The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-08-26


For it gave me back the sunshine,
And il scattered each Snmber thought;
( And my heart reioced in the genial warmth
+ Which the kindly smile had wrought.
Only a smile from Il kindly face
Dn the busy street. that day,
Forgotten perhaps. as soon as given.
AS the donor went her way:
. But straight to my heart it spccded
To gid the clouds hcapcd there.
And found that of sunshine and !ilr'~ blue
also could claim my share
Two Rmaways.
"Yes-this really is gcod-by. The pic
ture is finished, and you are satisfied"
81 am quite satisfied. So is Aunt
Janet"
And yet nave barely done you jus
tice."
The speaker looked at the lovely girl
before him, ALPHABETICALLY, tenderly alto
gether. She was we'll worth looking at.
Rather tall and slight of figure; her mass
of fair hair with eiintS Of gold; her large
and soft brown cyes-short sighted, as
such eyes often are, and obliging the use
their clearncss-but most, the low, sweet
voice. with the merriest laugh possible
made bright and fascinating figure.
which appealed to the artist as well as
to the man. Louie MAYNARD was an or.
phan, whose mother died at her birth,
her father falling in India some years
later. He fell in action as Il soldier, and
left her to her aunt, Lady Janet Berkeley,
on whom she was entirely dependent, to
bring up Bernard Ross. for his part,
was Il young and rising artist and a dis
tant cousin of Lady Janet, who wished
to give him helping hand by letting
him paint her beautiful niece for his AGA
DENY picture. She had given up her
small boudoir for the purpose of the sit
tings. so that she could keep the young
people under her own eye.
The girl looked up at Bernard for a
moment 1T has been a happy time for
us, hasn't it I'm sorry the picture is
finished"
$50 am l." answered Bernard. And
when am away shall look back to this
as the happiest time of my life"
where are you going, and when"
asked Louie, i'll frightened voice.
''Do you really care to know" Louie
nodded. II mean to leave London to-
morrow. For where, | don't know, yet.
My pictures for the Academy are finish
cd. and I'm free to go where wish"
ITO morrow As soon as that And
Louie leaned back in her chair, looking
very white.
He was at her side in moment. as it
possible that You care-really care
whether go or stay
The girl struggled for composure. "Of
course | care. We have been such good
friends"
Il know. But nothing more. sup
pose: What wo@ld you say if told you
that had learned to love you with all
my heart, and that is why | go: | am
too poor to ask you to be my wife, and
your aunt wouldn't listen to it for Il mo-
ment."
but I'm poor, too" the girl answered.
"And have often thought that |, too.
should work for my living. But Aunt ia
net is kindness itself, and wouldn't hear
oft But please don't leave London on
my account, she added, looking up with
a pathetic smile ut would be SO much
pleasantcr if you stayed. Besides, am
thinking of leaving London myself |
have long standing invitation to paya
! visit to some relations who live far away
from England"
"Oh, Louie. how can let you go:"
"You Sec" she went on, you have
your work to de-. And it is wiser for you
to be in London when your pictures are
sent in for the Academy. So think it
would be better for us to say good-by
now than have formal parting before
| Aunt Janet"
Put, Louie, how can we part like
this :" said Bernard impctuousiy. Have
| you nothing to say to me -
| Nothing but good bv."
I Then she held out her hand, and the
Young man tool; it i'll both his OWN.
| They both thrilled at the contact, and
| their eyes met Each read the secret of
the other, the love that does not die.
But Bernard could not persuade himself
to speak out. and while he was still hest
tating the girl turned away quickly and
left the room.
"She loves me. | am sure she loves
me - he said to himself in an cxulting
tone. 81 saw it in her look. | must go
away cannot remain in England. l
cannot be near her without asking her to
he my wife, and that, in defiance of her
aunt, | know she will never be- He
crossed the room to the portrait, and
looked at it lovingly The face seemed to
return the look from the canvas.
While he stood there the door was soft
" opened, and Lady Janet Berkeley came
in She crossed the room quietly, and,
coming behind the young man, she look
ed at the picture over his shoulder, on
which she gently laid her hand. at is
very beautiful, Bernard. And this picture
should bring you fame and fortune when
it is exhibited i'll the Academy, as it is
sure to he.
at was a labor of love, Cousin Janet. :"
al wish were rich enough to be able
to afford to buy it," Lady Janet added
lie touched the picture lovingly, with his
hands, and said 81 will never sell it"
"But, my dear boy, how can you ex-
pect You are going to make your fortune
if Won wont sell your first big picture ?
Why won't YOU" And Il curious expires
sion came into her eyes as she looked
kecnly at the young man.
Because | love Louie" he answered
frankly "And as she will never be my
wife shall keep it in remembrance of
time has been happy one, and shall