The Dickinson press., 1895-01-12

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and surely, and she was power
ess to aid him, though she would have
'ielded her life for his.
The night went by. An old crone
ooked In one and asked her f she was
friend of his.
"He has not been here long" she
'aid. II think myself &c was mad. ]
nave seer him sit for hours there be-
lore that great canvas. muttering ever
md anon, doing nothing ever; and then
when his money failed and he grew Ill
and weak, there he lay as You see him
low. 1 have done what ] could, though
many would not have given him house
room, seeing he had fever, and was
poorer wen than I. and can lev give
me a copper in coin in payment"
You were very gOod," murmured
1.-The Madonna will bless you
for your charity"
Good! " said the woman. mo, not
that. l was tempted often to turn him
out or leave him to end his life there.
1t must come to that ere long. hut
somehow l had not the heart to do 1t.
IT. cannot last much longer, though-he
will die very sooD."
''Oh, hush"' walled Gonna. rs she
threw herself beside the stricken figure
and held the cold. thin hand to her
warm, beating heart.
The woman nodded slowly and went
away, closing the door and muttcring
to herself:
"a sweetheart. no doubt. Well, I
hope she has something with which to
pay ne. She looks well off, at oil
events. But she is foolish to waste
money on one rs good rs dead. Better
bestow it upon the living"
The long. slow day rolled on. Gonna
never left her post. Toward evening
ne grew quicter. The incohercnt words
no longer followed each other in mo-
notonous sentences. He fell asleep, and
slept a deep, dreamless slumber that
was good to see-that made the patient
watchers heart beat high. and filled
ner with raptuous thanksgiving as hour
after hour passed on, and his breath
grew easier, and his limbs lost their
deadly GOODNESS.
Then only she left his side and crossed
over to the window and gaZcd eagerly
at the great picture stretched there in
the gloom and darkness of the desolate
chamber. 1t was the painting he had
spoken of.
She saw the long stretch of hills
with the sunlight falling like molten
gold on their crests.
She saw the long procession Of priests
and people, and swaying censers and
waving banners and singing children;
then ALI, what vas this! Across
The two central figures of the procession
vas a long. black smear, which com
pletely obliteratcd their faces.
She knew in a moment what it was.
Nita had spoiled her own likeness and
Genna's ut the very moment when the
picture was completed-at the very
moment when the artists hopes were
highest, and his dreams of success
seemed about to become certainty.
She shuddered as she gazed.
ooh. how could she do it?" she moan.
ed. "How could she?"
The tears Ose to her eyes as she
gazed, dimming her sight. binding her
to the colors and figures before her.
She knew of the long hours and wasted
labor represented here, and all was
married and ruined by a woman's cruel
malice. All this magnifcence of thought
this glow of color, this glory where
imagination and realism were blended
together-all were wrecked, totally and
Forever. by a hand ruthless and unspair
ing as only n jealous, INSCRIPTIONS wo'
mans hand could have been.
"And she was the child I loved
murmurcd Genna, and then turned
away, to sick ut heart, too full Of won.
der in the bewildered anguish Of her
aching brain. for any thought to com
fort her now.
A faint voice stole to her ear as SHE
stood there. She started, aud looked
toward the bed. He was sitting up,
his eyes fixed on her face in a wonder
that seemed incredulous-in a Joy that
thrilled her with its own rapture OF
recognition and delight. She trembled
IN every limb, then passed swiftly
threw herself ut his side.
"Genna!" he said, sc family that ears
less keen than love had made hers
could not have caught the word; Gen.
ga, is it you?"
She could not speak, she only caught
his hands and bathed them with bel
grateful tears. and kissed them witt
her trembling lips, and quivered there
before hin, with III exceeding jov thai
almost terrified herself. 1T must be
you," he went on dreamily. "Nht
else? You were my good angel once
Genna, vow are Ivy my side again. You
will make death easy for me, dear
will you not?"
Her sobs clicked her. Speech failed
she could only answer him by a press
ure Of the feeble hands that chung 81
fondlv tn her own.
He sank back on his pillow, exhaust
ed by those few words. The sight o.
his weakness recalled her to herself
She started up and brought him warn
wine, and soaked bread in it. and hclt
1t to his lips, and saw him take thu
welcome nonrishment, with i gladnes'
and relief beyond all words. He look
ed up ut her gratefully. "H0w goot
you are:' he said; .but you are Away
good. How did you come here: Hav'
you heard? DO you know?'
EYES," she said. softly. Il know all
DO not trouble to think of it. 1 viii
nurse you back to health, and when yo'
are we'll and strong"
He laid his hands on her lips. "Dt
not deceive yourself, dear" he said
II shall never be well and strong again
My life is over. I am only sorry tina
1t bears no record on its pages for tn
world to- read, save failure" He
tears fell fast and thick. She could no
speak Il denial of his words, for he
heart told her only too well how terri
bly, near the truth they were. Sh'
was silent i'll the %breathless hush Of al
unspeakable awe; her heart stood still
as if some cold hand had seized ant
chilled its warmth and life. TELL me,
he said again, In feeble, broken accents
are you welded? Was it true wha
she said?"
"No," she answered, while her fac
flushed with shame for the falsity o
her sister, and then grew pale bcneatl
his longing gaze, that was at once s
sad, and tender, and earnest.
ut is too late now," he said, wit
slow and painful effort. THAT denia
would have gladdened me once-woul
have given ME hope and energy, bu
now"
do not despair" she entreatet
ynoo1;nr %I,nro aud olocp;, ~ his bopd