Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-02-25
The Masterpiece

Courtney's gaze. The barrier which +
had been steadily rising out Of the
past seemed suddenly to loom her
vision with new, more acute import.
Il can't marry you," she said in q
low. stifed tone Il must not"
Courtney smiled with a slow, steady
assurance. yet, Margery, you love
me?" he insisted gently.
Her eyes flashed for a moment into
a radient glow. but darkened as she
uttered a sharp, protesting cry. She
turned and paced the room. aer hands \
knotted tightly in front of her. (
81 had not intended to speak of the
past" she began bro6cnly. 1T seemed
disloyal--to him"
Courtney glanced at her with a
swift, anxious scrutiny. then smiled.
"The past. MargeYy? What could my
| little girl have done with a past?" She
choked back sob and his face be
came instantly grave. Tell me Mar
gerry" he entreated. "It can make nc
! difference. but tell me-
She resumed her place near the
msntel and bent forward until her
head rested against ihe marble. "Iy
father was a strange. morbid man.
she began. "He spent many hours be-
! fore the paintings OF Old masters and
dreamed their dreams anew. but art
! became such a sacred thing to him
that be would not allow himself 10 ere
! ate until he had s:4Cied it for 20
| years. He blended wonderful masses
o. color. drew mar rous .lires. but
to erase them. At lenC h. when he
| permitted his visions to soar. he
worked for many days and nights
with a feTorish zest upon picture
which have never seen. He dared
not trust himself to judge it, fearing
that he might see through the rose
glow of his dreams. so he carried the
canvas to friend, a famous artist fn
Italy. entreating him to form his judg-
ment only in a moment OF leisure. He
trusted this man so entirely that with
IN emotional impulsiyercss he begged
him 10 destroy the picture if he found
It worthless. He did not hear from it
again. The artist soon left Italy and
We lost all trace Of him. He brooded
and mourned as one who grieyes Tor
lead child. He believed his pic
sure to be worthless and that tie
artist. obeying his wish, had destroyed
t. He flung his brushes into the Ere
md then-he drank" Her voice fal
cred and broke. There remained no
'emblance of the father whom v2 aad
oyed, until at last. crazod and i'-~o-
enl. he-shot a man -" She s-orpud
,bruptly with a sharp protesting y
zeal. Gould be your wife?"
He stood before her. with olenahed
straiRing fingers, his face white av5
)itiful; at length he moved o her 8
md spoke with unutie-able ten1.r-
less. Yes. Margery; yes, little nce
1 rare, wonderful vile"
His words shook her as te~T1 =.
md she clung to him in a s-cia-
Yielding. until with a sharp cry he
'aced her, his eyes filed with hOr-oc
Was your father Richard Harrnr- p
ne demanded.
yes"
His hands fell loosely TO his sIces
and he seemed unable to face the OF.
look. He struggled against the tc~r
tation to withhold the truth from L.,
and when he spoke his voice wa
hoarse and hopeless.
Il was the artist in Italy, Nerge.y
your father brought NE his p,c;u-e
and forgot it. have not taken IL
from its wrapper"
She caught her breath SHARPLY
then shrank from him in a bitter Ie-
coil. Where Is It now?" she demand
ed.
His mind flashed back into the pas.
''In my DESK he responded duly. 81
was called suddenly away from Italy
and did not think of it again. ! had
no means OF knowing that he he was
your father"
They faced each other in On n
tense, breathless silence. st last her
voice came, cold and hard:
Go, and bring it to me-"
She stood for a long time where
ne had left her, her eyes staring to,
ward the door with bright, unnatural
glitter. When Courtney at length re
entered the room, she took the pack
: age from his hand and in silence broke
= the string.
A warm. marvellous blending Of col
or flashed before their eyes, and they
E stood gazing upon picture which
held them for the moment speilbound
= Each knew that they beheld a master
piece.
Margery's eyes remained fascinated
upon the canvas; then suddenly she
turned to Courtney with a swift. futile
: rage He trusted you with a won
; derful thing like that" she flashed out
: and you could-forget? His very life
} hung upon your word. You are-you
. | are"
. "Doat -ay it. Margory; yes, l know,
> de1r. but-dont."
= She met the pleading hopelessness
of his eyes and for an instant her
2 own softaned; but the memory OF a
drawn, haggard face arose between
. them and she shrank back. 81 can
] | never zee you again." she said, in a
r hard, strained voice; Il never want
= to-"
t He moved unsteadily TO the door.
? hen paused and made a movement to-
/ ward her. "AIargery!" he pleaded
} If it had been worthless you might
/ have forgiven"
, But it wasn't" she sobbed; "it
{ wasn't. You had broken a wonderful
z sacred trust"
! lie WINGED and turned again to the
loor; he closed it softly behind him
nd then stood with his head bent
, Q q ,r., v-t, -,v.,..,. IN