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14
INTO MARVELOUS LIQHT
SYNOPSIS.
John Marsden and Julian Deveaux meet at mid
night on the banks of the Hudson—the former
has just left the bedside of a dying man—the lat
ter becomes interested in the appearance of the
young preacher, and follows him witnessing the
death-bed scene. A strong attraction arises in Ju
lian Deveaux’s mind, and he makes occasion to see
Marsden often. The discovery is made that Dexeaux
is an actor, and Marsden knowing his evil repu
tation, endeavors to reclaim him, although the task
is distasteful to him. After some weeks of compan
ionship, Deveaux decided to take a trip South on
business and pleasure, and the scene is changed.
. .A charming word picture is next drawn of a fam
ily living in the mountains of Tennessee—John Ben
net, his wife and little granddaughter. The latter
being just seven years old, her father decides to
take her to his own home near Monteagle, and the
parting, a sad one for the grandparents, is a joy
ous occasion for the child Christiana, who adores
her father, John Douglas.
CHAPTER VI.
The years soon passed that brought to Christiana
Douglas her seventeenth birthday. Her cheeks were
rose tinted, her lips seemed made to smile, her voice
to laugh, her glorious brown eyes to twinkle with
happiness, and her beautiful curls to dance about
her shapely shoulders. Her father’s artistic eye
fed upon her beauty almost to idolatry. His. best
work of art was a life size portrait of her. "Very
early she had developed wonderful artistic talent
herself, so the hope of her father’s heart was that
she might one day become an artist of note.
Monteagle was blessed with unusual intellectual
advantages for such a small village, situated so far
away in the mountains. It had an excellent school,
Fairmount School for Girls. For some years a Chau
tauqua Assembly had chosen this location. The sit
uation on the Cumberland Plateau, 2,200 feet above
the level of the sea, and 1,000 feet above the sur
rounding country, is believed to be one of the finest
in the land and to afford advantages of untold value
to those seeking health, rest, pleasure or intellec
tual pursuits. From the cliffs near by are presented
most charming views of the valleys and adjacent
mountains. Years ago when this beautiful spot be
came known to the outside world, large hotels were
built to accommodate those who resorted there. A
railroad became a necessity, and each summer car
ried thousands of people up to this garden of Eden.
In this way Christiana Douglas became associated
with the outside world, though she had never trav
eled beyond the limits of her own state. She did
not care especially for her school life, though to
please her "father she had stood well in her classes,
and had just been graduated. She had some musical
ability, and a voice of rare sweetness.’But the hap
piest hours of her life were spent in her father’s
studio under his tuition, or in roaming the tower
ing mountains, sketching from nature in all its
beauty. She loved those mountains and valleys as if
they were human companions. They inspired her as
nothing else did. The great trees seemed to move
with real life as they swayed to and fro above and
about her. The winds blowing through the swaying
boughs seemed to her spirit-voices telling her fairy
tales. She was still nature’s own child. She had not
yet stepped over the brink where girlhood and wo
manhood meet. Her father was ambitious for her. He
had advanced her as far as he and other artists at
Monteagle were able. She would not listen to being
sent away to a distant city where she would be
separated from him. When the subject was men
tioned, she would always remind him of his prom
ise never to separate from her.
This late in life, would it be wise for him to move
to some distant city, and endeavor to establish a
repute* : on for himself and Christiana in broader
fields? Would he dare risk his financial success in
p, great city where there would be so much compe-
The Golden Age for March 22, 1906.
By LLEWELYN ST EP HENS.
tition? This was the question that was almost de
stroying his peace of mind.
One afternoon a card was sent in which read,
“Julian Deveaux, New York City, Art Studio,
Fifth Avenue.” Mr. Douglas looked at it with a
feeling of great curiosity. The first thoughts that
leaped to his brain were: “This must be an artist.
Perhaps I can gain some information from him that
will aid me in deciding upon plans.”
With unusual interest he went to meet his visitor.
He confronted the most striking looking man he
had "ever seen, one tall in stature and graceful in
form. There was something in his movements that
at first gave Mr. Douglas the inclination to recoil
from him, yet, when he studied the countenance,
his gaze lingered, and he thought, “I like that
face.”
As Mr. Douglas held out his hand, Deveaux bow
ed over it with courtly grace, and said, “A common
interest, love of art, has caused a stranger to in
trude himself upon you. May I hope that this mu
tual interest may be the means of banishing from
us the meaning of the word 1 stranger.' ”
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“As she looked the first day I sa-tv her. ”
“With all my heart,” exclaimed Mr. Douglas.
