The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-07-08

redOy tlreu OF tnS DOdTuluB uOusV
keepers daughter, but this command
ing made him obstinate, and throwing
down the key of the studio, he swor
he would never come near his ease
again. When she saw he was reall,
leaving, she calmed and implored hin
to stay, but he doggedly walked away
She said she loved him more than he
life, that she would always wait unit
he returned. She would keep the stu
do, and that he must come back to hel
some time.
THAT day he went to the woman
scorned by the other, and a few day.
later together they drftcd to the West
where one may be swallowed In the
vastness and change, and be forgot
ten. The affair would have escaped
me altogether had not one day seer
the former patroness coming to the stu
did, which. it seemed, she had kept
and to which she came once a fort
night. She did this for four or five
years, until read in the papers no
tice of her marriage. For year she
never came near this place, but the
studio was still unvacated. The jani
tor told me she rented the place by the
year, and at the time of her marriage
the studio belonged to her for several
months longer And then, that period
expiring. she rented the room again
although she did not visit 1t. Incident
ally l heard her marriage was a ver3
unsatisfactory one, and that her hus
band treated her brutally. Once more
she resumed her pilgrimages to the
studio. But after her husbands death
for he died about two years afteI
they We're married-she kept away fol
another stretch Of months; then she
started once more, and she has now
come at intervals ever since. She dusts
the books and canvases, and keeps the
room scrupulously clean. This much
she has told me herself, although she
is very reticent. But have often won
dered IL she fingers over each object
of her former lovers, and touches them
tenderly. and thinks that he might now
be near her had she been to him what
she might have been. 1t is probably q
solace for her to so there, aud to feel
that she keeps the place for his return,
that she is watching for him, ready to
welcome him, and to tell him that she
loves him more than in those old
days"
Then y was silent. Presently he re.
sumed: Perhaps he will return. But
he has not returned yet. 1t is twenty
years since he left"
Yes" / said to myself, "a woman's
heart indeed is like Il spring. 1t gives
forth at all times the same stream OF
love. The surface may reflect thai
clear and unchanging, lies that which
fell there first"
Neither of us spoke. KS story
moved me strangely, although am not
Over-given to sentiment. The rain
came beating against the windows,
down on the foot-passengers in the
street and on the vehicles. The world
seemed very gloomy. Unsteadily a
man mounted to the top of the stairs
near KS studio, and moved down the
hall. He stopped not far away, but he
made no sound. X. threw open the
door, and saw man wasted with dis
ease, thin and wretchedly clad. The
rain dropped from his clothing to the
floor. could only see the side of his
face, but it was haggard. He stood
with his back to US, looking at the stu
dio door opposite. He seemed not tC
hear us. He knocked. but there was
no repsonse. He Knocked again. The
door opened suddenly, and woman
stood in the threshold. The man helt
out his hands and said, brOkenly:
Sweetheart, sweetheart, have
come back for one glimpse Of para
disc"
With cry the woman threw hel
arms about his neck, and, drawing hin
into the room, strained his wet, dishev
elled head to her breast.
X. closed his door quietly, and turn
ing to me, remarked: II alway,
thought something like that wOull
happen. ."-Harpers Weekly.
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