Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-11-06

/ dIGlSt. sTsss 4s55
His voice was full Of pleading. She
shook her head woefully.
mo, mol" at last She managed toar-
ticulate. TT is not my art, however
l love it. 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 dallied.
You do not love me, )" he finally whis-
pered. 1t was scarcely audible, that
husky sentence which hurt so. She
went swiftly to his side. She lnelt
by his chair to comfort him.
Il 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.
st. is useless, dear" she began, smil-
ing sadly. ''What you would say,
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 a sharp cry of pain.
"Duty!"
| He was facing her, bewildered and
miserable.
eyes," she said, quickly. His misery
| suddenly quoted her.
'"'.Yes, duty to Uncle Nat. You know,
dear, everything am, everything l
have l owe to him. He took me in,
a 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
lessons in Paris, those, frequent and ex-
pensive trips abroad, this quiet nest
| of home-all, all owe to him. He
has made an artist of me. You know
how fortunate Il have been, and how
happy my success has rendered Uncle
| Nat. And now, after all these years,
he asks me, as a favor-as a 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, I 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 little
proudly. II 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 mustido 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.
s'Could refuse, Ellis, could II" She
asked in distress.
NO, no, my noble little woman! It
was. just like you, to be glad to do it!''
Il was glad, yes-to help Uncle Nat
at last. But now-now, am not glad.
lam 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 embling fingers
softly over his brow. His eyes closed
YEARLY He clasped her hand and
placed it tenderly to his lips.
Snow you must co." at last she muir
INJURED.
He shook his head as though dis
pelling some ugly dream. He walked
heavily to the door, gazing straight
ahead. Then, suddenly, he seemed to
remember something, and he turned to
scar her agonized face. He searched
his dazed brain for words with which
to reassure her. 70,
"Lydia! You will come back to me,
will you not? Pll live for the day OF
your return. Tell me how far it is. I
may come then, may I not? Speak,
darling, if you love me!''
"Oh, it may be three, four, don't
know how many years!" she moaned.
drearily.
even So, even so, may come, may
Inot?"
s.You will have forgotten she hope
1essly murmurcd.
No, never, never!" he protested, ve-
hemently. "You will let me know when
you return promise, Lydia!'
eyes, yes; but. you must go now.
Go now-if you love mel" 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 few
tears.
She heard the front door close gen
tly. Slow, heavy footsteps tramped
down to, 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
! street ched out before him like an inter-
minable martyrdom: He saw himself
grimly working at his professoriate,
all incentive lacking. The Ellis West
of dashing mien and splendid spirits
| boS r1ryr i-h II