The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1896-06-02

Are you not going TO WadSWOrtn
today? would like to have that pic
ture finished
"No, John, j want to stay at home
with you. ! don't care to go to the
studio alone"
II cut sorry figure in an artists
studio"
"Could you not amuse yourself at
the piano while sit for the pic.
ture?"
"Take the maid with you. I will
write in the meantime"
It was John who wanted Clarice's
picture painted by one of the most
renowned portrait painters of the
day, whom they had met at social
gathering.
u want our children to see how
beautiful you were in your youth.
How do you know that I am
beautiful?"
II know it, Clarice. can see you
plainly before me-
"Then tell m how I look"
Beautiful, lovely, sweet, dear
hearth
But the face, the oolorr pressed
Clarice
RED as the rose, is it not?"
"Ah, no. Pale-the color of a
pearl And the dress?"
white"
white, of course"
"And lace across the breast"
He touched her arms. Bare to
the shoulders, as if you were going
to a ball?'' .
"Wadsworth desires it so on ao-
count OF the flesh tints,
"Ah, yes, yesP'
II wish you could see me! Il Is
too bad"
The words, nervously uttered, had
escaped her lips ere she was aware
Of it.
A shadow passed over Johns face.
He could not answer; her words and
the tone in which she spoke them
surprised him. But she did not seem
to notice it.
When the servant entered the
room some time afterward and call
ed his master, he made no answer.
John Loudon was not asleep, but he
seemed as if stunned by blow.
Was Clarice aware of the meaning
of Wadsworth' looks and words?
Three times she had been in the
studio with him alone. All, yes, she
understood, as far as woman can
understand.
And yet she was here again to-
day without blushing for her COM
ing. Pale as the pearl with which
she had compared the color of her
face, rapturously beautiful and full
of that consciousness that some ones
eyes Toasted upon her beauty! She
listened to words which her husband
must not hear! Wadsworth came
nearer and nearer. She felt his hot
breath sweep over her face, and now
his hand touched her arm, her
throat, her bare shoulders. Not the
hand of her husband, but another's!
Clarice almost lost consciousness,
and fora moment closed her eyes.
A startled cry escaped her lips. What
was it that she had seen suddenly
rise up before her? Not face, only
pair of eyes, wido open, staring,
like those of a blind man trying to
see! The eyes of her husband, as she
had never seen them before.
Clarice sprang to her feet, and,
stumbling across the room, grasped
her cloak and FASTENED down the
stairs. Home, home" she cried, to
the husband, whose eyesight, whose
life she was, and whom she loved
with every quivering sense.
When she entered John Loudon's
library, she found him sitting as we
have seen him last. He raised his
face at her approach. The lids droop-
ed over the burning eyeballs. He did
uOU COLL uoI as Was II ID WOub. no
waited.
Dear John, I will come in a mo-
ment, as soon as / remove this
dress"
Then she sat down by his feet,
with her head oaressingly pressed
against his knee. She kissed his
hands and told him again and again
how dearly she loved him with all
her heart.
And he! What else could he do
than believe in this adorable woman,
and Danish all doubts and perplexi
ties.
Twill the portrait be finished
soon?"
II think so. At least l need not 60
to the studio any more"
"Clarice," said the husband, after
pause, "why were you angry be
e. 4 W