The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-02-13

OF iuueuQlLS love. AtdSks hcAaA,s lA4c
boy ] once played with has vanished
never to return. Around the man l
now know cling affectionate memories
of the past, but he is not to me the pos
sibility of faithful spouse for the flu
ture. Unless you can prevesto me that
your fortune has not degraded your
art, that in luxurious life you rise
above yourself, above ,selfshness,, we
cannot be one IN either thought or
hea=ts When j see canvas signed by
you bearing the imprint Of noble soul
as we'll as trained eye and skilled
hand, then, Henri. may listen to your
ardent wooing.'
He could see her as she stood beside
him. calm and thoughtful, her hand
resting for moment upon his arm, yet
with an impalpable something separat-
ing her utterly from him. 1t brought
little solace to his soul to know that
ten years before, If he had but spoken
to the fair girl he knew SO well, she
might have been his before her parents
had buried her into the marriage with
that rich old count, whose death at last
was the sole comfort his wife derived
from her marriage with him.
Henri Duval had loved the maiden
well, but the young wife better, though
her irreproachable life shielded her
from even an attempt on his part to
express his devotion. So he dreamed
his dreams and lived his easy life. re-
serving. always In the depths Of his be-
ing pure place for her image. while
his daily encourage was favored with
the Bohemia of art and Partisan youth.
His plebeian grandfather had amassed
a fortune. and the marriage of his ia
Their with the penniless daughter Of a
duke had lowered him with the right
to hobnob with the mighty ones of the
land. so that Henri had found his path
In life rosy one. Rich. clever and
handsome, he was immensely popular,
little spoiled by adulation and very
sensitive to praise or criticism.
The contemplation of marriage had
not escaped his thoughts. but he feared
that he would grow weary of domestic
joys. and the women he met were ell
Their too frivolous or too serious-all
except the one of his dreams, whose
marriage had caused him to feel dis
tinct sense Of loss In his life. A thou
sand times he had blamed himself for
letting this treasure slip from his
again he found her more beautiful,
more gracious. Then he poured out
his passionate love. only TO find his idol
turn cold before his eyes. Never could
he forget her cruel words. and yet she
had confessed that since she was q
child she had loved him and for that
reason had avoided seeing him while
married to the count For one mo-
ment. one heavenly instant. her great
brown eyes had gazed into bis with
tenderness Then the look had vanish
ed. and quiet dignity enveloped her
as with an ley mantle. Henri had felt
powerless to take her hand. and his
eager words died upon his lips. Thus
had they parted.
The carriage stopped. the coachman
wishing to know whether monsieur
bad any particular route in view.
'Drive anywhere-to the devilr' cried
Duval GROSSLY, and they turned down q
long alley toward lake. The young
artist looked listlessly at the children
playing and nurses gossiping.
Suddenly he pulled the check string.
Why should he be mewed up in the
coupe? Why had he not ordered his
saddle horse? All. only because he
had not known what he was doing or
saying since yesterday. This was no
day to sit cooped up In carriage. At
least he could walk. The exercise
would be q relief. Telling his man to
await him at the entrance to the Bots,
Henri strobe into a shady path that be-
spoke solitude and wandteed OH. while
repeating In his mind over and over
again the scene of yesterday. At last
sense of WEAKNESS caused him to
rest on a bench. There he sat brood
ing and absorbed till his reveries were
broken by the voices of children.
AbstractedIy Duval looked up and
watched them at their playa boy of
some years and girl of perhaps two
years younger Gradually his mood
changed. and he became conscious of
the radiance of the day. the deep blue
sky and the autumn tints that glinted
and gIowed IN the sunlight. The air
was as wine to his thirsty lungs. and
life grew full of possibilities again. and
1t WhU
could he not paint soul as we'll as
body? He would win Blanche yet. He
would not make any effort TO see her
now, but would work aud wait. His
life should prove his right to win her
love. He would paint picture that
even she would praise. A hundred
subjects presented themselves to his
busy brain as he sat there watching
those two children who stopped in
their play and were crossing the road
way. Hand in hand they came, the
boy leading his younger companion.
now running. now hating, to avoid q
passing carriage. until they reached q
graveled footpath There they linger-
ed again. playing on the grass border
ing the path. Both had on blue aprons
and little wooden shoes. They were
without hats and typical children of
the poor. Presently, quite unconscious
". the little girl fell into pose be-
meath a slender tree whose leaves
autumn had turned with Midas touch
to pure gold.
. The breeze blew her short curls about
her forehead: her apron was full Of
colored leaves the boy had thrown to
her. Just then a rustling above caus-