The Van Buren press., 1904-07-09

my affection for you is the best trait !
| have"
The sculptor, unable TO speak, gazed
at his friend in amazement. for Alberts
eyes were like thin glasses through which
| his thoughts could be seen like pictures
| in book Instead OF feeling the sincere
affection which he protested. the hor-
| riried sculptor read his true thoughts,
| which, put in words, were: "Compan-
ion Of my youth, | loathe you for all
the good deeds you have done. You are
a perfect type of manly beauty while |
am a monster of ugliness; you are rich,
| am poor; you are blessed with health,
| am wreck; you love me, while hate
you-yes, hate you for your kindness
| and the humiliation have suffered. De-
spite my hatred, however, l am forced
TO play the hypocrite must be espe-
cially amiable this day above all, be-
cause | intend to borrow thousand
| francs from you"
But the revelation did not end here.
Prince Fortunate, with the aid OF the
, glasses of truth. further learned that
from the time they had played marbles
together, Albert had envied and hated
him He felt himself growing dizzy-it
was like a beautiful edifce crumbling
away, leaving his soul aghast.
Go away, false friend" shrieked he.
at last, you have permitted a spirit Of
mean jealousy to destroy a noble friend
ship" And without more ado, he thrust
his comrade out Of the studio, and when
Albert looked back beseeChingly he
slammed the door in his face,
Later in the evening, when the dusky
shades Of night were silently stealing
into the studio, Prince Fortunate, lost
in dreams, was Joined by his beautiful
wife She kissed him tenderly, sat by
numerous nothings that filled her days.
She had been to a bargain sale at the
Louvre; it had rained little at about
three o'clock; 1t was said that the new
drama at the Gymnase was very inter
esting. And then, in a careless manner,
she yentured: "Oh by the way met
the captain He will dine with us this
evening" Pretending to be bored, she
added, Annoying, isn't it, dear?
cant abide the fop, he's so conceited."
A servant softly entered and lighted
the lamps, Prince Fortunate, who, in
the darkness of his studio. had almost
forgotten his magic glasses, raised his
head and met his wifes eyes, which
seemed, at that moment, to be contem-
plating a charming souvenir This is
what was really disclosed to him; In
an elegantly furnished apartment in
one Of the leading hotels Of the city
he observed two lovers wrapped in
each, others arms, Prince Fortunate
smothered a cry of pain, for in the
picture he recognized his wife and the
captain
At first he was loath to believe the
awful revelation. These glasses lie"
he thought This cannot be possible"
Then he looked fxedly at his wife,
whose glance fell under his gaze. Her
eyes shone with an unnatural bril-
liancy, she was Ill at ease nervous.
and VIXEN she hastily left the room he
was convinced that the glasses had
told the truth that her thoughts were
not with him, but with the captain.
whom he had believed to be an ad-
mlrer Of his work instead OF his
wife.
The sculptor was overwhelmed. Bow
Ing his head he exclaimed; "Oh,
Truth, thou has taken from me all that
made my life complete and happy"
Mechanically he turned toward his
unfinished work, the Nymph and the
Satyr Here lies my only consola-
ton" he murmured, gratefully. Moth
ing can rob me Of the Joy of being an
artist, Of being able to create the beau
tifuL"
But upon approaching his work he
was surprised to hear the statues con-
yersing
"Why am | so homely?" moancd the
Nymph 81, who should be so beau
tifu and sylph-like Look at my dis
torted form and the imperfecton OF
my lines"
Eyes, It Is sad to be chlseled by an
ignorant and unskIled artist" sym.
pathi2ed the Satyr, would that had
been born in the great Robins studio,
instead Of being brought to light by
this miserable amateur"
At last the sculptor's spirit was
broken, "How Great was my folly TO
put these rlasses on my oyes," he
cried, 81 Will shatter them In a thou
sand pieces"
Nainly he tried 10 remove them, they
were fast to his eyes Then he realized
that forever 9nd over he was des.
tined to see ne In It's true aspect, that
one may rid himself Of Falsohood. but
not Of Truth, for she is pItlless and
will ever cling
After that day, so the story goes
the sculptor no longer considered MIN.
self Fortunes fNyorIte On the con.
tr0ry he was the most unhappy o,
mortals with but single ray of hopo
left hIm--the return Of the strange
peddler with his varied assortment Of
yellow, green, blue and pink glasses.
for any Of which he was now willing to
exchange the gray and somber ones
that reflected only the painful truth
Adapted from the French Of Maurice
Magre by Jeannctte Drule, In San
Francisco Argonaut