The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-23

Violetta's lovely face had been
slashed into atoms and the torn shreds
of the canvas dangled from the easel
in a manner that nearly drove him
into frenzy.
With a hoarse cry he flung himself
upon the floor and groaned in the
agony of spirit: 'sOh, GodI Must I
give up alp" 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
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-untd his
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 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 the
close of each afternoon 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. Violetta
was lost to him and the world had
hot nd
He rose from his chair and began
searching among his paints with
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-
BILE a little, even in the safety of her
chamber.
Not until tonight. when he was
admiring his own handiworl, 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 cruel, heart
less plan
1t was over almost before she knew
it. not, however, as she had at first
ment affection conquered and reason
guided her a 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 artists
sad, reproachful eyes seemed to haunt
her constantly.
She glanced at her watch and saw
that it was nearly l 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
Glanced to be late with his appoint
ments.
He shall not see it, she whis-
pered. over and over in reproachful
accents. cit was cruel of me to even
think of such a thing.
There was a 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 shiver of horror
suddenly passed over her. She re-
turned cautiously and bending, put
her eye to the keyhole in the door.
Great Heavenl 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 a shrek of horror she opened
the door and rushed headlong into the
room.
''Oh, Lawrence! Ny darling. Don 81
Don'tr' she shriel1ed frantically, but
Lawrence, still holding the bottle,
only turned angrily and pointed to
the dangling canvas.
You have ruined my life," 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 dazed by sudden
revulsion in his feelings.
With a swift movement, Violetta
had torn the mutilated canvas from
its fastenings, ana in another instant
the beautiful picture of herself had
been drawn from behind a pile of
frames and was standing, in all it's
glory, in its proper place upon the
easel.
Then it was that Violetta fell at his
feet and tearfully begged for pardon:
Il was jealous Of your picture, so 1
came here after you had gone, deter
mined to destroy it, but some way"
and her voice was thick with sobs,
Il could not do it, after all, so l played
this cruel trick upon you.v