The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-03

ton to him. Moreover, he felt that
somehow he was connected with the
face. IL was'in some way his own, snd
it was secred so him.
He had no difficulty in writing from
that time. The story which came to
him on the N26th of December never
dragged. All the time he had at his
disposal he devoted to il, and the writ
ing was an unspealcable JOY. 1t did,
not seem to him that he was writing a
story the plot of which had been care,
fully planned. He simply told dream
which had come to hiu-a dream OF
beauty and of joy.
And yet there was a sense in which
Bob was far from happy There was
great hunger in his heart. He longed
to see in the flesh the face which
haunted him; he felt that she lived,
and he knew he loved her. He wan
dered among London streets, he went
to places of amusement, he visited
churches, and wherever he went he
gazed eagerly in the hopes of seeing in
reality what he concluded he must have
seen in the vision. He was always dis
appointed, however.
He gave up'the ideaNof being an origt-
nal young man; and yet, had he known
il, he was now passing through an ex-
perience which was far from common.
He was in love with a woman he had
never seen; he was in love with that
which might have no existence other
than in his own mind. And yet ali the
time he felt there was a soul behind
those great gray eyes; he felt that
he should never rest until the face in
the mirror appeared before him in tan
gible form.
The influence Of the face was always
good. Whenever he was tempted to do
a mean thing. when the worst side or
London life cast it's spell upon him,
the memory of the face broke'thc spell.
His love. foolish as il might be. kent his
life pure. He might only be loving an
ideal. but to love n true ideal is great
salvation.
At length he finished his book. and
he took it to a publishing house AMI
asked to see the manager. The gen
tleman was very polite, promised that
Bob's story should be carefully read,
made mental observation TO the effect
that he seemed fine, capable young
fellow, and then forgot all about him.
A few days later, however, the read
er" brought a favorable report OF Bob's
story, and recommended its accept
ance.
Soon after this Bob, after being iT
the city, came 10 his rom and found
lot In m,
from the publisher Offering terms for
his story; the other was from Mr-
Rimmer, solicitor. telirs him that his
mothers only sister had just died. leav-
ing him q considerable SIM of money
This letter was typewriter, but the
old lawyer had with his own hand writ
ten another to the effect that he hoped
he would now give up his tomfoolery
about literature, and come back 10 the
law again. lie moreover stated that he
thought Of setting UP on office in Lon
don, as his practice was increasing in
that direction. Why not invest part
Of his fortune in becoming partner.
and take charge Of the London Office:
"You are a good lawyer, although you
gave it up fooishIy.." concluded the old
man. II would not have offered you
this chance otherwise. BE wise, my
lad"
UnconsciouSly Bob thought or what
1.-THE face" would say to this. once she
had said "No:" Eow. as he tried TO
think of what she would like him 10 do,
she seemed to have no reality.
After some correspondence with his
old master. however. he accepted his
offer, snd settled down to the law
again. This acceptance meant
struggle for him. fer he had set his
heart upon winning fame as an author:
but when he tried TO write another
story. he could think of nothing. His
yisi,.i had gone. lie realized. more
over, on reading the proofs Of the rovcl
which had been accepted. that be had
eirnply told the dream of his own life.
Tive face he had seen in the mirror was
the face of his heroine. and after he
had told his hopes and fancies about
her, there seemed 10 be nothing more te
say.
rnptyprcA T,p,orrnr