The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-02-14

you took not shred of interest
in her life. She has put her
whole being INTO a picture simply
because it makes her forget-sti-
llcs the pain at her heart"
Murray pulled himselftogether
to speak. but Sir Roland was ex-
cited and silenced him with a
gesture.
"But it can't last. Even the
passion for her art won't suffice.
A girl like Nora must have love.
1t is natural-it is right. And if
you won't give it to her, some one
else will. And I'll be hanged if
you don't deserve it," finished
Sir Roland, hotly, as he picked
up his hat and gloves and moved
to the door.
Murray sat motionless at his
desk for some minutes after his
friends departure. He wanted
to continue his work, but he could
not concentrate his thoughts, Sir
Roland's words were ringing in
his ears. He flung down the pen
and strobe restlessly up and down
the room. Was there anything
in what Huth had said. He set
himself to think the whole thing
out.
He went back to the time when
they were first married. He re-
membered he used to set aside
hours to spend with her. He con-
sidered them his recreation, and
the sound of her happy laugh, the
ring of her voice, was pure joy to
him. And he laughed, too, in
those days. Then as time went
on and the great work was start
ed, these hours grew less and
less. He had no recreation. He
abandoned himself, body and soul,
to his task. He only met her at
meals-herdly spoke then, his
mind completely wrapped up in
the work he had left for a few
minutes. Grandally they had
drifted apart. She took up art,
worked feverishly at it, but he,
her husband, had taken not the
slightest interest in it-never
spoke of it, had not even seen a
single picture she had painted.
All these things he realized for
the first time. He flung open the
door of his room and crossed the
passage that led to her studio.
The house was built in two wings
a great hall and staircase separat-
ing them. AS he opened the stu
dio door and crossed the thres-
hold, Murray felt he was entering
strange region. 1t was the
first time he had been there. AT
the further end of the room he
saw large picture; it was al
ready framed. He crossed quick
ly to it and stood gazing at il
mutely. Even he, the man of
science, could tell that it was a
wonderful piece of work-destin-
ed perhaps to achieve fame. He
realized that she had thrown her
whole being into it-that meant
as much to her as his book to
him. Yet he had hardly known
its existence.
Huth was right. He saw it all.
He had neglec ted her-neglected
her cruelty. He strode hurried
ly out of the room, down into the
street. He felt he wanted to be
in the cool air, wanted to think.
She had loved him. He felt sure
of this. Did she now? Or had
he killed every spark of affection.
eff you don't give her love,
some one else will. " The words
rang through his head. The
very thought cut him to thequick.
A sudden intense craving to see
her eyes light up again with the
old joyous smile, to feel her arms
twine around his neck, took pos
session of him. His love, which
had been asleep suddenly awak-
ened and sprang into a fierce pas
sion. Could he win back her love
or was it too late? And with
this maddening thought he
trudged for miles until at length,
wearied and footsore, he turned
and made once more for his home.
If was duSk and the I ,Ondon