Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-11-04

hNcN ~ AlItaA INV LOct sOAIaNln u lAAUr
panied them. The present seemed en-
tirely out Of proportion with the service
rendered. Their pride was hurt. They
decided ID return the silk. In a cata-
logue Of the salon they found Moussia's
address, aud one day Oh their way to
the Halles they stopped ia the Avenue
de Villiers, where the artist lived.
When they arrived in front Of the house,
they thought they must lave made a
fiistake in the number. Was It possible
that their young friend lived in this
beautiful mansion? Then she was not a
poor artist.
They rang; n liveried servant opened
the door. After taking their names he
ushered them into a su%mptuOus drawing
room. Noussia was lying on q couch
wrapped in q loose white plush gown.
She was much thinner, very pale. Her
large eyes shono with q phosphorescent
brillianry. Recognizing her friends, she
uttered a joyful exclamation, and rails
ing herself with difficulty she gave
them her omaciatod hand.
IL am so happy to sec you, e" she said,
coughing almost at every word. You
must not feel hurt because / did not
come to thank you. 1 am not allowed TO
60 out. It seems that l worked too hard
ON my last picture. / took cold standing
in the grass. l am now hero fer some
time"
TIE hortiouiturist and bis wife look
ed at her in tewildermert. An express
SIGN CT deep pity came over their faces.
The gardener 10 lc-gcr knew what to
do with tho package containing the
silk. He felt that be could not return it.
1--WE don't mind It as you were sick, "
answered the wife. "but still we were
sorry that yen ent us this silk. What
we did for you we did willingly. We
did not want a present for letting you
work on our place. My husband and l
decided to bring the dress back"
"Oh, you were the orc who wished
to bring it back, " interrupted tie nus
band.
lyon are both foolish about the mat
ter, " exclaimed Moussia, laughing as
she used to. "You would pain me deep
ly by refusing my present. l wish you
to wear this dress, she added, speak
ing to the gardeners wife, sin remem-
brance of me when l am no longer in
this world"
Then they both assured her that as
she was soyoung che would soon regain
her strength and overcome the disease.
no" answered Moussia, II mo
get we'll. Tho candle is burning at both
ends. l shall not live long. You know
that children who are too clever never
live long" She tried to laugh, but q
mist covered her blue eyes.
"And the apple tree?'' sho asked, alb
ruptly changing tho subject. "Is it ell
ways beautiful?'
"Oh, no, indeed" they answered,
"the blossoms are all gone but the fruit
is beginning to show. Apples will be
plentiful. You must come cut and cat
some in September. The good air of
Sevres will restoro you to health, made.
moiselle."
She shock her head and let it fall
back on the cushions, tired and exhaust
ed by having spoken so much.
When the h~orticulturist and his wife
departed, Moussia closed her eyes and
thought Of the apple tree. 1t was in
good health. The sap was running from
its roots to its branches. 1t spread its
foliage in tho sun, laughing at rain and
wind, at cold nights and hot Moons,
while she, imprisoned in q room, at
tended by the wisest Paris doctors, was
slowly dying. Oh, misery of human life
She was young, Beautiful, rich, beloved,
unusually gifted. She had so much to
tell the world, her head was SO full of
pictures.
Toward the end Of October the gar
dener and his wife received O letter
with n wide black border telling them
of Moussia's death, and these good peo-
pie wept for the lovely girl who during
one month had been the life and bright
ness of thoir modest country dwelling.
In the mad whirl Of large cities a hu-
man life ended makes little more i'm
preston than the falling of a dead leaf.
After a few days Of painful astonish-
ment the gay Partisan world which had
80 admired and fetsd Moussia returned
to its business and its pleasures. Alone
three women in mourning continued to
weep in the home Of the Avenue dc
Villiers.
One April afternoon they were quiet
ly sitting in the drawing room, filled
with souvenirs of the departed, when
the gardener and his wife came into the
room. They were dressed for the occa-
sion. The husband wore his Sunday
coat, the wife had her shawl on, under
which she concealed a large package.
Excuse us, ladies, " said the garden
er, 81 am afraid we are disturbing you,
but wo could not let this time of the
year go by without letting you know
that we often speak of the dear young
lady. My wife and I thought we would
, like to bring you something in remem-
brance Of her. " The woman raising her
shawl brought forth an armful of flow
cry branches. "These are, " he contin.
/, ued, "the blossoms of the apple tree she
painted. They will tell you Letter thar
we can how we felt toward Mile. Nous.
, STA, and If you will allow it we viii
bring you every year some blossoml
| from the tree as long as it bears.
| What kindness there is in simple
| heartsl 1t is truly worth more than al.
| the eloquence Of the poets and all the
. gold of the earth. The gardener and hi