Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-21
ny xpue,., ..n.sn.,,.I~
CHAPTER XIV.

PauNre cherle, va! SAID she IN n trenl
bling voice, regarding me with tender com.
miseration in her broad, motherly face as
she stood before me with her hands planted
on her massive hips.
why do you say that, Mere Lucass" ]
asked, for l could now speak in French
with toler;ible fluency. 'Ihave everything
want"
at is true, it is true. Thank heaven,
you have everything you DESIRE
Then why do you say poor dearie' with
that look of sadness"
why do l say it?'' she said, cchoing my
words to get time for reflection. She hest
tated. Her lips trembled as if she were
about to tell something that prudence
withheld, and then taking me by the arms
and drawing me to her breast she got out
of the difficulty by saying: Because l love
you. Co." and with a sounding kiss she
released me and went OFT to her kitchen.
accepted this feminine explanation then,
but before long the same expression
cropped up again apropos of nothing when
l was singing from sheer want of thought.
That set me wondering. What was there
in my condition that appealed to her SYM
pathy; l was no longer the deplorable
creature that first excited her pity. Why
would n merry laugh now and then be
checked by n sigh as she squeezed my hand,
or end in rucful shake of the head and n
look of fearful sadness?
Another phase of her affectionate regard
added to my perpleXity before long. She
became remarkably urgent in her praise of
George Gordon and lost no opportunity of
bringing us together.
Good day, Nine. Lucas" Gordon would
cry in his CHEEKY voice and execrable French
when the door was opened to him. Fine
weather, isn't it? Is NJ. TaraS in his studio?''
Il will so and Sec" Mere Lucas respond
ed in good Norman, but behold ma m'selle
all alone and opening the sitting room
door she gave the poor man no option but
to enter and pa , 4 quarter OF an hour with
me, and n bad quarter of an hour it usually
was for him owing to his very limited
knowledge Of French and my obstinate
perseverance in speaking English only to
TaraS.
He was nice fellow and the most init
mate friend of raras. y stronger bond of
friendship existed between them than be
tween Taras and Kavanagh, perhaps be-
cause there WAS more weakness in Gordon s
character. kavanagh was undoubtedly
stronger i'll purpose and action, which was
the reason, believe, for Taras choosing
him rather than Gordon as guardian for
me in case of accident.
l liked Gordon for his honest simplicity,
his obvious kindness of heart and for GER
tain resemblance TO Taras in personal ap-
pearance and some phases of character.
Like Taras, he was strong and big, fair and
blue eyed, careless with regard to drcss-in
striking contrast to kavanagh, who always
dressed perfectly and had never hair
astray-and his voice was hearty and out
spoken.
They had both the same good laugh, the
same honest, open way Of looking you full
in the eyes, the same gentlcncss and ready
sympathy. Both might have been cast
from the same mold, bur Gordon was the
rough cast, still needing he finishing touch
and polish which gave Taras his immense
superiority Gorlon's eyes lacked the ar
tistic depth and his expression the high
intelligence and serious bent that distin-
suished Taras-juSt - his manner was
wanting in some quality which marked
the high breeding and refinement of his
friend. In their hands more than any
thing the difference between them found
expression. GordOn's were pretty, with
tapering fingers and a dmple in the
knuckle soft and slow in movement.
Taras had long, thin fingers with spatula
tips, and they were full of nervous energy.
All. what n good husband he would
make, that good NJ. Gordon!' Mere Lucas
more than once exclaimed. so rich, so
amiable, 50 gay and with such a good
heart and so easy to leadr'
But it never occurred to me that l should
lead him. No idea of marriage ever en-
tered my head at that time.
Seeing that l failed to profit by her hints
and that l WAS as far as ever from regard
ing Gordon rs Il possible husband, Mere
Lucas took more decisive means of warn
ing me against tine danger which lay I'M
seen beneath my ever increasing attach
ment to Taras. She found me one morning
-, l.
flowers in the brown jar 10y the window
at is good to put flowers where he may
see them when he turns from his work, =
said she. for his heart must be heavy,
like a sick person without hope. when he
thinks and thinks hour after hour of the
misery OF his country. How grand it isl
she added turning. to the life size gruup.
now nearly finished, which Taras had mod
eled in the past month from the smaller
sketch. How it strikes che with pity and
stirs up ones heart: One would say that
poor beaten creature had no hope in the
world. 1t is magnificent. And to think
that out CT a piece ofBoft, shapeless clay he
makes figure which fills one with sylnpa-
thy for that poor Russianl 1t is grand to
have th&t power and the courage to prac-
tice ii. But the gilt was not meant for
him. II should have been given to one
with 10 wish to live, no love for home and
friends, not TO my dear master. How fond
he is OF the world, of simple things, of US,
look You! see how sweet he is with chill
dren ard think what happiness it would
have been to such a man to have dear
wife and children of his own to love!'
The idea OF Taras with wife for his COM
panion presenting itself to my selfish mind
for the first time filled me with jealous ter
rOr.
why should he not marry:" asked,
giving expression to my fear.
because he ought not to marry. That
is reason enough for him. Ills choice is
made He has offered to sacrifice his life
for his country, and with that fate hanging
over him he will never marry. Believe me,
my poor little friend, for l know my mas
ter, and l tell you that he will never marry
never, never!'
CHAPTER XIV