University of South Carolina Libraries
SAINT MARGARET tor DUU VANC MOS, by A?>?? FW ?innu mMnnmn *RT7|HAT are yon doing now, St?r IW| moot? Hare yea Anything ?MHH bis on hand T* asked Jasper ? Ftrrtll as he sat on the lit? te Tsranda ontakle his frienl'i studio piog contentedly at a fragrant cigar ?-a cigar quits out of proportion to his by the way; but, then, Jasper's was small, and his tastes were so ha dkl not 1st one Interfere the othor more than was absolute Adrian BtocDjout lived at Bun bury In , Tattle house with a garden runnlug to the river, and he was leaning la a deck chair kUy watching the as tbay went past with their freight; the men in whits flan whs were taking things easily be there was a girl on the red cush ssat to talk to, and the club men "sweater*,** who gars no tltougbt to as they dew along under the stern of the cockswain, but only to the race. *I sag your pardon," Adrian said, re gaam Iml iig that be had been asked a ssasnlaa. "What am I doing, dkl you any? Wen, nothing much just at pres eajc, but I am contemplating something nag, though I don't know whether I anal) er er arrire at It I have received m oatsiannlcation from the snclent bor of Btonehaven making me a pro to paint a '81 Margaret* for their hall 8t Margaret, you must Is the patron saint of Btoneha wsay sod they are very proud of her." ?"Well, why do joo hesitate? 1 don't sjss much difficulty about that On the QOOUary, you are to be congratulated." mot that Isn't quits all," said Adrian sj Tattle dryry. "St Margaret is the %aa of sll that Is innocent and beautl iol to woman. She Is a pure, ethereal bearing the martyr's palm As you know, my figure OSTS been chiefly nxn. I hare employed s female laodel, and any case no hired model would an my idea of St Marg* ret 80 I am st a standstill " r *OkX I know you have alwi^a fought 4M9 it women and shut yourself up bora Iks a Diogenes to his tub. Ton saw a most as Innocent of tho world as * only, but it Is not quits toe wicked fjiaco you fancy, and there aio St Mar gBBSfti to be found In It yet" n don't know,** rejoined Adrian, "aart 1 bare thought of It: aa very littiHd, but the row women I have soot I its all sssmsd to mo iwry much not much better than wo are. I want a woman who Is as dlf from man ss light from dark whoso Innate goodness shines to beautiful face, making It tender I ttlful to the sins she could not lit but can understand?a saint worshiped and yet" his voice ag, **u woman to be lovod." "1 aa afraid I cannot help you. Ton jto mach. She most bo a beauty pattern of sll the virtues as Ins two so sekbpm go together, jfmm ate. Virtue Is rightly considered as the privilege of the plain. And she ; saasta t be s model, you say, or I tonga s very nice little girl" ^Jfo, OA hot s model,'* interrupted Aasisii impatiently. "Fancy a crea tosre S'ho simpers to you for so much aa hoir posing ss 8t Margaret!" Jasper shrugged his shoulders. "As 1 said before, your notions are a little aaagg*rated." he remarked. "Why can't jaa Idealise, Has other men? Saints stoat come and alt for their portraits tsafbrtunatsry.* "I am not so unreasonable as to ex fact my Ideal complete In the flesh," aaslled Adrian, "but I must hare youth goal Innocence st least 1 must paint say saint from one not altogether un? worthy to stand In her place." There wss no reply. Jasper was ssooklng. and his thoughts seemed to Bars drifted swsy. Hut presently he himself. He bk?w a ring of te elowiy Into the air and watched it fads before he spoke. Then he said: "I think perhaps 1 can help you after mJL~ He spoke very deliberately, as Chough be were weighing each word. A Irian turned to him eagerly. "Real? ly? 1 shall be very much obliged to you If you can." "I know a girl who should suit you well In every respect If she will con asat to alt" he wsnt on, still In the same deliberate way. "She Is beautiful ?with the beauty of n saint or an an? gel; there le something air ost unearth? ly about It?and," very kiowly, "I have never heard a word against her." "But will ehe come? Do you think you csn persuade her to nit for me? Is oho s friend of yours?" Adrian poured oat hit questions, too eager and inter? ested to notice the strangeness of Jas? per's manner. "1 have known her some time, and I will make the proposal to her If you like. She bas a wldowsd mother to support?it Is sstontshlng how many widowed mothers there are In the world who need supporting-and that may Influence her. It Won't be euch drudgerj at teaching. I ?uppoee I may otfer liberal termsr "Anythlug you like If she will mit When an 1 see her? She le teaching, you say, so iwrhaps It would be con? venient to her to come down some evening for sn Interview?" "I think not?I mean It Is rather a long way to come so late?ehe le living In tondon," Jasper reaMed, with odd otUbsrrseemeftt Hut If she will con? sent to sit for your sweet saint I will tell her to write an aske An appoint? ment