Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-12-04


not greater than dutyl' She uttered
khe last phrase like sharp cry of pain.
"Dutyl"
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 l am, everything l
have 1 owe to him. He took me in,
penniless orphan. He gave me the
love of father, mother and all. He
spared no pains or money that l might
be happy and well-educated. Those
lessons in Paris, those frequent and eX-
pensive trips abroad, this quiet nest
of home-all, all I owe to him. DE
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, as favor-as favor
mind you-to give him 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
thingl He is now director Of the
Athlenean museum. His department
is architecture, and to complete his
collectiop-such a fine one it Is, too,
she could not help saying a little
proudly. 81 have helped him just
bit now and then. To completes 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.
Gould 1 refuse Ellis, could II" She
asked in distress.
"NO, no, my noble little woman! It
was just like you, to be glad to do i'll"
81 was glad, yes-to help Uncle Nat
at last. But now-nOw, am not glad.
l 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,
will you not? I'll live for the day of
your return. Tell me how far it is.
may come then, may 1 not? Speak,
darling, if you love mel"
ooh, it may be three, four, don't
know how many years." she moaned,
dreariIy.
even so, even so, may come, may
Inot?"
"You will have forgotten" she hope
lessly murmured.
"No, never, never!" he protested We
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 a few
tears.
She heard the front door close gen.
tly Slow, heavy footsteps tramped
down td 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,
all incentive lacking The Ellis West
of dashing mien and splendid spirits
had suddenly vanished.
But the next morning came the most
unexpected thing of ala note from
lydia. 1t read as follows:
Dearest Ellis: Just as you left last
night Uncle Nat came in, bearing the
best news for you and me. Can you
guess? He has been transferred from
the architectural department to the
department of Italian arts. The presi-
dent of the Athlenean is going to send
young Harvey abroad for those castles,
as he needs Uncle Nat near for the
coming exposition. And so we are not
going to Europe on that tiresome trip,
and you are coming up this evening,
are you not? Yours lovingly from
now on, "LYDIA."
For further details, watch the mar
riage columns of the society papers,
Home Magazine.