“I extend to you a warm welcome. With such a
tie we are no longer strangers.”
Mr. Douglas was not a keen, far-sighted man of
the world, but. was a cordial, true, upright and
home loving man, believing all men honest until
they proved themselves otherwise. Acting upon this
principle, he opened his home to Deveaux. He had
at once discovered him to be a very talented artist
and was deeply appreciative of his criticisms and
suggestions. He offered him the use of his studio
whenever he might wish it, which courtesy was cor
dially accepted.
Neither Mrs. Wayland nor Christiana met Mr.
Deveaux until one evening Mr. Douglas invited him
to stop for tea. He was seated opposite Christiana
at the table, and made himself most entertaining.
He was the first man of the great wide world whom
Christiana had ever known. He talked of just such
subjects, and in his fascinating way, as would broad
en her mental horizon, and arouse her dormant am
bitions. With emotions he had not experienced since
his youth, he noted the sparkling animation of her
glorious eyes. He was startled by his own sensa
tions, and when alone endeavored to analyze them,
thus soliloquizing: “Is it possible that my artistic
eye is carrying me beyond all bounds of reason over
the beauty of a simple village maiden, in fact a
mere child? I must be allowed to paint her, though,
just as she looked the first day I saw her as she
walked by the window where I was sitting. In her
hands she was swinging a quaint little white bonnet.
Her dark curls had strayed over her broad, white
forehead. Never before had I seen such a picture
as she presented that day. I had to rub my eyes to
see that I was not dreaming. I see she is kept as
a hot-house plant, so I must use every precaution
to gain the coveted prize. But I swear I must have
that picture. But, he cautious, be cautious, renewed
fire of my youth, lest some impulse betray you, and
the coveted flower be snatched from your grasp.”
Quite different were Christiana’s meditations. It
was not the man who made any impression upon
her, but what he said. New aspirations were aroused
in her. Her peace and contentment with simple vil
lage life had taken wings and flown in one short
evening. In one fleeting hour the child blossomed
into a woman. She longed to see the great world
and its wonderful cities, peopled with every nation
ality, with their vast palaces and temples and mas
terpieces of art. She longed to ride upon the ocean.
She dreamed of painting a masterpiece herself.
It was Mrs. Wayland who mistrusted Deveaux.
She understood Christiana so well, she, too, read
the new emotions he had aroused in her. Deveaux
partially perceived Mrs. Wayland’s distrust, and
with a shrug of annoyance thought to himself, “A
great obstacle to overcome is this watchful aunt. I
must endeavor to discover if she have any vulnera
ble spot.” Accordingly he began discoursing upon
the peace and happiness of sweet village life, the
hollow mockery and misery of the outside world,
and of how he often longed for a spot where he
might obliterate the past and begin life anew. Di
rectly addressing Mrs. Wayland, he said: “The life
of your happy family is ideal. You would be wise
never to change it.”
Mrs. Wayland was partially disarmed, and, for
the time, gave no expression to her feeling of dis
like for Mr. Deveaux. He saw that he had gained
some advantage, and went away quite satisfied with
the progress of his plans to have Christiana sit for
her portrait.
CHAPTER VII.
Mr. Douglas soon laid before Deveaux all his
hopes and plans, and the latter eagerly pictured
to him the rare opportunities which New York
afforded, offered him the free use of his studio,
and assured him of success.
He was overcome with gratitude. Mr. Deveaux
thought himself safe in venturing another step, for
since Mr. Douglas’ foremost desire was for Chris
tiana’s success as an artist, he asked that he might
have the privilege of giving her lessons in return
for the use of her father’s studio.
Mr. Douglas replied, “Indeed, it is I who am in
debted to you for the great help you have been to
me. You have conferred a great favor upon me by
using my studio.”
Since you will have it so, would you allow your
daughter to sit for her portrait in return for the
lessons I may give her?”
As Deveaux asked this question which had been
on the tip of his tongue for many days, he wonder
ed why the answer seemed of so much importance
to himself.
Mr. Douglas did not answer immediately. He
looked directly into Mr. Deveaux’s face, causing it
to crimson. It had never occurred to him that a man
of Mr. Deveaux’ age and experience was infatuated
with his daughter’s beauty. To him she was still
the little girl who sat upon his knee at the old
homestead the day she was seven times one. He
grasped Deveaux’s hand, exclaiming:
“Would you do so much for me? How could I
ever repay you?”
“My dear man,” returned Mr. Deveaux, “don’t
you know that a picture of that beautiful child
would give me world-wide fame? She is simply per
fect.”
“Ah, well, I had not expected other eyes to look