The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
A Minister
ing Angel.

| DOrrcnce was a fortunate man. 'AN'P
ionally and extraordinarily. so MS
| friends said, for what more ola ne want
| than he had? He was very young
| twenty-five or such matter-and yet ne
was already distinguished. Somehow or
| other. ne had managed TO distance men
| twice his own age. who had given zen
| times the effort and time 20 their wofk.
| and was an artist whose pictures SOFA
| at fancy prices. whose name always stoon
| high on the roll Of honor at social iunc-
| tons. and who had hosts Of friends ana
| admirers OF both sexes or friends, ne
, probably had most among his own sex
| and OF admirers. among the other. Men
= found him easy and approachable, and
nuicklv got intimate with him, but WO-
men though they adored his good looks,
his talents. and the simplicity and can
dor OF nature. which made his great
charm. did not generally succeed In es-
tablishing relations Of friendship with
him.
Ri,t fortunate as he was I'm all other
WAYS. there was one possession that
Frank Dorrence lackod-hc was poor IN
relations and family ties. Many Of his
friends counted this one Of his chief bless
ings and. in a way, he agreed with Them
for he often saw how family ties nam
percd his fcllOw-artists, but then there
were times WIN he felt this lacks II
been So but being very healthy, those
occasions for regret were rare and OF
short duration. Usually he was too fuil
Of work and its eXcitcments ana tn
unphs for any such sentimental repin-
ings, as he would have called them.
lie had charming bachelor rooms. COM
munlcating with his big studio, furnish
cd delightfully."- with his gloanngs from
all over the world. Here he gave sup
pers to men, occasionally. and more oc-
casionally still, dinners 10 charming wo-
men. duly chaperOned. for DOrrence was
! very correct Invitations 70 these din
ners were always highly esteemed by the
| buds and beauties in society," and they
| studied their costumes, and calculated
| their effects. with great care, and yet
they, one and all. had a sort of feeling
| that Dorrencc regarded them all, more
| or less as pictures. and had no warmer
or more personal feeling for them.
Things went on swimmngly with the
| Young painter until one day a serious Ill
/ ness attacked him. IL came on sudden
| Is. but. I'm one night Of restlessness and
! pain. HIS fever went up alarmingly and
/ at daylight he sent for the doctor
Doctor Morgan was a big man in his
profession, and did not generally turn
out at short notice for such an early
call but he was tremendously fond OF
! Frank Dorrence and when he learned
/ that he was IN he went 10 him at once.
lie found things looking very grave, and
| a serious Illness threatening. The pa
tient. watched by his faithful man-ser-
| want (who so often served also as model,
was in a state Of semi-stupor-a state in
| which he remained for several days. too
| needless Of everything for any such re-
! grcts and longings as those which had
filled the first nights vigil. For. all dur
! ing that night he had sighed I'm spirit
| for the presence Of some dear minister
| ing woman-a gentle sister, a tender
mother. or some one who would not only
! nurse him. but feel personal care that
/ he was III.
This had been his last distinct con-
seriousness before Dr. Morgan came. and
this was the first thought definitely pres
| ent with him when he walked one morn
! inc from that long apathy, and realized
! himself his situation and his surround
ings. Illness had weakened him. emotion
{ ally as well as materially. and when he
, reflected that he WAS feeling III and weak
I and helpless. it seemed such hardship
10 be without any mother or sister or wife
or sweetheart such as all the other fell
, lows had-even those who could not paint
as he did. after a whole lifetime OF ei-
fort-that a weak sense of self-pity so
possessed him that the tears actually
filled and overlooked his eyes.
He was too weak TO move, so he lay
profoundly still. until across this tear
dmmed vision, there fitted a small, slight
figure treadng on nOiselcss slppered
feet. and moving with dizziness equally
pleasing to the senses OF an invalid ana
an artist
She was young; she was admirably we'll
made: she was clcar-tinted ana pure
skinned; she was costumed TO perfection.
All these things his artist-eye perceived
at once He was fastidious about wo-
mans dress. and many rich and care
fully chosen Paris gown had given him
( deep offence. Why was IL, then. that this
present costume gave him such sense OF
perfection? it was merely the blue cotton
! dress long. white apron. kerchief. cuffs,
and can of n professional nurse! Dorrence
great magnificent athlete that ne was
nod nevor met with It before. and now he
saw IL on a figure whose correct lines IT'S
severity seemed 10 enhance ana whose
/ exquisite colorng was brilliantly brought
out by g..
au9 Not nuch' I'm not going TO lie
bore sick and stupid I'm going TO Keep
my eyes open and watch TINS.
Rnt the fact that his eyes were upen
eoemod suddenly TO communicate Itself
10 the velvet-footed maiden. for she Turn
cd. i'm the act OF pnning snowy c.oth
over an empty glass DONi'-d NY 9''' ~"
performance TO the man who was "atch-
inc her-and looked at him.
In an instant she was by MS side'
bending over him with a glance OF in
terest pleasure, RELIEF.
..rbat's right she said soothingly
and cheerlnely. you've had a good sleep
ana now you're better, aren't YOU?
II seemed to poor Frank, lately so lach-
rymose and lonely, that her LOOK ana her
tcnes had the concentrated kindness and
s,mnathv of all the female creations he
could imagine rolled into one.
THE thought so affected him that he
began TO I'm up again-thc emotion caus-
Cd bv having his wish fulfilled being as
stirring as that of having felt it unful-
filled.
Seeing the tears. his companion took
IN a soft-hnish handkerchief. lying by
him. and gently wiped them away.
THANK YOU" he said. weakly, feeling
ready TO blubber with gratitude az this
sIts very warm, isn't it2' she said
practically. "Ill give YOU a little ice
She turned to the table and took from
a heaoed-up saucer little crushed ice
i'm a spoon. and put IL into his mouth.
II seemed TO relieve the pressure in his
throat and he felt the tear-mists clearing
away.
The nurse. meantime. was emptying
the remainder Of the ice upon the white
cloth pinned over the mpty bowl The
weight caused the cloth TO sag in the
middle and the melted drops fell into the
glass vessel.
what do you do that for?" he asked,
suddenly interested.
"To keep the ice free Of water" she