Year: 1871

It was just In the shadows Of Tho


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 wsves-there sa,


two women.


One, with her arm resting upon O


broken column, her dark eyes with


the memory of the long ago stirring
their brilliaRcy into life, gazed sfar
out of the floating cloud, her face q
sad reflection 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 hank beside
her. ... ...


It was aperfect picture, for the
twilight crept in and swept across
the foreground just enough to bring
the wonderous beauty into relief.


To the artist eyes of Ralph Bert
ram, who, wandering down the river
bank, came upon them, it was per-
feet harmony OF light and shade, an
exact subject for master piece, and
there he sat down and sketched un-
til the darkness shrouded the whole,
and shut IL out from his view.


He took the sketch home and for
hours sat and gazed at it, enraptured
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:


"Ahl yes, have seen tbem-two
women, one old and sad, the other
young and happy. 1 do not know
their names" Another would de-
clare he never was aware of their
existence, ard thus Ralph found his
search a vain one. He went on
working day and night upon his pic
ture, and at last 1t was complete, and
when he went up to his studio i'm the
city and placed it there, his friends
held up their hands in admiration
and worshipped it, and before many
days il found place in the most re-
nowned Art gallery, and all the
world went crazy over 1t.


Thus Ralph Betram became cele~
brated and orders came upon him
faster than he could fill them, and
all tho wealth and beauty In the city
smiled upon and 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 il
was nothing, when thoughts of his
beloved picture came, and hour after
hour he sat and gazed upon that
beautiful face, like one entranced.


al believe, Mr.. Bertram, that you
are positively in love With that
young face" said belle, IA she
came upon him in the gallery
"Was it from life, or your imsgina~
tion that you painted it Pr


From life."


"Impossible! IT must have been a
dream! No living woman was ever
blessed with such beauty"


Eyes, one !"


The lady went away, and before
night one-half the world was jealous
of his picture, and declared him
crazy. 1t must be so, for no woman
ever possessed such rare beauty. 1t
was dream, hallucination.


Bertram heard 1t and laughed
Perchance the day might come
when he could bring his wonderous
beauty before them and convince
them, and with this hope he labored
and sought her far and wide.


1t was cold. bitter night, and
round the corners the wind swept, |
bringing with IL fitful gusts of hard
cutting sleet, and penetrating to the
bone every unfortunate who chanced
to be abroad. Bertram came briskly |
down the street from his studio, !
warmly wrapped in heavy coat and
furs, with y vision of his pleasant !
rooms before him and lightly hum |
ming an opera. He had turned from |
the principal street, and was walk
ing alone where all was quiet, when
he suddenly came upon two women,
who stood near the iron railing in
front of the, house.


Mother" said one, "it is but a
little further. Do try to keep up
Here, lean upon me, mother, moth
erw


She was vainly trying to support
the sinking form, but not all her
strength could prevent her from fall
ling. And Bertram sprang forward !
In time to rescue her in his strong
arms ss she fell back.


Mother, o, my mother" was the |
despairing cry.


Don't be alarmed, Miss She |
has only tainted. My home is here,
close at hand, and If you will assist
me, J. will take your mother there"


The young woman obeyed him
without word, and with her assist
ance Ralph bore the senseless form
to his elegant apartments. There was
no light within the room. and after
placing the inanimate form upon the
sofa he groped his way to the match
safe and lighted the gas. AS the soft
radiance shone through the room, he
sprang back with an exclamation of
surprise and delight. His pictures
The face of his idoliZed one. At
the sound the younger started up
and looked toward him. How beau
tiful she was with her head falling
back aud the damp waves OF chess
nut hair clinging to her broad white
forehead, aud great lustrous eyes fix,
ID upon him in wonder. Bertram
could not speak.