to eeo you. I have not much fear but what you win find her all that you 80 It was settled, and Jasper ehortly returned to town. He would not listen to s word of thsuks from Adrian, in? terrupting him unceremoniously w De would nave expressed bit gratitude. Adrian waited In some anxiety for the result of his friend's negotiations and breathed a sigh of relief wheu he had a little note saying the writer, who signed herself "Bernlee Kerr," would call on him that afternoon. And when he saw her he was not dis? appointed. She was young and fair and fall of grace. Tall and slender of limb, she stood before him, with her snow white skin, her red brown hair, ber deep violet eyes?eyes that shone like stars In her pale face. As Jasper had said, there was something almost unearthly about her beauty, It was so pure aud spirituelle. The mind could harbor no evil that gave expression to auch a face. Adrian stood a moment, motionless, almost holding his breath. Was he dreaming? Had the St Margaret of bis visions come to life? He had seen to few women that she seemed to him a veritable miracle. He did not notice the shabby setting of the gem, the too sharp outlines of the delicate cheek and chin, the deep shadows under the violet eyes, for they but gave the touch of pathos which completed the picture. He wanted Just that wistful expression, the knowledge of past sor? row and suffering deepening the starry eyes, f A slow smile esme over her face ss be looked, "Shall I dor she asked softly. He awoke with a start "I beg your pardon. I"? he stammered. Then he stopped and recovcrea nimself. "You will do perfectly," he said gravely. "If you will honor me by sitting for my St Margaret I could ask for no better model" She looked at him a little thought? fully. "Very well," she replied. "I will come tomorrow if you like. I am free every afternoon." The first time she sat to him Adrian saw that she knew how to pose her? self; he had only to suggest and she seemed to fall into the right attitude at once. As she stood on the throne, crowned with palm, holding up a cross, her white robe falling back from her lovely arms, the light of glorified mar? tyrdom shining in her face, his heart beat faster and his hand almost trem? bled. Gould he do Justice to such a picture? Was his hand strong enough to cope with a masterpiece of the great Creator? I As time went on Adrian discovered that 8b e had charms of mind as well as bod/; when she began to talk?at first she was very silent and reserved ?he found that she had many original thoughts and graceful fancies. Perhaps the pleaaantest half hour in the afternoon was when she came down from the throne for a rest and the housekeeper brought in tea. She was womafi "enough To" "appreciate T5e dainty arrangements of the tea tiry, and Adrian liked to V? her handling his old Worcester, pouring out 1 Is cream and eating his cakes; she seem? ed more woman than samt then. They would discuss the progress of the pic? ture, for she could take an intelligent interest in his work, and he had more than once profited by ber suggestions. It pleased him to see that so far from her unusual occupation's tiring her, she seemed to enjoy It At lent the day. cajpe jrbfia the. pjcj "Shall / dot" shejisfud. tare was compfele; the finishing touch had been given, and even Adrian, who was always his own severest critic, was fnlii to acknowledge that be was content It was a worthy St Mar? garet; from the sole of her foot to the crown of her head there was no blem? ish lo her. "I am not like that" Bernlce said softly when they had stood a few min? utes side by sido in silence, absorbed in contemplation of the lovely figure, poised so lightly thnt It almost seemed to be soaring upward. "You have Idealized me." "Not very mach, I think," Adrlau an swered gently, and when be turned round there was a look of worship In bis eyes. *'A little more saint, a Jlttle jess woman, pefliaps-;Thal Is ail. Rie Id worthy of you?and you of her." "Pon't say that!" she cried harshly, moving nwny from him. "You don'l know?you enn't tell! I am no saint." to "Saint enough for me," he snld ten? derly, holding out his hands to her, "Bcrnlce?my St. Margaret"? Hut she flung up her hnnds to bei face, shrinking nwsy from him. "Have ! startled you, dear one1 Jldu't you know, couliln't you feel, flint I loved you? I thought you under stood me. At first It was all my St Margaret?you were only the womuv who could give me her face; then grad ually It changed, und I forgot the saint In the woman. Dt you wonder that this Is so dear to me??pointing to tb< picture. Do you wonder that I bavt painted it as 1 never painted anything before? You were my Inspiration. There la the genius of love In every stroke. It Is yours far more than mine. "And now," with a little happy laugb, "I want to come down out of the clouds; I want you, Bernice, nothing aud no one else?not even St. Marga? ret I want