Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-11-07


Not FOR the unknown Mouteili alone |
should his pencil fly over the paper.
crystallizing into perpetual existence
this dream or fading loneliness. lie
would earn FOR himself more than the
paltry dollars he felt burning in his
pocket: ne would earn right 10 tho
reproduction OF this face. which must
henccforth be the expression OF his loft
lest instincts.
His pencil obcyed his enthusiasm.
the features OF the unknown began to
show themselves upon the broad sheet
OF paper before him.
BE was very much absorbed or ne
might have taken n look at the old
crone seated in her low chair behind
him. If be had done so would be not
have lost himself in further questions?
Would be not have wondered why she
gaked at him so intently. with eyes
that were certainly not lacking in
earnestness II they were I'm candor:
| And would he not have queried why
/ her glances only left him 10 travel 10
! the clock. and SO. with one quick fash.
: 10 the young girl and back again 20
him. There was mystery in all this IL
he could have seen Il. for there was ex-
pectatiOn in her look; an expectation
that increased "a the minute hand or
the clock moved on toward .. and cX-
pectation here meant interruption. and
1 interruption meant-whats The sly
face OF the crOne made no reveal
tions.
But he saw nothing behind him.
Life hope and love were all. FOR the
moment. concentrated I'm the end 81 his
pencil. and not the sound Of opening
doors and hurryins feet could have
aroused him now from the dream or
creation that engaged him. But there
was no sound: all was still. even the
mysterious watcher behind him seemed
go hold her breath. and whom tie clock
struck. which it presently did the
faint noise seemed 90 Doe too much for
her aged nerves. for she halt rose. and
pantingly sank back again. claspIe
her hands with energy. As II 90 sull
thr boatngS of her heart
Bui thc artist worked o9.
Suddenly there was n change in tho
room. No one had entered 81. and yet
it seemed no longer Ike Tie same spot
Something strange and unaccountablc
had occurred: something which caused
the noistuc, 60 start on Hamilton De
graw's forehead. and the expectancy
in the old crone's look 10 deepen into
strong excitement. What was IT. The
artist. catching his breath. listened.
What silence, What an oppression OF
silence, And yet thcge Il comes again.
That soft sigh. So light MS TO be almos
inaudoic. and yet. 20 his ears. So thrill
ing with promise that ne leaped 20 his
feet He one who breaks some bond
asuuder.
AT The sight OF his cagcrness tho old
cronc. who had risen also. smiles hun
.,rily 10 herself II she has heard the
sigh also. she shows 10 anxiety TO ad-
vance. but stops where she is. content
that no should take the precedence and
stand first a the young girls side. h
was there in an instant. and though nc
signs OF life greeted him from the mo
uonlesS form ne could not tear his gaze
away from her face.
sweet one" welled up from his lips
"was that the sigh OF your departed
spirit Srieving 1t had left body thai
could be SO lovedl Or IS life but paus
ln- in these pulses. and will tt
lie does not finish. How can he
. when AZ these mutte-ed and well nigh
incohcvent words ne perceives Ia,
, fa.ntest flush OF color sufruse IN,
cheeks? OR was it but fancy? 1
has fed now. and the breast does no
heave. IL must have been a hallucina
ton like the sigh. And yet-and yet
those lids seem TO lie less closely
There is something in the face he hat
, not seen there before. IL is not life
ard yet, surely. It is not death Wher,
!. are her friends? Where is there a ply
sician? Why IL he not one instead O
i, being a useless artist? with a cry b
, turns to the old crone.
: Help he shriekS "See, her lip
. arc growing red. And look AZ he
: hands; they are becoming warm Nov
: now. they hutter, The roses on he
breast are disturbed. She is not dead
o.. We shall have her again"
lie paused. struck even in his frcnz,
by the abandon of his own words. e
+, ain fool he muttered. but then tn
. old witch does not understand me
. WIN she understand what she sees =
And bounding 20 the old woman's sid
!, he drew her. wondering and chatterine
? M between the candles ana pointed q
: the young girls face. AS he did 80 b.
q uttered an irrcpressible cry. for in tn
i. instant he had been gone the miracl
: had happened. and two wide dark eyes
. luminous with wonder. stared bacl
into his from amid the wreaths o
those tangled locks OF hair.