Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1894-01-13
motive that underlay MS scneme.

motive that underiay MS scneme.
We saw a great deal Of Gordon during
the following week. On the Saturday
there was a long consultation in the work
shop with two d the cleverest men in the
trade with respect to the casting Of the
group, which had now received the last
| touch, and 1t was agreed that on the Mon.
| day following the operation should be be-
gun. Taras told me this when the work
men were gone. and found him In the
| workshop. There he stood before his work
with folded arms, and after regarding 1t in
| silence for few minutes he said with i'm
pressive force:
This is the finest work have ever done
In my life, Aura. | am pooud Of it,"
1t was the pride of conscious strength,
not the vanity of a weak mind, that i'm
PEELED him to say this, and II evoked q cor
responding feeling Of exultant admiration
| in my breast that banished all foolish
thoughts and compunctions. slipped my
| hand under his arm and pressed it. | was
proud. TOO, not Of the work. but Of the man
whose genius had produced 1t.
| at should be- his finest work." said TO
myself as the awful reflection flashed upon
me that it was likely to be his last and
that 1t would cost him his life.
We went to Kew OIL Sunday afternoon
| and fingered under the beautiful trees In
the gardens until the keeper cried. "All
outP' We were both more silent than
usual, for we were both thinking about the
/ group-he with some anxiety, probably,
about the delicate operation of the morrow,
| for the result of its successful achieve
ment. But with my anxiety was mingled
! supreme happiness, fitting sense Of my
privlegein being the friend and companion
/ of such q noble man
| On Monday morning rose early, and go
ing out to the ate'ie saw Taras standing
in the doorway, his chin sunk upon his
, breast and his eyes fixed on something
| within.
| At the sound of my step he raised his
head and turned, looking down ut me with
| deep detection in his face and with such va
| cancy in his regard that could scarcely be
lieve he saw me.
| "Taras!' exclaimed, halting at the foot
of the steps In wonder and fear.
| Without word he beckoned me to come
up, and as | reached his side on the landing
he raised his hand and pointed within.
| With choking cry of dismay perceived
| that his work-the beautiful group on
| which he had spent months Of patient
: labor and strenuous thought-lay a shape
| less wreck upon the floor. The irons that
| supported the subject stood there, gro
! tesque skeleton of the living figures, but
the modelled clay was heaped upon the
( floor in shapeless mass, the original de
! sign beaten out Of recognition.
! For the moment thought that, finding
B it tfallen and his work spoiled, hehimself had
trampled upon it in fit Of frenzied exas
peraton.
| Was il too damp" l asked, knowing
! the care he took To wiring out the wetted
cloths that enveloped the group ut night
/ time.
| He shook his head.
! "Then who has done thisY' asked
| "The CAR he replied His arm IL
! long"
/ But not 40 long ny yours" said |, fir =
with spirit of reveugeful wrath. you
will not give in because of this. You will
f.nt hlm 10 Tue end Wha;tyou have dont
before you can do again You can build up
the figures once more and make them rs
beautiful as they were 1t Is only matter
| ot time"
NY brave Au-n:" said he. laying his
hand affectionately on my shoulder, "you
| give me the courage ! lack. Yes, that Is
| the way to face disaster like this Take
up the sword and fight on. That alone
makes defeat honorable. What does II
matter-the delay of few monthsf We
shouldn't be content to do nothing. They've
left me the bones at any rate" he added,
4 with laugh and nod ut the rusted iron,
! "and we shall soon see the flesh grow again
on them. Let us go down now. After
break last we will begin again. It's good to
have brave friend at such n time as this.
! Come, Aura"
But for all my bravery could eat no
breakfast, and when Taras spoke OF our
visit to Kew burst into q flood Of uncon
trollable tears with q recollection of the
confident hope and pride which had filled
us with such happiness and content
When Gordon and the workmen came, ]
let them go up to the workshop without a
word, but determined to spare Taras the
pain of telling the story again, and 80
when Kavanagh came l stopped him in
the passage. and, taking him into the sit
ting room. myself related what had hap,
pened. He listened with astonishment,
and seemed greatly shocked. r,
Good heavens" he exclaimed, what q
terrible blow for poor Tarasl Gordon told
me that they were to begin casting the
group today. I came to congratulate my
friend on having finished his work. Poor
fellowi What is he going to dor"
MAKE another group" answered fierce
ly, land II that's destroyed another after
| that. You don't think he's going to give
up, do you" F.
He paused in reflective silence for a min
ute, then wen. to the door and looked into
the passage. He stood there for another
minute, closed the door as silently as he had
opened it. and returning to my side con-
tinued:
NO" he said quietly; that wasn't,
however, exactly what meant. Can you
tell me If he has taken any steps to dis
cover the person who committed the out
ragei"
"lie hasn't taken any 'stepas He knows