Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-11-14

pricks. 1t might have been so different.
He did not say it might have been 9TH
erwise if Stephen Rahere had not bar
tered art for "a pair of blue eyes. But
if Evadne Roseveare had acted other
wise, she might have made him great If
she had sat at his feet and done him
homage. He was angry with her, and
his apathy had kindled little.
To be disillusioned now, to be robbed
of the hero she had worshiped in secret
so long, it capped the climax of her
misfortune. This pettish railer against
the fate he had courted was not the
Stephen of her girlhood. He had
laughed at her conceptions of art, told
her she was charming, but not a painter.
and now?
She did rot speak angrily, but very
sadly, when she broke a painful silence.
You paint still?'
paint! / nave not touched a brush
for years. Love in u cottage was not
at all my wife's idea. Her uncle hat!
concern. He was patentee of the
Emerin varnish. got desk in the
Office and in time a junior, very junior.
partnership"
when she spoke again. They were Tor
the artist that was lost, not for the
man who had bartercd fame for IL
share in concern. She had struggled.
well-nigh starved; difficulties and bar
| riers had met her at every turn. Ie:
she had attained; Fay, huh r c. than
mere success, she had been tried in TIL,
fire apd come out pu-, gold. There.
were lonely wo1.5I who blessed he-
name and whispered it in their prayers.
As she stood there she found her
self fiinging off her past as if it were
cloak. She had dreamed dream. an.l
she had awakened. Surprising she had
married Stephen and given up her art?
Thanksgiving for the work done, tbs.
work to be done yet, checked speech.
She stood in quiet thought.
In Stephens unaccusto,ned eyes she
was beautiful, ard Il sudden mad eager
ness to try yet to retrieve his wasted
days overcame him.
1--WE have changed Places" he burst
out. when we parted you We're onlj
a struggling student; 1 was man
whose two or three pictures had their
admirers. People laughed at me for
an impressionist, but they all said
had a future. You had no encourage
ment. You were such silent girl
not even very pretty in other meJi's
eyes. Now you are beautiful and queen
ly and famous. You are some one; l
am no one.
The waltz music filed the pauses
with its dreamy sweetness. Two happy
young people passed the open doorway
laughing. The pair within glanced st
them inyoluntarily. Evadne WAS in {.
rcvere, and Stephens words sounded
vague and far of. No appeal could
touch her.
''Iiave you TO pity for me, no regret
that an old friend has drifted back to
your feet failure? s2vadne, say again
you love me once. Hove you now
There was passion in his voice; yet
it was scarcely real love. this aftermath
OF the harves: of other years. Only he
lonced to be again in the bright world
he had left so long ago, and her hand
held the key.
1T is too late, Stephen; I have no
heart to give you now. My love for the
man that was is sacred still; it is not
for you nor for any other
"Auntie, are you ready to go yet?
Jacks train leaves so early, and must
get up to see him Off. -
The interruption was sudden, and the |
rosy, dark-haired newcomer had Jack
with her. Evadne held out the hand,
that was quite steady now. without a
word; the chorus of the band spoke for
them: IBID me good-by and CO." She |
swept away with that regal air he had |
not seen before. There were some |
dead heiiotrope flowers where she had |
stood, and Rahere stopped and picked |
them up. He looked very gray and old.
The last spark of fire had burnt out of |
his eyes; they were dull and sunken
again. His companion, the pale spirit |
that whispers '.it might have been"
had taken Evadne's place beside him.
The waltz was over. and he went ont
into the white dawn.-Blacl and White.
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