The daily news., 1900-04-12
1T[HIE PORT RATS


very happy man. and 50 Ee csteened
himself Two children as pretty &s their
smother played al her knee. They We're
AZ greatly blessed - were Adam and I've
an PARADISE. Bdt even to paradise, as we
Teraembcf. there came a serpent. 80 to
Mar=aret Nc csr'S home came one day
Elsie Grey, as fair serpent as one could
rneet-a womal 81 whom Gle said. look
ing az her for tie LisJ tiu.c, she Il q
good as she i beautifCl" She came As
goveTTcS> for the children. and Margaret.
charmed hy her sweet face. made a com
pact # friendship WIKI her II once AID
was well pleased that Matthew Hhcd the
girl
That was in December. One day IN
June in walked Miss EGnhcmia Jones
and looked straight into the wet eyes
turned. somewhat Indignantly. upun hc..
"Ain't well. elE' said the spinstcr.
'NOt very" said Margaret And
fired. you know. and
And unhappy" said the spinstrr.
Don't tell me. Mrs. Mercer. And this
say: Get rid Of that there sly boots of
governeSs. OF yoaEl hcv more reason to
CRY than you hey now. Men Is Lien. Mrs.
Mercer. and YOUR luShand''-
But Matthew Is my husband" painted
Margaret.
Then be hadn't ought to go a-walkin
with Miss Grey" said the spinste-.
''holdin her hand. toO-he ouchtn't. But
1bere's somethin you OuEht 10 kncw-he
ougbtn't 20 90 ogt Of town along with
her. We saw them take the cars. | and
Mrs. Thompson. only an hour ago"
Bewitched by the beautiful serpent his
Eife's kind heart had warmed and nour-
isbed until il had strength 10 sting her.
Matthew Mercer had left his home his
wife and his children for her sake.
Margaret suffered In silence. She re-
solved 10 earn Eer own bread for herself
and family. Gad she met with a great
SUCCESS.
She could paint anl her first picture
told the tale. 50 like her own. Of Queen
Eleanor ia Ro~amoud's bower.
RoSamond was Elsie Grey; Eleanor
had her own feature. and the portrait of
the EinE upon the wall was that Of Mat
thew Mercer.
The picture was on exhibition. Ii hung
in a great gallery set off 10y 4 dus6y
prosceuium; people went 70 SEQ il, and il
was admired; critics praised it. \ rich
man offered great price for IL. And
meanwhile a T2an. thrsadbare and rusty.
cd before his tI,ac. with rcmorSe 50
stamped upon his handsome features that
a child could read il there prowlpd often
about the door of Tie gallery where the
picture hung and looked IN along the still
echoiug entrance. at the eUd OF which
the man who took the tickets sat and
read paper aud smoked alternately At
last be venturcd in.
Look here" he said IN a sort Of shame
faced way To the ticket takrr. Il want
"a see that picture. I haven't any mon
ey. but | knew Mrs. Mercer once. Let
ne lock. wont you: IL can't hurt you or
eny one"
He walked uD 10 the picture and looked
At il. Then be pressed his hand upon his
forehead and ground hiS teeth together.
Margaret. Margaret" he muttered.
''Oh. God. Margaret, And then he sat
down. staring at the picture with eyes
that saw those IkenesSps as none other
ever had.
He sat there still when a rustic OF silk
a sweep OF velvet. the high tones of
youaC voices fllcd the gallery. a wo-
man walked up the room and stood be-
fore the picturc-a child 10y her hand and
q hoy behind her.
The man gave one look. dragged his
hat over has eyes. and covered down
upoH 'He oe"cn' n''uHi'hG hiiASeh t"ceth-
~ -, "> 4 O'S-ar u"cS- seldom any other
me, nc i1"' G'u not i'"A AZ H'l:" but the
child did. Ia moment more il had pull
GO. 80 Us - n'",i'T SlGe''- Arr' man
us' nat '-r "l.-' "r Sa.!' J'>t S1ch
- -, a. ~, anu Ni"'-'I't turned
- ~. ne-I' l"tn "'f lace grew Vlite-
oue l,"A S,'P I'"aru lne man. lie
el-,leu 70 MS l'fL
Matthe". Shc cried.
..,,'Hii ,g "i,,' l.',i'''I NiN ace away 800,
- IN S'.,. -. "E''"' o'u sou
a-,s ny. :. a. - ..l.-', ''il1 M 90,
- "Ii "o' Co"a'u