The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-09-11

mine' have nothing else Of yours
hope you will be- very happy"
His was an awkward part to play.
and ~ stoe1 silent while she drew
her rtAG from his finger and pressed
the one hs had given to her into his
hand; then he said brokenly-
You will always be our sister. the
ideal OF . good woman to Bess and
me-"
The other did not answer. but glided
away in the darkness. Her nrst
dream was over. and the awakening
was pain.
Reuben was the only one who spoke
his mind freely to both brother and
ward. and to him Elisabeth turned
more and moro for silent sym
pathy and unobtrusivs help.
Alan and Bessie were married. She
had = little money. and old Mr.. Bartre-
scott was very generous. SO they
were not entirely dependent on Alan's
painting. and were able to set up q
little house. decorating according to
tnelr own taste ana at considerably
more outlay than any one thought
prudent. Both of the houses in Nell
sons Terrace were given UP. Reuben
had some business that would neces-
state his presence in Rome for a few
months; and. AZ Mrs. varclure desired
change for her daughter. what could
De more natural than that he should
act a. their escort? So the three went
to Rome; and there Elizabeth, de-
string occupation. became interested
in an association that had been started
to relieve the poor.
On the last evening before Reuben
left he and the girl were sitting alone.
and he asked her suddenly whether
she considered 1t impossible for any
he was. for example. She looked at
him curiously as she answered that
she saw no reason against 1t and
hoped he would some day be happy
with a wife.
MY dear" he said gently: Il loved
me show you her picturer.
Not now" she replied. for she
could not bear to be shown Bessie's
portrait. a. she knew it must be.
Alan was becoming quito famous
as a portrait-painter. for many ladies
desired to be handed down to poster
ity as beautifully portrayed as Bessie
herself had been.
When baby WIS born Alan painted
another picture OF mother and child
which was a still greater SUCCESS than
the nrst. Other painters begged Bes-
sic to sit to them, and she was photo
graphed necessarily.
Six or seven years after they had
settled at Rome Mrs. varclure's
York ways and comforts.
Soon after their arrival Elizabeth
availed herself Of a leisure afternoon
to carry out her intention Of visiting
Bessie and Alan Reuben was on,
of town. so she had not seen him vel
or heard any news.
Il will go this once" she said Il
herself; land II they do not want u,
we need never come in their wa,
again"
Alan AMI Bessie were still occupy.
ing the little house. A servant. rath.
er smartly dressed. ushered the visit
or into the drawing room and asket
her name. She wrote 1t on a card inc
tho servant departed. 1t was a yer,
handsome room. Bessie had Away.
been neat in her ways and loved
pretty things: but she was astonisl.ee
at the multitude Of knIck-knacks
china the value of which she coule
scarcely estimate which surrounded
her. In every conspicuous place hung
oil paintings and water colol
sketches Of Bessie and the child.
Here tho servant reappeared. look
Ing a little confused and murmurins
that she had not known her mistres.
was out. but master begged Miss Var.
clure to walk upstairs to his studio.
MY dear beth. 1t Is SO good Of
you to come up! ] tried to get dowr
to you. but the stairs made me fee
giddy, and I could not bear you to e
away without one word"
go back to your sofa, Alan" sait