not the vanity of a weak
mind, that impelled him to say this,
aud it evoked a corresponding feeling
OF exultant admiration in my breast
that banished all foolish thoughts and
c~ompunctious. 1 slipped my hand I'M
der his arm and pressed 1t. l was
proud, too, not of the work, but OF the
man whose genius had produced II.
at should be his finest work." l said
10 myself as the awful reflection flashed
upon me that it was likely to be his
last and that il would cost him his life.
We went to Kew on Sunday afternoon
and fingered under the beautiful trees
10 the garden until the keeper cried,
"All outr' We were both more silent
than usual, for we were both thinking
about the group-he with some anxiety,
probably, about the delicate operation
Of the morrow, l for the result of It's
successful achievement. But with my
anxiety was mingled a supreme happi-
ness, a fitting sense Of my privilege in
being the friend and companion Of such
a noble man.
On Monday morning I rose early, and
going out to the atelier l saw Taras
standing In the doorway, his chin sunk
upon his breast and his eyes fixed on
something within.
At the sound OF my step he raised his
head and turned, looking down at me
with deep detection in his face and with
such vacancy In his regard that l could
scarcely believe be saw me.
"Taras!" l exclaimed, hating at the
foot of the steps in wonder and fear.
Without q word he beckoned me to
come up, and as l reached his side on
the landing he raised his hand and
pointed within.
With a choking cry Of dismay l per-
ceived that his work-the beautiful
group on which he had spent months Of
patient labor and strenuous thought
lay a shapeless wreck upon the floor.
The irons that supported the subject
stood there, a grotesque skeleton OF the
living figures, but the modelled clay was
heaped upon the floor in a shapeless
mass, the original design beaten out of
recognition.
For the moment I thought that, find
ing it had fallen and his work spoiled,
he himself had trampled upon IL in a fit
freuzied exasperatiOR.
"Nas it too damp?' I asked, knowing
the care ne took to wiring out the wetted
cloths that enveloped the ground at
nighttime.
He shook his head.
Then who has done this?" I asked.
1.-THE car" he replied. 'His arm is
long"
But not so long as yours" said l.,
fired with a spirit of ~revengeful wrath.
"You will not give in because Of this.
You will fight him to the end. What
you have done before YOU can do again.
You can build up the figures once
more and make them as beautiful as
they were. 1t is only a matter Of
time"
''My brave Aural" said he. laying his
hand a~ffectionatelY on my shoulder,
you give me the courage | lack. Yes,
that is the way TO face a disaster like
this. Take up the sword and fight or.
That alone makes defeat honorable.
What does it matter-the delay of a few
months? We shouldn't be content to
do nothing, They've left me the bones
at any rate" he added, with a laugh
and q nod at the rusted iron, land we
shall soon see the flesh grow again on
them. Let US go down now. After
breakfast we will begin again. It's
good to have & brave friend at such a
time as this. Come, Aura"
But for all my bravery 1 could eat no
breakfast. and when Taras spoke OF
our visit to Kew l burst into a food Of
uncomfortable tears with a recollection
of the confident hope and pride which
had filed us with such happiness and
cOntsnt.
When Gordon and the workmen came,
I left them go up to the workshop
without a word, but I determined to
spare Taras the pain of telling the
story again, and so when Kavanagh
came l stopped him in the passage, AID,
taking him into the sitting room, my
self related what had happened. He
listened with astOnishment, and seem
ed greatly shocked.
Good. heavens" he exclaimed,
"what a terrible blow foi poor Taras!
Gordon told me that they were to begin
casting the group to-day. came to
congratulate my friend on having