Catoctin clarion., 1905-06-15
CHAPTER ".
Continued.

"Do not speak of him, or of my mas.
anger and cruel disappointment. /
have never been able to face them,
nor never can till become able tC re-
imburse them for all their useless cX-
pense. AS for making another attempt,
that is impossible. l had rather die!
At the mere thought of confronting
again that cruel sea of faces, the blood
stops flowing in my veins and the
world turns black before me. l was
not made for prima donna, or rather,
for success upon the stage. Yet that
success is all I have lived for, and
without it, what am ~
"What are you?" The voice of the
artist trembled, his eyes spoke the adj
miration he could not suppress. "A
young, beautiful and pure girl Is that
not enough? Most persons would think
It wealth"
ut will not get me bread" she mur-
INJURED. ut will not pay my debts,
luOSc HUI iJIt ttblS, tllpb NNlSh hl'oh
me like lead 1t was this thought that
made me return to these walls so bit
ter. 1t was this thought which, day by
day, forced me into a deeper despair,
till at last l only longcd for death,
as a release from my pclpleXty and
pain. 1t was II wicked longing, but it
was the only one l knew. so last night
I sent Annctta for Il deadly poison (shc
had often told ne she could get me
one) and believing that the pOWdcf
which she brought me was what she
said it was, l took it, and lay down on
my own little bed to die. Thc result
Is what you know. She deceived me,
and gave me Il preparation which
merely stimulates death. Was 1t wise
in her? Time alone can tell
"SiGnorina" 1t seemed the natural
word for him to use, though every
feature of her face and every grace of
her person proclaimed her to be an
American girl. pure and simple. Il
cannot doubt but that the Portuguese
did well. | cannot doubt that the
future holds for you all that even your
ardent spirit can desire. But lie
paused, affected by her look, From Il
sad and deSparing creature SHE had
flashed, as it We're, into one all cheer
fulness and hope. The change was
marvellous. He hardly knew the beam
Ing face, the glowing eye. Had his
heart betrayed itself in his words? Did
she see and respond to the passion
which every moment of this sweet but
dangerous intercourse was deepening
within him? lie dared not search her
eyes to see. He was content to feel her
joy and to warm himself at the fire of
her growing hope
''You do not 20 on" She brcIthcd.
"YOu think We have talked long enough
for tonight Well, YOU are right You
have heard enough of misery and |
have gained enough of strength to
make parting between us easy, just
now. SO. goodbye. sir, till"
She looked up and smiled. ALI, how
sweet that smile was; how innocent
and contlding. He drew back from
before it slowly, but firmly: lie had
fears of his own Judgment, of his
own strength; he would say goodnight
and come again when reason should be
more under his own control. and he
could weigh the treasure he coveted
before he took it for his own.
But two PAGES from the door, Il fresh
thought struck him. The mystery of
her awakening had been revealed, but
not that which surrounded the picture
he had been paid to draw. TIL he un-
derstood the purpose for which a CODY
of her face and form had been re
quested from his pencil, he could not
CO. The story she had told Of her
lonely struggle and disastrous failure
only made his desire greater. Since
there was nothing in her his
tory to account for this mys-
terious circumstance, how could
it be accounted for? Were there facts
in her life which she had omitted to re.
late? He must learn or pass a sleep
less night. Coming back, he confronted
her again.