The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-06-27
The
Days End
BY ALDEN

rev ana not Strlctly elegant, but she
looked pretty as a picture as she left
her room, pausing to bestow a light
but loving kiss upon the engagement
circlet upon her finger. only a few days
old. Then its presence seemed to act
as incentive and reminder. She opened
a drawer In the bureau and from a
faded, time-worn velvet jewel case re-
moved q ring with an Old-fashiOned
setting surmounted by a brilliant white
diamond.
Her eyes were tender and misty as
1t reflected a light rivaling the pure
intensity Of her own bright eyes. Mem.
DRY was sentiment and %pervading. I'm
honor OF Alan" she whispered devout-
~. Surely he Is worthy, and it is vi
last meeting for q long, long time"
The ring was about all in the world
OF value that Lesbia possessed. Her
mother had bestowed it upon her a
Few days before she died and Lesbia
had cherished 1t a sacred memento.
Alan Rawleigh looked like an artist,
and was n The delicate refinement
of his face attracted ever those Of
coarser mold. Art had been his pas
sion. and the scope and encouragement
Of a small inland City had become too
narrow for his ability. his ambition
and his genius. ~saAae
Sadly the day was dying-"before
eventide it shall be light" Air and
sky were In harmony with a subdued
sentiment. In the west the last rays
OF the sun formed a fanlike splendor,
while a mellow hyacinthine hue, ex-
quisitely diversified, formed a curtain
OF loneliness and spread over the
canopy to the east. Lesbia found
Alan on the porch, half-reclining in a
hammock, his poetic glance fixed on
the far glowing horizon.
~~The days end" he murmured soft
ly. as Leybia Joined him.
"How beautiful" she said In an
awed. vet enraptured tone, and then,
her hand resting In his own, they sat
mutely engrossed under the spell OF a
silence that was eloquent. Soul spoke
to soul. but better thus. for the holy
SNAAh ~ IuC AlOuA 0CCAAlCu ~ I'LL J1lcll
into a higher sphere. They watched
the shadows come, the radiant sky col
ors fade and darken. Then one glow
Ing star came out, only one
Il shall think Of you whenever I
gaze at that star" spoke Alan. land
that will be every eventide. Oh, my
precious one! this hour of happiness
Is the supreme moment OF our exist
ence."
That star. that one evening, Les
bias presence. the uplifting soulful
ness of all nature nodded their eternal
6bers ~inseparably into the warp and
wool Of Alan Rawleigh's career. After
he had gone to the city, weekly
a letter came to Lesbia, always CHEEKY
and full OF optimism. He had found
studio 0 with a veteran portrait
painSer, one Giles Larne. and his
friendship and cooperation had
brought a new JOY into Alan's life. He
had introduced Alan into advanced ar
tistic circles, had found him some
stock picture work that afforded him a
living, and had encouraged him to
make an effort for recognition from
the art institute.
"And oh! Lesbia," wrote Alan. my
very being Is enwrapt in a picture, the
theme Of which is the end OF hat
beautiful day when last we saw one
another and our souls seemed to merge
into a new world Of sweetness and
seauty. The Days End'-it shall be
The effort of my life and the one star
may shine on us to illumine our paths
% fame and fortune"
1t was q little after when a letter
written In an unfamiliar hand came to
Lesbia. 1t was signed "Giles Larne,"
and It told the anxious and alarmed
Lesbia that her f1ance had broken
1own from worry and overwOrk and
vas In a serious condition. At once
Lesbia arranged to go to the city. An
aunt resided there; she went to her
home and then to Giles Larne, who in
formed her that Alan was In a hospi.
.al and, according to the doctors, In
Tor a long siege Of sickness.
Lesbia stood spellbound, as for the
drst time Larne took her to the studio
and showed upon the easel 1.-The Days
End" The tears would come as she
recognized how Alan had imbibed and
expressed the soulful beauty Of that
eventful eventide. And there in the
far west was the star-their star!
THAT Is where Alan broke down."
explained the faithful old veteran.
NE tried all kinds of paint to get the
glow and sparkle Of the star and
failed. The picture goes to the art
exhibition. however"
"Oh. Mi. Larnel |" burst forth Lesbia
impetuously. Il have a thought, a
grand thought" and she spoke words
that caused the old artist to culver
with the rarest excitement.
When Alan Rawleigh was GONZALES
cent 1t was Lesbia who announced to
him that lot only had his picture
taken the first prize but a rich %connois-
seur had offered a fabulous price for
It He vas s~pellbound as he viewed
his work in the grand gallery.
H"A So - ---Z- 80