Year: 1869

1t was Just in the shadow of the
ruined walls, which lowered above the
blue shining waters of the river, and
when the tide was high dropped
down the long trailing ivy vine to kiss
the laughing waves-they sat, two
One, with her arm resting upon a
broken column, her dark eyes with the
memory of the long ago, stirring their
brilliancy into life, gazed afar out at
the floating cloud, her face a sad re-
Election of the past, while the other,
many years younger. half knelt at her
feet and with a smile on her red lips
and the light of hope in her glorious
eyes, played with the light moss upon
the bank beside.


1t was a perfect picture, for the
twilight crept in and swept across the
foreground just enough to bring the
wondrous beauty into relief.


To the artist eyes of Ralph Bertram,
who. wandering down the river bank,
came upon them, it was a perfect har-
mony of light and shade, an exact sub
ject for a masterpiece, and then he sat
down, and until the darkness shrouded
the whole and shut it from his view.


He took his sketch home, and for
hours sat and gazed upon it enrap-
tured with the glorious beauty of the
faces. Who were they? or rather,
who was she?' Who was the girl with
her dreamy, happy face and dark melt
ing eyes, with their hopefulness and
truth?


When morning dawned, he went
down again to the rivers bank and
watched and waited for hours, but they
never came. He enquired of every
passer, but no one knew them. One
would say:


"Ah, yes, 1 have seen them-two
women, one old and sad, the other
young and happy. do not know
their names. And another would de-
clare he never was aware of their ex-
istence, and thus Ralph found his
search a vain one. He went on work
ing day and night upon his picture,
and at last it was complete, and when
he went up to his studio in the city,
and placed it there, his friends held up
their hands in admiration and wor-
shipped it, and before many days it
found place in the most renowned
Art Gallery. and all the world went
crazy over it.


Thus Ralph Bertram became cele-
brated, and orders came upon him
faster than he could fill them, and all
the wealth and beauty in the city
smiled upon aud petted him. He was
admitted in every parlor, party, soiree
and reception; he became the lion OF
the season, and far and near his praises
were sung. But to him it was nothing
when thoughts of his beloved picture
came, and hour after hour he sat and
gazed upon that beautiful face like one
entranced.


81 believe, Mr.. Bertram, that you
are positively in love with that young
face!" said belle, as she came upon
him in the gallery. "Was it from life
or your own imagination that you
painted it?"


"From life!''


Impossible, it must have been 8
dreaml No living woman was evel
blessed with such beauty"


eyes, onep'


The lady went away, and before
night one-half the world was jealous o.
his picture. and declared him crazy
1t must be SO, for no woman evel
possessed such rare beauty. 1t was ;
dream, hallucinationl


Bertram heard it and laughed. Per
chance the day might come when h
could bring his wondrous beauty be
fore them and convince them, and witt
hope he labored, and sought her fal
and wide.


Itwas cold bitter night, and rount
the corners the wind swept, bringing
with it ftful gusts of hard cutting
sleet, and penetrating to the bone ev
cry unfortunate one who chanced to b
abroad. Bertram came briskly dow
the street from his studio, warml,
wrapped in heavy coat and furs, wit
vision of his pleasant rooms befor
him and lightly humming an opera
He had turned from the princips
street, and was walking alone, wher
all was quiet, when he suddenly cam
upon two women, who stood near th
iron railing in front of the house.


Mother" said one, at is but a Iii
tie further! Do try to keep up
Here, lean on me. Mother, motherl"


She was vainly trying to support tn
sinking form, but not all her strengt
could prevent her from falling. An
Bertram sprang forward in time to re
ceive her in his strong arms as she fe
back.


Mother, o my mother!" was th
despairing cry.


"Don't be alarmed, Miss! She ha
only tainted. Ny home is here, clos
at hand, and if you will assist me,


will take your mother there"
The young woman obeYed him with
out word, and with her assistanc
Ralph bore the senseless form to hi
elegant apartments. There was n
lioht within the room. and aftf