The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-04-14

he felt the thrill which every artist
must when his work is loved. She drew
him to her. He went up to the girl.
She turned and saw Wade Barber.
"You like it?" he said.
like it?" she answered. THAT is
not the word. 1t is too wonderful, too
splendid vision-to tell you just now
what I feel"
"Your eyes tell me-" he said. cit Is
citation before"
They sat down and began talking
together. What came to both of these
souls suddenly revealed to each other
must lie with themselves, but what
their faces revealed was much.
The lights went up in the gallery.
"Oh!" exclaimed Helen with a quick
realization of the time. AUNT Ethel
will be waiting dinnerw
"She will not scold, will she?''
"Never!" cried Helen. "Aunt Ethel
is darling! I am so glad you like
herv'
Quite unexpectedly to herself she
was finding it hard to finish the SEN
tence.
"Yes, she is charming, beautiful
woman"
Helen had never heard her aunt
called beautiful before. "Only lover
could say that" she thought.
Don't run away the next time I
come" he said as they parted.
True to her promise, Helen did not
run away" but Mrs. Pickett en-
crossed the young mans attention,
sporadic attempts at conversation be-
tween him and Helen seemed to be
nipped in the bud, the girl began to be
sure she was simply being endured,
and excused herself.
In the quiet Of her own room she
had battle to fight. She knew now
that she loved this man. She also
knew he loved her aunt, and felt for
her. only a friendly interest. What
was more, she was convinced that her
aunt loved him. Even If she could
have succeeded in supplanting anyone
in his affections, that one must not be
the one who had been to her such
friend. Generally when they went to
the opera she was one of the party, but
the next time, she pleaded an excuse.
1t was best for her not to see him.
Things went on this way for several
weeks, then his visits ceased entirely.
Helen supposed he must be out Of
town, but as her aunt offered no ex-
PLANTATION, she did not ask. One day
she met Barber at a reception. he
drew her into q quiet corner and they
had talk. Finally she got up cour-
age to ask him why he had deserted
them. He begged her to let him an
swer her question some other time,
where they would not be interrupted.
It was out Of the question for him to
call, so they arranged to meet the next
day in the park.
Helen felt something like traitor
as she started out; but it was spring
In the park-she had not known it be-
fore amidst the brick and stone-the
grass and sky looked like his picture.
He was waiting and they found seat
In quiet place.
II am going to make confession"
he said. II know you are going to
think me a. contemplate cad. 1 know
I have been one; but I also believe
one need not go on being cad. It
can be blotted out. 1 hope you can
think so. 1 was fascinated by your
aunt. never was in love with her. !
persuaded myself that did not so much
matter. If she cared for me enough
we could marry, and would try to not
let her see the lack In me. am mis-
erably poor, so far as money goes. !
have had frightful struggle. My art
means everything to me, and 1t seemed
I must give it up or starve. She told
me she had enough to make the way
for me easy. You see, now!" he cried,
with intense disgust. "You see how
low fell when could take this wom-
ans money and give her no love in re-
turn! Then that day before the pic
ture-when knew you-I couldn't do
it. Can you forgive it7"
II can blot it out" she said.
'They told me you were the poor re-
lation. Could you go on being poor
with me? love you so much it would
not matter to me-"
at would not matter to me-" she an
swered.
TWAS a quiet place, and when he
next spoke he said: "We shall not be
so very poor. My pictures are begin
ming to SELL"
NO." she said, with q queer little
smile. "You see, have great deal
more money than Aunt Ethel. I'm
going to own that wonderful picture.
and we shall always have the Spring
time"