Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1903-02-18
CHAPTER l.
JACK. FROM BOHEMIA.

recently shaken off the dust of the Boz
hemian Latin quarter In Paris, de-
pouched from one of the numerous
courts branching out from the Strand,
London, and strolled along this great
thoroughfare
Overton was man OF possibly
twenty-five. His form was well built
and athletic, his countenance while
not wholly handsome, worthy of deep
study-an expert at physiognomy
would have gloried in reading the po-
tential features so plainly marked,
and his verdict must have been that
while the young man had not yet
awakened to the resistless and domi-
nant power that slumbered within his
grasp, the force of circumstances
would sooner or later bring 1t to the
fore.
For some time he had drifted along
in his studies--a faint CLEAN of sue
cess had begun to brighten the eastern
slkieE-there was promise of his lat
est picture being accepted for the
Salon, when his future could be PIX
ed upon as assured
his affairs when little more resolute
work would have landed him we'll on
the road to SUCCESSES that fortune, and
a woman brought about crisis
which threatened his bark with dis
aster.
This accounted for the eagerness
with which he scrutinized the inmates
of the various vehicles moving hither
and thither along the Strand Final
" his kindling gaze was glued upon a
aaehing oquipase, evidently headed
howard Rotten Row, and particularly
upon the beautiful woman who sat
there nonchRlantly holding a lace
trimmed parasol above her dainty
head, and occasionally addressing
acme word to her elderly gentleman
companion, whose bronzed face and:
1ss OF distinction marked him as a
velaR- IS man Of note in Her Ma
iestys COLON mpire.
lack e. hlq b9s 18th and gritted his
a he booked He loved. aye,
worahiped this radiant creature He,
poor. unknown artist dared to
raise his eyes to such beautiful bird
Of fashion.
Why not-who had right one-half
so strong? Time was when he knew
Fedora as a modest little English
girl with passionate desire to study
art. when he had given innumerable
opportunities to stand between her
and insult to soften the rough places
4or her dainty feet, to assist her in
the work she had chosen while his
own lay neglected in his garnet studio.
Yes, they had become such great
friends in Bohemia that it ripened
into love, though on Jacks part he
Fairly adored the girl from the hour,
they hrst met.
Thus VOWS were exchanged, and for
months they driftedb along in a FOOLS
paradise. Then Jack, poor fellow, in
sisted on endeavoring to open COM
munications between Fedora and the
grim old English grandfather who
had exiled his daughter for marrying
against his august Will
The negotiations succeeded all too
well. and one day there came dolor-
Gus scene when Jack and his betrothed
separated, she to go to her new
English home, he to work feyerishly
on the great picture that was to make
such a sensation In the Salon-the
face Of Fedora, created by hand in
epired by the divine passion-and
bring him the fame and fortune which
he longed to lay at her feet
AT last 1t was finished. all but a
few touches. He had for some time
been on the verge OF distraction
Stray rumors that Fedora had forgot
ten him He faithful to death him
self. believed steadfastly in the wo-
man he loved, and Indignantly chased
all satanic doubts headlong from his
mind. Stiil, they crept back in spite
Of him. and when existence finally be-
cnine uncomfortable away from the at
moephere she brsathed ne had
brought his treasured canvas to Lon
dor.
Never had he suspected the full ex-
tent Of her radiant beauty and her
Queenly manner until the moment his
eyes fell upon her in the vehicle that
rolled toward Rotton Row. Gould
nuch prize be Tor him2
Then came rovulsion OF feeling,
She belonged to him-she had again
and again vowed no power on earth
but death could take her from him.
Alore than that, did he not owe her
bis life2 There had been FIRE. and
Jack, overcome In niI sleep by smoke.
misht have periahed but thai some
Siri dared death 20 run IN ana drag
him to the open air They told him