The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-18


of one to hang in my home. Who is
this-this person who has bought
each one before | could get hold of
it,?
She is a Miss Alison; beyond that
l know nothing" said the man. She
has paid the price named without de.
muir. although to outward appear
ances she is far from rich; in fact
she is quite shabby
Il would have paid you ten times
the amount you placed on each pic.
ture," went on Mr.. Benton Il want
to encourage the boy in his work
it's all I've got to live for. Now,
Smith, save the next picture for me
no matter what it isl"
Very well, Mr.. Benton" said the
dealer.
A year later Mr.. Gregory Benton
was standing in well-known art gal
lery in which was hung the beautiful
painting by his nephew. The picture
had been accepted by the Paris salon
and was now on exhibition in New
York
Uncle Gregory stood before the pic.
ture enraptured with it's beautiful
significance, its charm and mystery
Silence as it was called, represent
ed the seated form of a beautiful
woman-a woman with lovely, woe
begone eyes of rich hazel. with softly
tinted cheeks and with tender lips
closed as if locking in some secret
sorrow. The white gown falling
mistily about her, the crown of dark
hair, the round chin cupped in one
curved hand were mastery in line
and treatment, but the loneliness and
the speeches. woe of the silent figure
were its dominating features
"Humph!" muttered Mr.. Gregory
Benton, at last, when an odd misti
ness caused him to polish his eye.
glasses. The lad never found that in.
spiration in the silences of India,
China or Japan-it came from his
heart, and, hang it all. why should he
have any feeling like that in his
hearth"
He looked fiercely around as II to
challenge any possible hearer of his
unspoken question. There was only
one other person besides himself be-
ford the picture in this first hour OF
its exhibition.
The other one was girl gowned in
shabby black serge. with once smar,
little black hat on her dark hair. She
was sitting on the bench looking up
at the picture of Silence" with woe.
begone eyes that were strangely like
the painted ones.
Gregory Benton stared at the girl
with growing wonderment Then he
studied the picture and looked from
one to the other, his glasses poised on
his hawk-like nose-first at the girl
and then at the picture. At last he
could bear the suspense no longer
He bowed alphabetically to the silent
girl and spoke.
Il beg pardon, madam, but the re.
semblance is remarkable-remark
able. You must have posed for that
picture yourself. Were you Mr.. Ben.
tons model, may l ask"
NO" she said, in a sweet, tired
voice, Il was not Mr.. Bentons model
1t is a wonderful picture, is it not ?
But to one who had seen his earlier
work it is not surprising, is it?'
There was sort of pride in the ar
fist in her tone, and Uncle Gregory
started violently at the recollection
of what the art dealer had told him.
Are you by any chance Miss Ali
SOM" he asked courteously.
YES" she said quietly, 81 am Eve
Alison"
"Eve-Eve?" repeated Uncle Greg
ory. why, that was the name OF
Roy's girl never knew her last
name. Did you buy his pictures from
Smith,
YES" said the girl in a shaking
tone, and now he saw that the
poverty Of her dress told a story OF
woman's sacrifice for the man she
loved. Not only had Eve Alison given
up her lover for his career, but she
had deprived herself of conf orts-
nay, necessities. in order to buy his
little pictures and thus encourage him
in his work And the boy had taken
her image away in his heart and
made a masterpiece on canvas.
He. Gregory Benton. had dared tc
interfere between such noble
woman as this and the man she
loved
God forgive me-" he muttered as
he leaned over and took her hands in
his. Il am Roy's uncle-and l owe
you great apology"
Half an hour later Roy Benton dis
covered them sitting together. the
girls eyes shining like stars and heI
cheeks pink with excitement
Eve" said Roy bluntly. Smith
has told me about your buying my
pictures. Why did you starve your
| self to do it?''
"Oh, because-because-w She
looked in distress at Uncle Gregory.
The old man placed her hand in
Roy's.
| Copyright, 1875 by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate)
Chill Pushes Nitrate Trade.
~