Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-11-07

| His voice was full of pleading. She
| shook her head woefully.
"No, mol" at last she managed to ar
ticulate. sit is not my art, however
| 1 love it. 1 would not send you from
me because of it,
He sank into the nearest chair, giving
vent to groan of despair. Another
had won the treasure of her heart while
he had dalIed.
"You do not love me, " he finally whis-
| pered. It was scarcely audible, that
husky sentence which hurt so. She
went swiftly to his side. She knelt
by his chair to comfort him.
81 do love you, Ellis! love you, oh,
SO much better than love my art!''
He arose quickly and twitched his
lips as if to speak, but she placed her
fingers to them with pathetic little
gesture.
sit is useless, DEAR" she began, smil-
ing sadly. what you would say, L
do so long to hear-any woman would.
But it would make it harder for me and
for you. l too must leave so much
unsaid, because-because love is not
all! 1t is not the only thing. 1t may
be greater than ambition, greater than
art, greater than the others, but it is
not greater than duty!' She uttered
the last phrase like sharp cry of pain.
"Duty!''
He was facing her, bewildered and
misera BILE.
suddenly quoted her:
Eyes, duty to Uncle Nat. You know,
dear. everything L am, everything I
Iox- I
penniless orphan. He gave me the
love of father, mother and all. He
spared no pains or money that might
be happy and well-educated. Those
less cons in Paris, those frequent and ex-
pensive trips abroad, this quiet nest
of a home-all, all I owe to him. He
has made an artist of me. You know
how fortunate l have been, and how
happy my success has rendered Uncle
Nat. And now, after all these years,
he asks me, a favor-as favor,
mind you-to give him a stone out of
this artist-building. He wishes me to
go to Europe. He wishes to have them
done-oh, l must not leave out any
thing! He is now director of the
Athlenean museum. His department
is architecture, and to complete his
collection-such fine one it is, too,''
she could not help saying a little
proudly. 81 have helped him just a
bit now and then. To complete. his
collection, he wants the feudal castles
of Europe. He wants the local color,
the right expression and all, you know,
and l must do them for him under his
direction. Ibis clever little artist, as
he calls me-dear Uncle Natl"
The tears were in her dark eyes, but
her lips tried to smile.
"Could I refuse, Ellis, could -" She
asked in distress.
"No, no, my noble little woman! Tt
was just like you, to be glad to do it!''
81 was glad, yes-to help Uncle Nat
at last. But now-now, I am not glad.
I am so sorry!'
He rested his head against the man
tel.
$50 sorry for your sake, Ellis, DEAR"
she whispered, seeing the misery
stamped so clearly upon his handsome
face. She laid her trembling fingers
softly over his brow. His eyes closed
YEARLY. He clasped her hand and
placed it tenderly to his lips.
"Now you must CO." at last she muir
INJURED.
He shook his head as though dis
polling some ugly dream. He walked
heavily to the door, gazing straight
ahead. Then, suddenly, he seemed to
remember something, and he turned to
scan her agonized face. He searched
his dazed brain for words with which
to reassure her.
Lydia! You will come back to me,
your return. Tell me how far it is I
may come then, may I not? Speak,
darling, if you love mel"
ooh, it may be three. four, I don't
know how many years." she moaned,
drearily.
even so, even so, I may come, may
Jnot?"
"You will have forgotten" she hope
1essly murmured.
"No, never, never!" he protested. We
hen,ent1y 'You will let me know when
you return promise, Lydia!"
"Yesa yes; but, you must go now.
Go now-if you love met" She pushed
| him gently from her. He took those
hands which were pushing him away
and covered them with kisses. And
with the kisses were mingled a few
tears.
| She heard the front door close gen
tly. Slow, heavy footsteps tramped
down tic, the, street. The Ellis who
had entered so buoyantly an hour be-
fore now dragged his steps homeward.
He could see the years of her absence
| stretched out before him like an inter
minable martyrdom. He saw himself
grimly working at his professoriate,