The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-08-25
seldom see him."

4 ''ErrolT' she echoed. That's my
name! must belong to the same fam
ily"
In her excitement she had forgotten
all about the picture she was posing
for.
Starting to her feet she let the roses
she was holding drop to the floor, and
stood with large expectant eyes wait
ing for him to speak again.
sWhat a conclusion to jump att" he
said smiling at her eagerness. The
name is not an uncommon one. l do
not think it possible you can be con-
nected in any way with Sir Felix.
ssWhyys she demanded, her eyes
flashing with anger and disappoint-
ment.
There's no member of his family in
existence with whom you could claim
kindred
"Himself?'
Marc laughed.
Hes a crusty old bachelora a mis-
anthrope; he shuts himself away and
4 hardly ever sees anybody"
Perhaps he was not always the
1 same?"
What a thoughtful little girl YOU
are, Rosy. / have heard wild stories
about Sir Felix. He used to be known
as one of the most reckless betting
men, but the turf lost sight of him
for some years. He Went abroad and
didn't return until he came into his
\ have been an altered man, and none
of his former associates care to go near
him.
sHe must be very lonely. Don't you
! eyer go to him?''
Il can't say have ever felt very par
4 tial towards him. Marc confessed,
looking at Rosy, and then giving a few
masterful strokes with his brush.
There was just the expression he
wanted on her face, and he worked
hard at the picture.
Rosy gave deep sigh.
Il wish | belonged to Sir Felix Err
roll, she said, with the wistfulness
that now and then crossed the sun
shine Of her nature Don't you think
he would like to have me?'
'sWelI. | can't say, I'm sure. You
wouldn't pass an enjoyable existence
shut away with him."
rs he rich?7
"Nery-in worldly wealth.
"What do you mean by that?y
"EIe has beautiful house to live in,
wide lands, carriages and horses, and
/ ftlOlc 5OlQ tliltA Liz tOtiAd AIO1ACo1J oPSAA
in a lifetime
.'How splendid. she exclaimed, her
eyes growing bright as she pictured
/ all this luxury. Il should like to be
! rich--I should like to have lovely
! dresses and drive in a carriage drawn
i by ponies. to go to balls, and have
enough money to buy whatever
j wanted
/ Marc interrupted her with faint,
/ whistling sound.
4 .'You surprise me, RosyI thought
you had soul above gold
Above gold? Gold is everything.
/ Without it you are cut off from every
thing that is beautiful, and tied down
to what is ugly and commonplace.
You are simply a worm instead of a
butterfly"
She was silent
"There is something between the
worm and the butterfly he said, lay
! ing down his pallet and gravely watch
ing her Take care your ambition
does not lead you to follow the flight
of the moth"
sThe moth that burns itself in the
candle flame and viii not be kept
back?''
He nodded; then. seeing the tears in
her eyes he took one of her hands.
Don't let me feel that have made
you sad.'' he said looking at her with
more tenderness than she had yet seen
in his eyes. You are the butterfly
as white as a tiny drift of snow in the
sunshinea butterfly only just unfold
ing its wings
..Do you despise me because | long
for riches?" she asked. laying her other
hand over his.
No; if | ever come into fortune,
you shall have as much money to spend
| as you like. | will share everything
with you. Does that promise give you
satisfaction
She looked at him wistfully
'You would not think of me If you
were rich. You would be like all the
other grand people, and live in a world
4 different from the one ! am in.
"rhere you wrong me. am an ar
tist, and love best what is beautiful
10 me a simple rose is sweeter than
all the garish jewels wealth can pur-
chase"
Before the picture of the Rose
I Maiden was finished there We're many
such conversations as this between the
4 artist and his model.
The summer went, and Rosy had
never seemed SO happy in her life as
since Marc had come to make one OIL
Mrs. Vests household.
He had said he preferred roses to
riches. 1t was as well his tastes were
not of more mercenary nature.
1t was easy to see it was sometimes
a struggle for him to meet the small
expenses incurred at Lilac Villa, and
/ that he had to depend entirely on the
sale of his pictures for his mainten-
ance.
Rosy was his constant companion
When she was not sitting for him
she would creep into his studio ana
watch him at work. sometimes admir-
ing his pictures, more often gazing
adoringly at his handsome face, so full
of earnest purpose.
If he dropped anything. if he turned
to look for one of his colors. how quick
ly she would spring forward to give
him what help lay in her power,
He was her god at whose shrine she