The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-05-01

There is the genius of love In every
stroke. 1t Is yours far more than mine.
"And now," with little happy laugh,
II want to come down out of the
clouds; I want you, Bernice, nothing
and no one else-not even ST. Marga-
ret want wife just like any ordi-
nary man who has not vowed that art
shall be his only mistress and spent
half his days In dreams and visions.
Won't you speak to me? have thought
you cared for me little. Don't say
have been mistaken"
The happiness died out of his voice
and face as she still held herself away
from him and gave no sign.
Presently she looked up, and he ut
tered cry Of dsmay when he saw her
face. 1t was white and cold-frozen,
1t seemed, into look Of stony despair
all It's beauty gone, the starry eyes
dull and heavy with pain.
''What Is 1t? What have doneT' he
asked breathlessly. "You are ill-suf-
fering. Bernice. for Gods sake speak,
II am going away" she said, and
each word cost her an effort. "Have
mercy and don't stop me. Go to Mr..
Farrell; he will explain everything-I
can't" And she turned to 60.
Cold with underlined fear, too bewil-
dered to speak. he made no effort to de-
tain her.
"Fofgive me-" she murmured, drop
ping at his feet and passionately kiss
Ing his hand. II didn't know what
was doing. Try and forgive me-by
and by" The next moment she was
gone.
Some hours later he was still sitting
In the same place, his arms thrown on
the easel that bore the picture Of his
saint his head buried in his hands,
when the door opened and some one
came In. 1t was quite dark In the
room now, nnd ne could Lot see VINO
It was. The intruder struck a light,
and. looking up mechanically when the
gleam caught his eye. Adrian saw Jas
per Farrell.
''Oh, there you arer' Jasper cried
rather boisterously. "What! Worship
ing ut the shrine, eh? Let mo have q
look" And he stationed himself be-
hind Adrian.
We'll she's beauty and no mis-
take. I congratulate you, old man.
Don't you feel grateful to me? You
could never have done that If hadn't
found you such peerless model"
"Have you come to explain? Has
she told your Adrian asked, speaking
for the tirst time. There has been
some villainy ut work. Make haste
and explain II you don't want me to
choke 1t out Of you" His voice was
scarcely raised above a whisper. but
his hands were twitching. and Jasper
moved little farther of.
"What do you mean? don't under
stand you. give myself some trouble
to help you out Of difficulty and in re-
turn you abuse me. / think 1t is for
me to demand an explanation"
II am waiting" Adrian said hoarsely.
II shouldn't advise you to play with
me too long. asked Miss Kerr to be
my wife, and she turned from me In
horror and dismay-not because she
does not love me-; Of that am sure.
She asked me to forgive her, but she
would say no more. She said you
would explain. Now do so."
"Her conscience is too tender" jas
per said, with a sneer. but he did not
seem quite at his ease. II suppose she
was worrying over a little deception
a harmless little joke-we practiced on
you, all for your own good"
He waited a moment: his lips were
uncomfortabiy dry.
"You want the little mystery cleared
up-the little mystery that has been
Of such benefit to you. which has pro-
duced this beautiful picture-far the
best thing you have ever done, by the
way. If were not such q generous
man should be inclined to be jealous.
Vesy well, by all means. Miss Ber-
nice Kerr fills quite distinguished
role at night almost as distinguished
as the one she filled with you by day,
and far more famous. To be brief,
she is living picture at the Palace
theater. Her 'Ariadne' has been much
admired, also the 'Will-o' .the-Wisp.
Her strange beauty and admirable
ig@re make her eminently suited for
this form OF entertainment"
Adrian gave stif1ed cry; 1T was as
though knife had been plunged in
his heart. His st. Margaret poised
aloft in the eyes Of the multitude; her
grace and loveliness at the mercy of
their brutal gaze-Of their coarse lips!
For the one that would see merely q
beautiful picture and admire it as that
there were hundred who would see
the woman behind It. He shivered as
he thought Of 1t. He looked upon his
art as q sacred thing. He would have
raised her high above the crowd, he
would never have cheapened her In