The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-01-26

Time cannot accomplish all things,
however, and he had failed to quench
Edith's bitter hatred toward Strettou,
that burned as fiercely as when, so
long ago. she had first heard that ho
had reviled 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 as if her triumph lacked tho
triumph of revenge.
One evening at little dinner party
given in her honor Edith heard that
Stretton was very ill and in really des-
titute circumstances.
She sat perfectly SILENT while q
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 inclinations were toward slang
or pure English.
The fact was that Stretton was too
true an artist to become a tradesman
in his profession. He studied nature
and scorned al! tricks-those tricks
that make money in this world.
Yet he was by no means a failure
and" people were beginning dimly to
appreciate his wonderful ability when
this illness came and "knocked his la
bors all endways," 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 whrse picture he
had treated with such jpen 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 60 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 Icing bank account and car.
rying basket of peaches and white
grapes to express the Christian charity
part.
She stopped at careworn-looking
house. where a neat, faded old woman
opened the door and upon Mr.. Stretton
beng. inquired for directed her to the
second floor, 'front.'
She was lame, or she would 60 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,
tIont" In a moment little Boggs ap.
peared with very red eyes and rather
sternly ushered her in without q word
of greeting.
Edith began graciously: ''How do
you do, Mr.. Boggs? l came" but
stopped short, petriied. Was that her
''Scene from Macbeth hanging over
the mantelpiece?
AS sure as 1t was May 81, and tina,
she was alive and breathing. And
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 SHELLS 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 mo. 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 picture.
and praised them to other people; how
he had neglected opportunities thai
she might profit by them; how he hat
helped her in secret and served her like
a slave; wasted his life, his time, hi.
talents to atone for few hasty word.
that he had spoken and she overheard
Miss Gr,erson just sat down on thu
hardest chair in the room and began t.
cry, with her face hidden in her hand
''But thought he had spite agains
mel" she said, at length.
"Spite!" snorted little Boggs, with
unreasonable ferceness, considering
that he had given her the impression
himself. HE never had spite agains
anyone in his life. He made me com,
and tell you that, because he though
you wouldn't feel so mortified then a
| what you had heard"
Ills he really dying'"
"Well, no." returned little Baegs
'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 ma,
like she said, thrusting the It'll,
basket in to his hand. ''I'll come to
| morrow. Let me know i'll can't,
| anything." So the fruit brought in hal:
triumph was given in whole kindness
God bless you," said little Boggs
relenting at her tear-stained face. Their
she hurried from the room and he wen
on tiptoe to Stretton's bedside.
''Well, old fellow, how do you fee
now?"
"Eh?" said Stretton, languidly.
"How do you feel? Never mind, 20,
| needn't speak, old boy. Who do 70,
think has been here? Miss Grierson
e. Co. you know, old fellow, ant
has brought you these grapes-aren'
they jolly, old fellow?-and she's com
ing tomorrow. Don't you think you'll
be able to see her, old boy?''
II know SHALL" said Stretton, slow
ly.
Edith and her mother came the mex
day. and the next-in fact every day
! and though his friends hocked to tn,
sick bed, as is the won't of English
men, only too anxious to do anythin,
and everything, they constituted them
| selves the chief ones
And after awhile people began to un
derstand; and by and by, when quie
little wedding took place in the ole
church at Noting Hill, don't thinl