Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-10-31

yet. "ACu Snc Wcn6 OUT lnJO tAt
world she would Don forget me-"
"But suppose she never forgot2'
4That couldn't be. Besides, I lovea
Stella Carman too deeply in any case
to want to see her marry a m OF
my years."
He did not notice hat the hand OF
his arm started slightly at the men
ton of that name, and the carriage
paused before the door of Elmhurst.
Two days passed. Irving Rathbury
stands by the window of his country
home--he had left the city that night.
The servant hands him a note.
Dear Irving: I have come back to River
side Cottage for a few days. 1 have had
the good fortune to find in the painter OF
THE Unfinished Picture" a mutual friend
of ours Cat least I have known her of late
years.. She is now my guest. Come down
on the evening train tomorrow, and I
shall be pleased to have you meet your
talented competitor. Helen.
Sensible woman! She is going to
take things as if nothing had hap
pened," he said to himself.
Helen McDermot stood beside he1
guest on the veranda of Riverside
cottage next evening.
Il have neglected to take down old
Mrs. Marrot's broth: so now, my
dear, if you will excuse me, I'll leave
you to your artists reveries for a
half hour. If anyone calls 1 hope you
will play hostess with your usual
grace. Now remember, puss, I expect
you to be a Casabianca and stick
well, if not to the burning deck, at
least to the creaking yeranda, no
matter who appears"
Dear! All these directions sound,
shall L call it-what shall 1 call it
anyway"
Call it good evening. I'll be back
soon, dear. Here, Ragtop, you rude
dog, go back and stay with your
guest!t'
But the young artist was soon too
absorbed in the scene to need Rag
tops entertainment. The water-lillies
slept on the dark river, and the fam
ing weed-fiowers studded it's bank,
with here and there groups of elms
spreading their graceful branches at
the little bends and curves. One star
shone, pale, in the amethyst of even
ing, while the far-off melody of home
" music came floating from some
wayside cottage.
She was thinking of her work
"The Unfinished Picture" There
vas a touch lacking somewhere. The
world applauded; but she vas work
ing for an immortal idea. And to such
souls what is mems applause?
She shaded her eyes for a moment
oh, if she could but see that vision
nnaa onoinf often nc che worl-ol n
face had started up before her with
all the reality of life. What, though
those locks were gray, it was the face
of the man she loved. She loved
ali, yes, that was where the trouble
lay. She could not turn her eyes
from feasting on the vision to toll
ing on the canvas. Her ham was
paraiyzed, and it faded ere she caught
it.
Still she sat with closed eyes, hop
ing. Half-hushed bird murmurings
i'll the night woods! Little cheeping
voices that would 2ot be stilled, but
fain would wake and cry like the
longings in her soul. Nay! 1t would
not come, the vision that she sought.
She opened her eyes again TO the
evening light, and 10! there by the
screen of the veranda flowers was her
long-lost vision. The same full brow
the eyes of fire and dreams. All! she
had never been able to call his face
up like this before. She had it now
the touch she lacked before, But a
word, a breath and it would fade as
her other dreams had done. She
leaned forward with parted lips and
bated breath.
"Stella!"
ct is the living" and she
gasped and was still.
Yes it is I, the living Irving Rath.
bury"
For n moment they looked into
each others eyes. and the pent-up
feelings of eve years were told
without a word. Then she realized she
had betrayed herself, and her cheeks
were crimson and purple by turns.
And he became suddenly conscious
of his honor there on Helen McDer-
mot's threshold.
"And so you are the artist of The
Unfinished Picture?'" he said coldly.
Eyes, but don't let hat make me
forget 1 am TO play hostess. Be
seated. Miss McDermot is out, but
will be back SOON"
STRANGE" thought he, "she should
be out on the appointed evening, and
leave me alone with Stella Carman."
But it all seems like n fairy story.
Miss Carman. I do remember now
you did paint when 1 knew you"
Eyes, / daubed a little even then.
but you didn't condescend to see it."
Then an embarrassing silence came
between them and they made efforts
at conversation.
He mentioned her grandfather, and
they were able to talk freely for a few
minutes. Then came more layers of
made conversation, more lulls of 81
lence, with a splendid icing of
.tionality on the slopes.
The stars grew thick on the little
river at the garden foot and IN the
sky above. Then he b%ethought him
self that he must catch the night
train for the city; regretted Miss Nc
Dermot was out, was pleased to have
met Miss Carman, ETC., and the two
artists on the veranda steps said
good night as coldly as if she had new
err inspired him with the face in "The
Morning-Time," and he had never Civ.
Ell her 'The Unfinished Picture"
A woman walked along by the sol
-. 49, J