The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-19
feed your soul on the r,adness

strength, carried out of and beyond him. seiI by contact with the fire of strange ni.ture. He brought her wraps and put them about her shoulders with the easy grace of courier. As they were turn Ing to go she caught sight of paint inE standing on an easel facing her Whose portrait is this?'' she asked stopping to examine it.
 Again the hot blood mounted to his cheeks. but he said, with attempted in differences:
 "A friend. a schoolmate. Merely d study l am making in my leisure mo- Does she come and sit for you?'' No, that would be impossible. She doesn't live in the city. l am paintinSit 1t from memory"
 He was learning her. Yesterday he had bored over letter her fingers had penned-a letter warm with simple love and trust. She rose up before him now with soft. accusing eyes. She rose up before him, Hiding up her young. trust ing face to say the farewell that cost her so much. put which she bore with different she was from this elegant. cultured woman at his side. with her keen wit and electric ways She had hard!T been out of his thought before since he left the old home to study in the great city. All his plans for the future had included her For her he had worked early and late. studied. toiled. saved. But in the presence of this new being at
 
 getten.
 "A pretty face. truiy," muscd the lady. Like bloss pm of spring, and probably as fragile and as nerveless IS one of them. Men do not care much for such women. do they?'
 Different men are pleased with differ ent types of beauty" he replied, with a sl dden show of worldly wisdom. Don't attempt the blase role. or shall hate you," ske said little fretfuliy. The man was learning too fast. She had for the present. Today she had broken the barrier of ethical society and escaped to be free in the presence of one man who had not been spoiled by continuous contact with the world, and she demand ed just return for the sacrifice. Not that his shallow attempts to dece've her were in the least successful. She knew tEe story of that pretty face as we'll as though ne had told her all of it in de- tail. In fact, she would have liked him all the better had he done so. Just now It was not the man she cared for. but the new experience. Still, there was a grain of bitterness in the knowledge that this son of nature had already loved and she could not let 1t pass.
 It had in 1t that commanding note Of horror that will not brook refusal It drew these two souls, drifting they knew not whiither. back into the world of fact, and they turned instinctively to the win dow for explanation. They saw crowd of people on the beach, huddled together like frightened sheep, their eyes fast ened on a small black object half mile fro mshore. tossed by the following sea. That unknown something that makes all men kin told them 1t was one of their own kind going to death before their eyes And that other strange element of human nature that prompts even those who look wi Sh unconcern on thousands of beings ground to death under the jug gernaut of trade, look with horror upon the destruction of he meanest of their species by accident or fate. had sent up from the crowd that vail that had pen etrated to the maIfsion and called two people lack from another world.
 The distress of that lone figure helpless in the grasp of the angry waters. worked other miracles as well.
 "A man is being drowned. and there seems to be no one ready to go to his What can be done"
 "The person out there may not be worth saving" Her voics was calm now, and her gray eyes clear and quiet.
 He is a human being and our broth er.'
 T knew what you would say. Wait" She took from 2 little case or the mantel q miniature of herself suspended from a slender chain and fastened it about his throat Wear it till you return. and then if you wish the other in exchange you shall have it."
 A moment later Bertrand pushed his way through the crowd on the beach to where a small tisherman's boat lay on the sands.
  cried to the group nearest him.
 It won't live minute in that surf, growled an old fisherman.
 "You'll not be in it if It doesn't" said said Bertrand, grfmly. Now, all togeth- err" The boat slid over the sands, and Bertrand, leaping in. grasped the oars and began to battle with the waves. It was an unequal struggle, but the artist was a good oarsman and his big frame was a network of muscles developed in a free country life. Three times the boat was cast back upon the shore, but at last 1t went free from the in-break- CTS, and, responding to the oars, leaped out upon the high-rolled waters. Those on shora held their breath when 1t plunged downward out of sight and shouted cheering messages when again 1t reappeared. At last Bertrand was near enough the man clinging to the spar to draw him into the boat. Now began the ran high. and wreckage was thrown about everywhere Bertrand saw the man he had risked so much to save was d shriveled. drunken fisherman, and re- membered her words, Perhaps he isn't worth the risk" But his mind reverted to other problems. Should he return the portrait that hung about his neck end claim the one that formerly rested there? He knew what suffering the latter course would cause that gentle nature that had confided its destiny to him. He could not doubt its early love, for in his heart she held as warm place as ever. But now 1t was not alone. A regal beauty sat beside it dividing his thoughts. his affections. himself.
 He was nearing the shore now, and could plainly hear the shouts of welcome. He wondered if she would be there 10 praise him with her great gray eyes. few more strokes and the danger would be over. He felt the strain of his effort, and could hardly summon strength to keep the boats head to the waves. Just as he was bending to the last stroke he heard cry of warning, and looking up saw poised on the crest of a wave heavy spar. It was pointed directly toward him, and in d second more would come down with the force of a catapult
 Jump" he called to the man in the stern and the fellow went over the side like the animal he was. But before Bertrand could change his position the timber fell upon him. Then wave lift ed boat timber and man and threw them high upon the beach.
 They lifted the still form out of the boat and laid it tendery upon tho shore. As they did so a woman, coming out of the crowd. trdiled the thick black hair over the cruel wound over the tenn pie. Then she took from his neck the gold chain with the miniature suspended from it. Her hand passed quickly under
 Does any one here know who the m, is?"
 "They tell me. madam. that he Is stranger
 Perhaps this may help you to find his friends It seems to be the portrait of a pretty country girl.
 She gave the trinket into the hands of the officer and moved quietly away.
 And in a deserted studio back in the city, above the roar and din of traffic, two unfinished portraits looked at each