The broad ax., 1896-09-12

Of mind until now the good news /
have for you"
Good newsl That's a novelty, any
how. What Is itY'
I've found q purchaser for that"
She indicated with a gesture a small
portrait Of herself which looked at
them from the wall.
Kelde's eyebrows climbed toward
his hair.
"a purchaser he murmured in sur
prise.
YES" she replied. 81 met an old
friend yesterday. He admired me
once"-her eyes sought the ioor-"and
still does, evidently, for he wants a
portrait Of me. told him l knew Of
one for sale, and he agreed to buy it IL
1t satisfied him.
by Jove, NellieI What splendid
news! Appreciation at last! You have
taken ton Off my mind. But forgot
the conditional it satified him."
His manner, bright for q moment,
suggested shadows again.
1T will satisfy him. You need have
no fear"
Il wish l could be as sanguine as
you, Nellie. But have had so many
rebuffs."
But You know this is one Of the
| best things you have done"
II thought that of every picture un-
til recently"
But HelmShaw praised this one,
! you know. He would have bought it,,
but that the sale OF unknown pOrtrai s
is so difficult"
Il remember he said so. | say, Mel
lie, you have cheered me wonderfully.
! lialf an hour ago l was actually con-
MISUNDERSTANDING the worth of life.
You are a dear, good girl, and I'm
going to kiss"
! He completed the sentence by the
action. Her eyes gliStened. She went
out soon after, taking the portrait
with her.
There was in Kelde now a faint re-
! Election of his Old-time self. For the
moment he was again the boy, brim-
ming over with the hope of youth. and
! gazing up toward his grand ideals
that, sunllke, tinged the world with
gold. Since he had mixed with men
the eullen clouds had come between
his vision and the sun to obscure the
brightness and to damp his ardor.
Fog years he had been the most pit
liable Of mOrtals, a man of noble incli-
nations, emotions, and aspirations;
with every hope of attaining his ambi-
tons seemingly beyond hs reach; Wan
/ every endeavOr to attain them utterly
unappreciated. Now. the incident Just
related, together with the praise of the
dealer it recalled, sank Immediately
| into his impreSsionable brain, and for
! getting the trials and rebuffs of months
IN the mOmentary joy, he felt ridicu-
lous inclination to dilute his happi-
ness with tears. When Nellie came
back with thirty dollars he did cry q
little.
He liked the picture very much"
she said, "and would have given more
for 1t, but that he has not the money
at present"
'Oh, thirty dollars is heaps more
than 1 ever expected to get for it. oh,
Nellie. / feel that all the eulogies
which the poets and novelists ever be-
slowed on woman are inadequate to
you. Now 1 am ready to face that ras-
cally janitor!" he exclaimed.
In the days Of success which came
after, Phillip Kelde always spoke Of
the sale of Nellie's portrait as his sal
walton. After many weary years his
name became famous, and he was her
aided into publicity by paragraphists
| thirstiDg for art news, and the voice
| of society which deemed it 1.-The thing"
to see his pictures. Kelde felt happy
at his past inability to sell the works
of his youth, for which he now got big
checks from eager buyers.
Accompanying the popular acclaim
! came invitations to make new friends,
among whom he found his souls af-
finity.
With the acquisition of a wife came
the loss of an old friend. Nellie Dwin-
ing, the model Of his bad days and
! good, went away, he knew not with
| er. For a little time he wondered
where she had gone; then she passed
out of his mind.
There was a certain day which,
croOking the knee to cOnyentiOnality,
! Kelde set apart for a reception at his
studio. Thither went many people,
some by virtue of their eminence in
letters and art, others for other rca-
sons.
Another came, evidently unlimited;
he was a street urchin, who lodging
through the crowd of Cabling guests,
pulled Kelde's coat tails.
The artist swung round and the VS.
itOrs stared.
please. sir, she's awful bad, and
wants to see you"
Kelde, bewildered, drew the boy out
OF the studio
Almost Immediately afterward he
hurriedly excused himself, and the
dimInutive messenger hailed a cab,
into which they both got.
"Bleeker street, near Carmino. Drive
fastr'
Ten minutes later, by Kelde's watch,
which he scanned anxiOusly, the hack
man put them down before a poverty
stricken house. The boy led the way,
and presently a woman came to the
door.
Joe" she said, you're a good boy
for bein' so quick. Please, sir, be az
Quiet as you can; she's very bad"
HAS she seen a doctor?
''Yes, sir. He's been here twice to-
day. This way up, sir"
Kelde was in the room alone now,
| Al. xununan IN tho bad