The Meeker herald., 1894-08-04

! Nlolettas 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 groaued in the
agony of spirit: "oh, God! Must l
give up ALP" he cried brokenlv, inv
beautiful picture, my treasured hopesl
Oh, Nioletta, if you only knew. II
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? II.
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 condi-
ton of the picture itself-until hia
eye fell suddenly upon 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 a feeling of horror creeping
slowly about his heart. 1t was one
| = 'fi-l--'"'s .-l..---- u -
| them day after day as she drew them
on over the slim white hands at the
close of each afternoons sitting.
His brain recled at the thought
now, not SO much at the loss of the
| picture, but mt 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 tha world had
suddenly become both cold and bitter.
He rose from his chair and began
searching among his paints with "A
trembling hand and eyes that were
bright with feverish lustrc.
1t was nearly midnight when Vio-
lctta reached her room. She was
wretchedly unhappy ana the memory
| of hcrovening's work made her trcm-
! BILE a little, even in the safety of her
| chamber.
Not until tonight, when he was
ndmiring his own handiwork did Il
suggestion of jealousy cross her mind.
But now she was jcalous-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
it, not, however, as She had ut first
! intended il, for at the very last mo-
meut affection conquered and reason
guided her little,
ID .,..s ,l,,. n,I
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 S
sad, rcproachful eyes seemed to haunt
her constantly.
She glanced at her watch and saw
| that il was nearly o'clock; the key
of the studio was in her pocket, for
of late Lawrence had given her per-
| mission to enter ut her will, rather
! than wait in the hall outside when he
| CHANGED to be late with his appoint
mcnts.
He shall not sec it," she whis-
pcrcd, over and over in reproachf7i
accents at was cruel of me to cvea
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
| listen. Yes, Lawrence was there, she
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 leyholc in the door.
Great Heaven. What was the man
about to do? He was standing before
| the ruined canvas, one hand clutch
| ing wildly ut his throat while in the
other, held steadily to his lips, was
a bottle she had often seen, with a
skull and crossboncs on its label.
| With shrek of horror she opened
| the door and rushed headlong into the
room.
"Oh, Lawrence! My darling. Don't!
Don't. she shrielscd frantically, but
Lawrence, still holding the bottle,
only turned angrily and pointed to
| the dangling canvas.
! lyon have ruined my lie he be
gan, hoarsely, by destroying my
faith and trust in you" but before he
could say more, something so strange
| had happened that for moment he
seemed thoroughly dazcd by sudden
revulsion in his feelings.
| $780,
had torn the mutilated canvas from
| its fastenings, and in another instant
the beautiful picture Of herself had
been drawn from behind pile OF
frames and was standing, in ali its
glory, in its proper place upon the
| easel.
Then it was that Violetta fell at his
feet and tearfully begged for pardon:
II was jealous of your picture, so
came here after you had gone, deter
mined to destroy it, but some way"
and her voice was thick with sobs,
II could not do it,after all SO played