a wife Just like any ordi? nary man who has not vowed that art shall be his only mistress and spent half his days in dreams and visions. Won't you speak to me? I have thought you eared for me a little. Don't say I have been mistaken." The happiness died out of his voice and face us she still held herself away from him and gave no sign. Presently she looked up, and he ut? tered a cry* of dlsinuy when he saw ber face. It was white and cold?frozen, it seemed, into a look of stony despair ?all its beauty gone, the starry eyes dull and heavy with pain. "What is it? What have I done?" he asked breathlessly. "You are 111?suf? fering. Bemlce, for God's sake speak 1" "I am going away," she said, and each word cost her an effort "Have mercy and don't stop me. Go to Mr. Farrell; he will explain everything?I can't" And she turned to go. Cold with undefined fear, too bewil? dered to speak, he made no effort to de? tain her. "Forgive me," she murmured, drop? ping at his feet and passionately kiss lug bis hand. "I didn't know what I was doing. Try and forgive me?by and by." Tbo next moment she was j gone. Some hours later he was still sitting in the same place, his arms thrown on the easel that bore the picture of his saint his head buried in bis hands, when the door opened and some one came in. It was quite dark in the room n?w, and *ne Tould not see Who it was. The intruder struck a light, and. looking up mechanically when the gleam caught his eye, Adrian saw Jas? per Farrell. j "Oh, there you are!" Jasper cried rather boisterously. "What! Worship? ing at the shrine, eh? Let mc have a look." And he stationed himself be? hind Adrian. "WelL olio's a beauty and no mis? take. I congratulate you, old man. Don't you feel grateful to me? You could never have done that if I hadn't found you euch a peerless model." "Have you come to explain? Has j he told you?" Adrian asked, speaking for the brst time. "There has been some villainy at work. Make haste and explain if you don't want me to choke it out of you," His voice was ? scarcely raised above a whisper, but his hands were twitching, and Jasper moved a little farther off. . "What do you mean? I don't under? stand you. I give myself some trouble to help you out of a difficulty and in re? turn you abuse me. I think it is for me to demand an explanation." "I am waiting," Adrian said hoarsely. "I shouldn't advise you to play with me too long. I asked Miss Kerr to be my wife, and she turned from me in horror and dismay-not because she *does not love me; of that I am sure. She asked me to forgive her, /but she would say no more. She said you would explain. Now do so." "Her conscience is too tender," Jas? per said, with a sneer, but he did not seem quite at his ease. "I suppose she was worrying over a little deception? a harmless little Joke?we practiced on you, all for your own good." He waited a moment; his lipe were uucomfortably dry. "You want the little mystery cleared up?the little mystery that has been of such beuefit to you, which has pro? duced this beautiful picture?far the best thing you have ever done, by the way. If I were not such a generous man I should be inclined to be Jealous. Yc/y well, by all means. Miss Ber uice Kerr fills quite a distinguished rale at nig'Jt almost as distinguished ui the oue"she "flllod with you by day, and far more famous. To be brief, she is u ?living pic cure' at the Palace theater. Her 'Ariadne' has been much admired, also the 'Will-o'-the-Wisp.' Her strange l>eauty and admirable flfttft make her eminently suited for thU form of entertainment" Adrian gave a stitied cry; it was as though a knife had been plunged in his heart. Iiis St. Margaret poised aloft in the eyes of the multitude; her grace and loveliness at the mercy of their brutal gase?of their coarse lips! For the oue that would see merely a beautiful picture and admire it as that there were a hundred who would see the woman behind it. He shivered as he thought of it. He looked upon his art as a sacred thing. He would have raised her high above the crowd, he 1 would never have cheapened her in any way, however much It might have 1 been to his advantage?and now he had done this thing! He had given to 1 I his St Margaret the form and face I of a woman who made u public show i of her beauty night after night. L "You seem distressed. I was afraid I you would he: your ideas are so ultra 1 refined." Jasper continued in a more i confident toue. "This is why I asked I , Miss Korr to conceal her identity; if I you had known who she was you would not have had her, and as she was so eminently suitable, that seem 1 rd a pity. I knew there was no danger 1 of your recoLvdzIni. bSTtJUi yott. uever ? patronise music halls. She was very i bard up some time ago, giving a few lessons at starvation prices, and I per r.uaded her to go in for the tableaux I vivants, which are much better paid and not nearly such hard work. She ' rtidn'i Uko it at first, but her mother ind I together Induced her to go on. Where was the harm? It Is a per ? fSCtly proper performance?even an elevating one, some people say?and [ she was treated with every respect." , Still Adrian did not speak. "She didn't like coming to you un? der false pretenses? It Is only fair I I should tell you that?but she thought she was under some obligation to me, t snd as I wished It she consented. I t told her I was very anxious to find ? somebody to sit to you for St. Mar > garet and that she could look the part to perfection, but that as you were very particular it would be as well for her not to say anything about the palace. Perhaps she did not think the gulf betweeu a saint and a living pic? ture as broad as it seems to you. I do not see what there is to make such a fuss about. Miss Kerr is as good a girl as you could wish to find; I give you my word of honor for that.*' "I do not need it You understand me well enough to know what such a thing as you have done would mean to me, and you are only wasting your words. How I have offended you that you should seek such a revenge I do not know, but you may be content; it is all?and more?than you could have foreseen. Now go. I would not soil my hands by touching you." And Jasper Farrell went, conscious that he cut but a sorry figure. He would have given a great deal to have made a dignified ana Imposing exit but he felt like a whipped hound. And Adrian sat on alone at the feet of St Margaret Presently he looked up, and the slow color dyed his face as he gazed. He had done her a wrong, and she seemed to reproach him. She was no longer a saint, no longer a heavenly vision; he had dragged her down to the dust; he had exposed her to laughter and de? rision. The cross?the martyr's crown ?he winced as he saw them; to his excited nerves It seemed as if he had been guilty of actual Irreverence. Send a St Margaret to Stonehaven made In the likeness of a living pic? ture?a picture known far and wide, no doubt! It was Impossible. And he could not bear the silent reproach of her constant presence. lie took up a knife and made a step toward the cuuvas, but before he could strifes his arm was seized. He looked round with wild eyes, scarcely con? scious of where he was or what he eras doing, and saw Bernice at his side. "Not that.*" she cried. "Not that! Kill me rather. It is ray fault, not hers. I didn't realize at first all the ? wrong I was doing, but when I learned to know you and saw how you rever j enced her?that you would not have a j coarse thought associated with her? I then I began to understand. * ? s And ! then I was afraid to speak. How j could you bear to think that a girl j who decked herself nightly for the i crowd to admire should sit for your ! St. Margaret? j i'l have found it all out now, and it j was a cruel thing to do?how cruel I ! did not know. You believe that don't you? I couldn't keep away?I was obliged to come back. I felt I must heur you say you forgive me, though I kneel at your feet all night. You hate and despise me so much that you cannot bear to look at her. I under? stand that?but I -I cannot bear to see her destroyed. She is mine as well as yours, and she means all the happi? ness of my life." She was kneeling at his feet now, and her tears were falling fast "You are shocked and horrified that 1 should have done such a thing. It was not the life I should have chosen, but we were starving, and what could ? 1 do? It is so hard for a woman to earn a living. I don't want to make excuses. I know all you must think "Forgive mc>} of nie? I deserve \t_al\j. But?but do you hate me so much that you cannot even say a word of forgiveness? I will never trouble you again, but before I go just say, 'I know you did not mean to hurt me, Bernice, and I forgive you.' Only that," As she spoke a great cloud seemed to roll away from Adrian's soul. Those tender word* had pierced through the darknesa, and he knew that though he had lost much he had not lost all. "I know you did not mean to hurt me, Bernice," he said slowly, "but I shall not forgive you, because?I love you, and love has nothing to forgive. If I have lost my St. Margaret I have found you." And he raised her in his arms. "You don't want to go away now?" e s' e p.. e e ? But the mayor and corporation of Stonehaven had to go elsewhere for a picture of their patron saint. A Wedding Present. A widower In Scotland proposed to and was accepted by a widow whose husband had died but a month or two previously. To celebrate the occasion he asked the Widow*! daughter what she would like for a present. She wanted noth *Hg, she s? Id, but being pressed to name something she replied: "Well, If you want to spend siller you might put up a heldstone to my father."?London Telegraph. TT.