Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-25
an honor you do me to let me paint

so, Isbel answered brightly, but In
wardly every nerve was quivering and
strained. Aunt Mary began again
yesterday about having my picture
done, so I wrote to you. My aunt will
be down presently, but in the mean
while we can arrange the sittings,
dress, and so forth"
Errington passed by the $50 forth"
and only arranged for her dress and the
sittings.
But now" she said, that that is
settled, we come to-you must please
name your"
Pardon me-" Errington interposed,
with resolute quietude that in itself
gave her fresh surety of her ground;
but you must do me the great favor
to let that part rest until the work is
finished. You are not like a strang-
Err"
Indeed. hope not" Isbel said gent
ly. "Well, be it is you please, then"
Thank YOU very much, Miss Bran
don."
He rose.
She, too, stood up; the moment had
come; the woman's heart stood still
for moment that was agony; two
lives happiness or misery hung on her
courage or failure.
well, l suppose your time is valua-
ble?" she said, turning to him, but her
eyes did not fully meet his. Blythe
bye. Mr.. Errington, believe-if am
rightly informed-that 1 have come to
congratulate you?"
Congratulate mel" repeated the art
list, in genuine surprise. "For what?
on what account?"
His surprise, and, oddly enough, the
very comedy of the position, gave her
new courage. why, heard that you
are engaged to an heiress," she said.
The Rubicon was crossed; there was
no going back now, come what would
Errington flushed to the brow, then
paled again.
1T is absolutely untrue" he said, in
strained way. and drew back STEP
1T never could be true of mel"
But why not?" persisted Isbel, now
standing to her colors with true femin-
Inc staunchness, her eyes aglow, her
soft tones steady. IF, as heard, you
are attached to her, why should your
engagement be an impossibility, as you
imply?"
Had some one-Glyn, perhaps-dared
to tell her this, meaning herself, but
without naming her? flashed across
Eric. in naughty wrath and pain.
why impossible?" he repeated,
stung to sort of desperation. "Be-
cause am poor, struggling man who
holds his honor dearer even than love
if the story were true. Neither the
world nor any woman born should
have the right to believe me a dis
honored fortune-hunter."
THE worlds Judgment" she said;
and now her breath came quickly, her
eyes flashed like diamonds. "You are
not such coward, know, as to fear
that; but is it much less cowardly to
be afraid of even the risk of the
woman's installing your motive-the
woman you love, remember" She was
speaking with a strangely passionate,
if suppressed, force that sent sudden
vague thrill through the mana dim
sense of something that dazzled him
of personality beneath the overt
meaning; an assertion of his love for
the heiress as a fact, not mere figure
of argument. THE woman you love,
remember, and whose happiness, per-
haps, your pride may wreck as we'll as
your own-who doubtless knows your
hearts secret, and curses the miserable
gold and cruel pride that stands be-
tween your lives"
"Isbel!" Errington sprang to her
side-caught her hands in his own,
''My. darling, my love from the first!
| Forgive, if you can, worse than fool
that have been. All, my poor Isbel!"
| For the girl burst into tears as he
locked her to his heart; the tension
must needs give way at last, brave girl
though she was.
20, why were you so cruel? Why
did you force me to-to--O, Eric!"
my darling-forgive me!-because /
loved so much I feared your scornful
refusal. Why should you think me diff
ferent from other wooers? And I new
er dreamed of this happiness, dearest"
he said, passionately. Zone word-tell
me you forgive your lover"
Eric, love you," she whispered.
and lifted her face for a moment for
his kiss.
What matter If some of the world did
say, when the. marriage did take place.
that it was the money the painter had
sought? He cared not, and those who
knew him and his wife knew we'll it
was love match entirely. The pic
ture-not mere portrait-of beautiful
Mrs. Errington, when seen the next
May at the Academy, made sensation
and sent up the rising artists name at
once.
80, after all, you see, Eric" his
wife says. arch and tender in one, you
will win the best in the end, fortune
and fame"
'And the priceless treasure that
neither gold nor fame could buy" he
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