Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-02
EBT or HONOR.
|ils Own Way, Without Counting Cost
to Others.

Mark noted the startled admiration in
Dicks lingering gaze at Christabel,
there had flashed upon his mind cruel
supposition.
What if fate, not chance, had so
willed it that Dick should thus be at
his side ON the eve of his loves avowal?
What if love itself should be demanded
Of him as the price of his early fame?
With horrible insistence the idea
took possession Of him, rcbbing the
long meeting with Christabel
of its joy, and staying the passionate
declaration Of love that trembled upon
his lips.
1t never occurred to Mark that he was
hereby sacrificing another's happiness
as well as his own. So grevious had
been the blow to his pride, so hungry
was his self-love to stand clear of the
intolerable obligation to his friend, that
he welcomed with almost fanatical fer
vor this quixotic method of payment
that his morbid sensitiveness had sug-
gested, and so failed to read the dumb
despair in ChristabePs eyes.
Years had passed since that which
had seen Christabel the wife Of his
friend and Mark had, in a manner,
lived down his sorrow. That is to say
that, though the remuneration of his
love had made his heart desolate, it had
not wholly ruined his life, and there
were many who envied the successful
academician his renowned talent and
the wealth it brought him.
Resembles as he had been in his
selfsacrifce, he had spared himself
tie further pain CT meeting his friend
as the husband OF Christabel. Per
baps some slight feeling CT embar-
rassment or conjunction en- Dicks
part kept him from seeking Marks
society and thus the severance of their
friendship was complete
Even professionally they were stran-
gers, for, contrary to expectation, Dick
had not developed into worldfamed
genius, and often a heartsickening mis-
giving arose in Marks heart as to the
fate of the woman he loved.
One night he was dining with a
brother artist and oyer their wine in
lazy content they discussed their early
struggles.
But the past had recalled Christabel,
and Mark was in a reverie when his
friends voice at last aroused him. "It
is rarely one can procure the refine
ment needed. SO that you can imagine
my disgust when my model failed to
keep her appointment"
''Of course" assented Mark, racking
his brain for a clew, conscious that
his thoughts had been far away.
But | was not to be beaten his
friend continued. so, after waiting
several days, l went in search Of her
| found her at last. 1t was a sad case
she was the widow Of an artist. Her
husband had been a clever fellow, but
disrepUtsbly idle-all this | learned
from that ready means of communal
ton, the landlady; and, 70 keep the
wolf from the door this poor Wife had,
with the My means at her command,
succeeded in earning a small income.
Did you discover her name?" Mark
asked, pressed by the vague fears that
never left his heart.
His friend watched the ascending
wreaths Of smoke from his cigar for
secoad before he replied: Her hus-
binds name was Turvil, a name, I'M
happily fer the woman he married, lit
tie known
Many hours did not pass after he
had learned her story before he stood
in the squalid out-of-the-way street in
which Christabel lived.
The landla6y politely, but with
many curious glances. asked him to
wait in the shabby little parlor while
she went in search of her ledger.
Then there had come the sound Of a
light step, the rustic Of woman's
dress and Christ2bel stood before him.
and across the bridge Of years the two
locked at each other.
Little by little he heard her story
"He was always the same Christabel
said, sadly. Nothing could rouse him
to effort. | do not think he could help
it. He loved gaiety, life, cast-respon-
sibilities were insufferable. To be
the wife of such a man is to be ever
near the sun, but never TO feel its
brightness"
"Yet you chose him, ChristabeI."
She lifted her tired eyes to his face.
There was in their depth a dumb re-
preach, an OutspOken protest But she
only answered, with wan smile:
perhaps so, as woman does
choose, who, after all, may not choose.
but is chosen"
And as she spoke the blindness of
years fell from him, and too late he
realized that in giving her up he had