^o men rend very sharply all your private history In your look and grit and behavior.?Emerson. The Kind Yon Have Always Bought, and which has been in use for over 30 years, has borne the signature of and has been made under his per* Jrfji J?' Bonal supervision since its infancy* f'GUcAjA'i Allow no one to deceive you in this* All Counterfeits, Imitations and " Just-as-good" are but Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of Infants and Children?Experience against Experiment? What is CASTORIA Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare* goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is Pleasant. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms and allays Fcvcrishness. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates the Stomach and Bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep. The Children's Panacea? The Mother's Friend* GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS Sears the Signature of The KM You Have Always Bought In Use For Over 30 Years. TMS ?SNTAUR COMPANY. TT MURRAY RYRSET. NEW YORK CITY. N. G. OSTEEN, JR., Dentist. 18 West Liberty Street-Up Stairs. Hours:?3.30 to 1-P. M?2 to 6. Office PboiiP? *>o. 30 - - - House Phore 382 NEGRO KILLS POSTMASTEIL Pursuer Slain by Pursued and Lynch? ing May Follow. Sparks, Ga., April 26.?While searching for two negro men, who had in succession robbed the postof flce, a bank, a dry goods store and a drug store at Lenox, this county, early this morning. Assistant Postmaster Clifford Rutherford, of that place, was shot twice through the head and was instantly killed by Marshall Lew? is, one of the negroes, who had taken refuge in the railway station. Lewis' accomplice was caught, but Lewis escaped and was later trailed down by dogs at Adel and was taken towards the Nashville, Ga., Jail. The negro confessed and begged not to be taken back to Lenox. A hundred friends of Rutherfort went to Adel late this aftrnoon with the intention of intercepting the sheriff. It is ad? mitted that a lynching is imminent. Indignation over the murder is deep and if the sheriff fails to reach a sub? stantial Jail, the probabilities are that his prisoner will be hanged. Rutherford, while seeking the rob? bers, put his head in the door of the depot waiting room and struck match. At that Instant two shots rang out ind he dropped to the floor Valdosti, G., April 26.?Following an approaching crowd of ten, ofllcers a: Nashville, Ga.. made a fast trip In an automobile from that place and brought Marshall Lewis, the nag 0 slayer, here. ASHLEY CASE A MISTRIAL. Jury in Peonage Prosecution Enable To A^ reo. Greenville. April 26.?The jury in the case of Joshua W. Ashley, tried last week in federal court here on the charge of peonage, reported this morning to Judge Brawlcy that it was unable to agree and was dis? charged. The case will not come up again t51' the term at Charleston, Columbia or Greenville. The trial attracted aide attention on account of the promt" nence of the defendant, who is a member of the legislative delegation from Anderson county. The Jury Stood seven to five for ac? quittal, it is currently reported. 11EINI?IC 11 CONRIED DEAD. Former Director of Metropolitan Dim In Tyrol. Meran, Tyrol. Austria, April 27.? Heinrich Conrled, formerly director Of the Metropolitan Optra house In \( w York, who suffered an apoplectic stroke several days ago* died peace* fully at 2:30 o'clock this morning. John Foster was accidentally drowned at Great Falls, where he was employed. kate war aa:..; : ;;ely. Buttle of Slashed Freight Charges on Eastern Trunk Lines Almost Inevit? able. Washington, April 26.?A rate war c.mong the Eastern trunk lines la ntarly inevitable In the opinion of the interstate commerce commission. Thus far the trouble extends only to rates on Import traffic westward, but the likelihood is that it will extend soon to domestic traffic. The trouble was precipitated some lime ago by the Boston & Maine wip? ing out a differential of 1 cent per hundred pounds on Import traffic, westbound, which had existed for years between Boston and ports of New York, Baltimore and Philadel? phia. It was not expected that the trunk lines generally would meet the second reduction made by the Boston & Maine, but a day or two a.?o the Chesapeake & Ohio reduced it* rate, effective May 24, from Norfolk, to meet the Boston & Maine's rates. The Baltimore & Ohio made a like rate- effective from Baltimore o i May 25 and from Philadelphia on June 1. The Pennsylvania also filed a like rate freni a Baltimore effective on June 25. but thus far has filed no rate from Philadelphia. Such a rate probably Will be filed in a day or two. C. R. Moore, former postmaster at Pee Dee, who was recently arrested on the chartre of embezzlement, has jeen released on bond. m llthicouohi la Pleasant and Effective cures Constipation, Stomach and Liver Trouble. by stimulating these organs and restoring their natural action. Is best for women and chil? dren as ORINO does not gripe or nauseate. SIEBERTS DRUG STORE.