The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-05-13
: A Debt of Honor
; By Mrs. Harold M. Clifford.
1AoA0A0A0A0M1A0A1A!

N7HEN Mark Armstrong went
w abroad, and gave his friend Dick
Turvil the chance of winning Christa-
bel, he acted from sense of duty.
Even as the desolation of his life
without Christabel confronted him, he
found it possible to be grimly satisfied
with the step he had taken.
For the CALLING obligation was end
ed, the debt paid at last. Dick had
given him fame-ah! that was the
" thorn that had ranked in his proud
heart for years, and he had stood aside,
renowned his love of years, for Dick.
1t was an equivalent, and more than
that, he told himself in bitterness, for
Christabel was good and sweet and rich
in the beauty that had been the delight
Of her artist lover.
AS for Christabel's feelings, manlike,
he forgot them, or, more truly, he mis-
Judged them, never dreaming but that
Dick, gay, handsome, versatile and
clever, as perhaps only Mark knew,
would prove welcome substitute for
himself. In this he wronged Christabel,
but even the most earnest and far-see-
ing of us can but follow the dictates
of duty, blind to result.
So 1t was that Mark paid his debt
with his hearts love, and Dick, for
whom the sacrifice was made, never
even guessed the truth. Indeed, had
the matter been fully explained to him,
he would have laughed Incompetent
sively at what he called "old Marks
queer ways" For why make so much
ado about the painting of foreground
that had been but the work of few
minutes?
Nevertheless it was this same fore
ground that ruined Marks happiness.
Artists, both Dick and he, Mark trod
the uphill road to success with plod-
ding, painful steps, while Dick, with
genius at his finger tips, bounded up a
dowery path to the same goal.
By the law of contrast the two be-
came friends, and true comrades they
were; Mark watched Dicks achieve
ments with qualification in which envy
had no part, while in all the world there
was no one for whom Dick Turvil felt
so much affection and respect as for
Mark Armstrong.
To Dick, who accepted his own clev-
erness with the humility of true great
ness, it seemed incomprehensible that
SO much perseverance, energy and
talent as Marks should go unrewarded.
But recognition came slowly-cruel-
ly so-and when despair seized Mark,
Dick came to the rescue.
was m unfinished .k.l
which Mark had spent many an anx-
ious day, and then laid aside.
But Dick, with his true Judgment.
had selected this and none other for
exhibitions; and when his friend had
demurred, he had laughingly insisted,
and then himself finished the incom-
plete foreground, and, despite remon-
STRANGE, sent off the picture.
During the time that followed neith-
er gave the matter much thought. In
Marks mind there fingered the con-
viction that his work would be re-
jected. 1t would be his usual luck, and
he awaited it with stoical calmness.
His surprise can be imagined when the
picture was not only accepted and we'll
hung, but the papers teemed with
praise of the new artist. But, alas for
Marks peace of mind! all spoke en-
Enthusiastically of the marvellous power
of the painting of the foreground.
AS one distracted, Mark rushed with
the news to his friend. Something
must be done! Exist as a living lie he
would not, notices must be published
In all the papers discovering the fraud.
Accept praises that were not his, take
Something Wrong.
Doctor-You say you think some
thing is the matter with your wife?
Anxious Husband-I'm sure of it.
She hasn't had the baby photographed
for - days.-N. Y. World.