The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-06-11

given Quincy for his lack Of cour.
tesy.
Perhaps the young man lives too
much alone" she said. Martha, tell
James to harness the pony to the dog.
cart"
When the invalid made a decision
she acted upon it. In little over an
hour she had driven up to the manor
house, and at the gate found herself
confronted by young man with wild
eyes and tousled hair-and yet unmis-
takably gentleman.
Mr.. Gurney?" she asked IT am
Mrs. Epping." And seeing that ne
made no move to ask her in. she
added tactfully:
Il have heard about your paintings
and thought would ask you to let
me see them. We are 80 much alone
here. my daughter and I. and It is .
real pleasure to meet any one out
side the village society"
In half an hour she had completely
won his heart. She departed. carry.
Ing his promise to pay her Z call at
no distant date. But when Quincy
was alone again the sense Of the dead
woman came overpoweringly upon
him. He loved her. wildly, passion.
ately. this Epping lady who had been
laid to rest SO long before his birth.
No human society could atone for the
loss Of her. He spent tho night be-
fore her picture.
His work was now completely for.
gotten. The fixed idea had become
the center Of his life: he knew that
life was worthless without that love
that could never be his.
In the morning old Mrs. Smith
found him lying In 4 delirium In the
hall.
Brain fever" pronounced the doc
tor. THE cause? Well. I should say
overwork. combined with solitude. per.
haps. It is not right for a man to
live alone. especially q gifted young
man whose proper p,sce 10 In the
world of men"
Il shall never forgive myself
never" said Mrs. Epping. James.
harness the pony to the dog.cart."
This time she had come to stay, as
two well.tilled trunks that accompa-
MED her attested. She and Sylvia
took up their residence at the Manor.
and for two weeks they assiduously
nursed Quincy through the crisis of
his malady.
When he wakes said the doctor.
he will be in his right mind again"
Now whether Mrs. Epping had
shrewdly guessed the source Of the
disjointed mutterings, which escaped
the artists lips during his delirium
and made her plans accordingly or
whether it was kindly chance. nobody
can say, but when Quincy opened his
eyes again to reason he saw bending
over him the face of the woman in
the portrait But It was the living
face Of young and charming girl.
and blushing red under the young
mans earnest scrutiny.
WELL" said Mrs. Epping, entering
the room, you two are looking at
each other as though you had never
seen person of the opposite sex be-
fore. Mr.. Quincy. this Is my daugh.
ter. Sylvia, whose portrait you may
have seen in the hall. In fancy dress.
representing lady of the last cen
tury."
Quincy lay back on his pillows, ut
terly content. 1t was a miracle, the
doctor said, which brought him back
to health so swiftly. But Sylvia knew
differently.
"You gave me back my life," he
said softly, as they left the parish
church together, man and wife, three
months later, land | am going to de-
vote my life to YOU"
1t Is Sylvias face which forms the
central panel of Gurney's great paint
ing in the Museum Of Edinburgh
his masterpiece.
Copyright 1913. by w. G. Chapman)