The Progress., 1894-08-11


fame and happiness.
Violetta's lovely face had been
slashed into atoms and the torn shreds
of the canvas dangled from the easel
in Il manner that nearly drove him
into frenzy.
With hoarse cry he flung himself
upon the floor and groaned in the
agony of spirit; "Oh, God! Must |
give up all?' he cried brokenly, my
beautiful picture, my treasured hopes:
Oh, Violetta, if you only knew! If
you were only here to see and under
stand"
For few moments everything else
was forgotten, then the question sud-
denly entered his mind, who could
have done this shameful deed? He
sprang from the floor and glared
sngrily about the room. There was
no one there and no traces of anyone
having been there except the condi-
ton of the picture itself-unti! his
eye fell suddenly upon the chail that
he had drawn before the easel
What was that small, dark object
lying carclessly across the cushion2
He bent and picked it up absently,
but with a feeling of horror creeping
slowly about his heart. 1t was one
of Violetta's gloves. He had noticed
them day after day as she drew them
on over the slim white hands at tho
close of each afternoons sitting.
His brain reeled at the thought
now, not SO much at the loss of tho
picture, but at the horrible disap-
pointment in the woman he so deeply
loved. There was madness in his
eyes as he glanced again about the
brilliantly lighted room. Violetta
was lost to him and the world had
suddenly become both cold and bitter.
He rose from his chair and began
searching among his paints with 3
trembling hand and eyes that were
bright with feverish lustre.
1t was nearly midnight when VIC
letta reached her room. She was
wretchedly unhappy and the memory
of her evenings work made her trem-
bic little, even in the safety of her
chamber.
Not until tonight, when he was
admiring his own handiwork, did a
suggestion of jealousy cross her mind.
But now she was jealous-madly,
furiously jealous of that painted
picture, and in the frenzy of that
madness she conceived a cruel, heart
loss plan.
1t was over almost before she knew
it, not, however, as she had at first
intended it, for at the very last mo-
ment affection conquered and reason
guided her little.
Now, after the deed was done and
she was alone in the scclusion of her
room, she grew more calm and began
to be ashamed of her evenings work.
She tried to sleep, but the artist
sad, reproachful eyes seemed to haunt
her constantly.
She glanced at her watch and saw
that it was nearly o'clock; the key
of the studio was in her pocket, for
of late Lawrence had given her per.
mission to entec at her will, rather
than wait in the hall outside when he
CHANGED to be late with his appoint
mentS.
'He shall not see it," she whis-
pered, over and over in reproachfu1
accents. ut was cruel of me to even
think of such thing.
There was bright light in the
studio window when she reached the
door and her heart beat furiously al
she paused for one timid moment t.
listen. Yes, Lawrence was there, she
could hear him fumbling about
among the bottles. Almost instinct
lively she turned to run away, bu
something stopped her abruptly upor
the stairs, while SILVER Of horro,
suddenly passed over her She re-
turned cautiously and bending, pu
her eye to the keyhole in the door.
Great Heaven What was the mar
about to do? He was standing before
the ruined canvas, one hand clutch
ing wildly at his throat while in the
other, held steadily to his lips, was
a bottle she had often seen, with 6
skull and crossbones on its label
With shrek of horror she opened
the door and rushed headlong into thu
room.
ooh, Lawrence! My darling. Don't
DON'T" she shrieked frantically, but
Lawrence, still holding the bottle
only turned angrily and pointed t.
the dangling canvas
"You have ruined my life," he be
gan, hoarsely, ''by destroying m.
faith and trust in you," but before h
could say more, something so strarg'
had happened that for a moment b
seemed thoroughly dazed by suddel
revulsion in his feelings.
With a swift movement, Violet
had torn the mutilated canvas from
it's fastenings, and in another instan
the beautiful picture Of herself ha
, been drawn from behind a pile O
l frames and was standing, in ali it