Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1894-08-09

meal, then he went slowly back to
the studio, intending to write her a
lengthy letter He would ot'tell her
that he loved her, yet, but would sim
ply explain that he had decided to
paint another picture, and would con-
tinue to require her services if she
were not already fatigued with her
weeks OF tiresome sittings.
lie entered the studio without his
key, but some way it did not occur to
him that he. had locked the door care
fully when he left it early in the
evening.
Horror of horrors! What had hap
pened2 His eyes nearly burst from
their sockets us he gazed upon the
ruin of that which was to bring him
fame and happiness
'Violettas lovely face had been
slashed into atoms and the torn shreds
of the canvas dangled from the easel
in manner that nearly drove him
into frenzy
With hoarse cry he flung himself
upon the floor and groaned in the
agony of spisitg'HOh, God Must /
give up all% he cried broisenly, my
beautiful picture my'treasured hopes!
Oh, Nioletta, if you only knew! If
you were only here to see and under
stand" ta,
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
angrily about the room. There was
no one there and no traces of anyone
having been there except the condo
ton of the picture itself-until his.
eye fell suddenly Spon the chair that
he had drawn before the easel
What was that small dark object
lying carelessly across the cushion?
He bent and picked. it up absently,
but With feeling of horror creeping
slowly about his heart. 1t was one
Of Violetta's gloves, lie had noticed
them day after day as she drew them
on over the slim white hands at the
close of each afternoons sitting,
His brain reeled at the thought
now not so much at the loss of the
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, Nioletta
was lost to him and the world had
suddenly become both cold and bitter.
He rose from his chair and began
int rxsith a
trembling hand and eyes that were
bright with a 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-
BILE little, even in the safety of her
chamber.
Not until tonight, when he was
admiring his own handiworls, did
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 cruel, heart
less plan
1t was over almost before she knew
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 seclusion of her
room, she grew more calm and began
to be ashamed of her evenings work.
She tried to sleep, but the artist
! cod ,nOrooob f,,I avyae eaap,nd 70 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 enter 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-
pcred, over and over in reproachful
accents SIT was cruel of me to even
think of such a thing.
There was bright light in the
studio window when she reached the
door and her heart beat furiously as
she paused for one timid moment to
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could hear him fumbling about
among the bottles. Almost instinct
lively she turned to run away, but
something stopped her abruptly upon
the stairs, while SILVER of horror
suddenly passed over her She re-
turned cautiously and bending, put
her eye to the keyhole in the door.
Great Heaven! What was the man
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 a
skull and crossbones on its label.
With shrek of horror she opened
the door and rushed headlong into the
room.
N"Oh, Lawrencel My darling. Don't
Dontw she shrielked frantically, but
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