Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-06-26
The
Days End

ny ALDRM CEzAPAeAls
scsssasAs iszs. ~ wssss sswssssw usssa.l
Lssbia Travis arrayed herself n n
fer state occasion. Her gowns we're
few and not strictly elegant, but she
looked pretty NJ q picture 90 che left
her room. pausing 60 bestow q light
but loving kiss. unon the engagement
circist upon her AaEer. only few days
old. Then its presence seemed 70 act
m ineent1ve and reminder. Ehs opened
O drawer In the bureau aud from n
faded. tisne.worn velvet Jewel case re-
moved q. ring with an old-fashioned
setting sursneunted BY q brilliant white
diamond.
Her eyes were tender and misty as
a. rejected light rivallng the pure
istesssity Of her own bright eyes. Men,
ory was resentment and pervadlng. "In
honor of AIani" she whispered devout.
~. Surely he is worthy. and it is our
lsSt meeting fo- long. long Time"
The ring was about all I'm the world
Of value that Lesbia possessed. Her
mother had bestowed % upon her q
few days before she died and Lesbia
had cherished 10 sacred memento.
Alan Rawieigh looked like an artist,
and was one. The delicate refinement
Of his face attracted even these Of
coarser mold. Art had been his pas
sion. and the scope and encouragement
Of small inland city had become too
narrow for his ability. his ambition
and his genius
Sadly the day was dying-"before
evenfidsr % shall 30 iightf" Air end
sky we're In harmony with q subdued
sentiment. ID, ths .wsst the last rays
a the sun formed q faniiks splsndor.
while o. mellow hyselatAlns hue. ex.
.QuiSsfeiy diversified. formed q curtain
ef loveainess end spgead over the
canopy to the east. Lssbia found
Alan ensthe porch. rhaif-rsclining In q
hammock. his poetic glance nxeA on
the FAR slewine herizon-
The days end !" he murmured soft-
~. as Leshis joined him.
'How beautifuii" she said In an
awed. Jet enrspfuredstone. and then.
her hand resting In his own. they sat
mutely -engrosssds Under tina speii s6 q
silence that. was eloquent. Soul spoke
to soul bat bestes Thus. Car the holy
calm of the hour seemed 20 lift them
into higher spfsere. They watched
the shadows come, tina radiant sky col
ors fa1e md darken. Thea enc dow
Ing star came out. oniy enc.
Il sfzsll tnsnk of yoa whenever I
gase at that afas.. appke Aaaa -and
that wifi D. every eversids Oh. ny
precious onsi this hour Of happiness
% the suprsme rnomsns of our exist
ence."
J That star. that one essning. Les.
bias pressncs. the uplifting soulful.
ness of ell nature nodded fhssr eternal
fibers inseparably into the warp and
woof Of Alan Rawleigh's career. After
no had gone 10 the city. weekly
q letter came 20 Lssbia, always ehsery
and fun Of optimism. He had found
studio room with q veteran portrait
pai1e@. one Giles Larne. and his
friendsnip and co-opsratien haa
brought new JOY into Aian's life. He
had infrodueed Alan into advanced ar
tistte circles had found him some
stock ptesurs weFk that afforded him O
iiving4 and had encouraged him 10
make laa skeFt for recognition from
the erf institute.
"ABa chi Leshaa," wrote Alan. my
very being n enwrapt in q picture. the
themes Of which In the end Of that
'bsautifuf day when last We saw one
anether-and our souls seemed 60 merge
into q new world Of sweetness and
beauty. Tue Days End'-it shall bs
the effort Of my life and the one star
may saline On M % tllumine our paths
TO fame and fortune"
Tt was o little after when q letter
! writtsA IN m unfamiliar hand came 90
. Lesbtag IL was signed -0sies Larne." /"
and IL told the anxious aad alarmed
Lesbia that her nance had broken
down from worry and overwork and
was-in O serious condition. At once
Lesbia arranged 10 20 to the city. An
aunt resided. there: she went TO her
hone' and then TO Giles Larne. who IN.
formed 1her that Alan was In q hospi.
tai and. according 90 the doctors. I'm
for q long siege Of sickness.
Lesbia stood spellbound, m for the
nrst time Larne took her to the studio
and showed upon the easel 'sThe Days
End" The tears would come as she
recognized how Alan had imbibed and
expressed the soulful beauty Of that
evenfful eventide. And there in the
FAR west was the star-their start
. That 10 where Alan broke down, .
explathed the faithful old veteran.
He tssed m kinds OF paint 20 get the
glow and sparkle Of the star and
failed. The picture goes 20 the arr
exnabifion. however"
-Ohg Mr. Larnei burst forth Lesbis
fnpetuousfy. Il have O thought, Q
grand thouxhtl" and shs spolke words
that caused the old artist % quives
with the rarest excitement.
!s-WAen Alan Rawieigh was Gonzales
csnt ie was Leebia who announced 90
HIM that not only had his picture
taken the nfst prize but O rich coanois,
senr had offered a fabulous price fos
its Hs-wa speilbound ~ he viewed
bis work I'm the grand gallery.
The shining star seemed fairly %
piescsi his vistea. II was that unique
exaphasis that had charmed thousands
Mothers diamond Inserted I'm the
cezvas," vhispsred Lesb1g, and Alan
Rawlslsh undsrstoo6
Another was substituted before ths
pieturs was sent % its purchaser. fog
fhsenEinai one that had bssagAt fsma
an6 1sstuns was worn By E4sshia On
thsaS wseatng eva