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14
INTO MA'RVTLOUS LIQHT
SYNOPSIS.
Julian Deveaux, a New York actor and dissolute
man goes South for rest and recreation after a hard
winter in his professional life. He has met and be
come greatly attracted to a young preacher, John
Marsden, and the latter hopes to win Deveaux from
some of the evil ways of his life, and, therefore,
welcomes the thought of his being away from the
old environments.
One of the first incidents of this Southern trip
is the meeting at Monteagle of a family consisting
of a daughter, father and widowed aunt. Mr. Dev
eaux has introduced himself as an artist, and as he
has talent in that direction, he wins the confidence
of Mr. Douglas, is allowed to paint the picture of
the pure young girl, Christiana, with whom he soon
imagines himself greatly in love. The aunt, Mrs.
Wayland, dislikes and distrusts Deveaux, while the
girl herself is too young to even know her own
feelings. The father, however, is quite under the
spell of the young actor.
(Conclusion of Chapter VII.)
“Now, what is coming next? Isn’t the real ques
tion out yet? Has some one been telling you that
you were pretty, or that you were not pretty, or
what?”
Christiana did not droop her head or blush, but
looked into her father’s eyes as she said, “Mr.
Deveaux said my beauty was perfect. Do you sup
pose he really thinks so?”
“Ah!” Mr. Douglas almost gasped; really serious
at last. This was unexpected. “When did he tell
you so?”
“Just a few minutes ago. He is in the studio
now. ’ ’
“Then we must not keep him waiting, but must
hasten in to your lesson.”
She was not satisfied with his evasive reply to
her question, but he did not give her time to insist .
on a more definite answer then.
From the length of time it took Christiana to
return with her father, Mr. Deveaux feared he had
seriously offended her. He busied himself with the
head he was teaching Christiana to paint, and was
thus engaged when they returned.
Giving Mr. Douglas a cordial “good morning,”
he hardly looked at him except with a covert glance
in order to catch any expression of disapproval that
might be on his countenance. He rapidly continued,
“Come here, Mr. Douglas, and see what rapid im
provement our little artist is making. You did not
imagine this yesterday. I am growing very enthu
siastic over her progress. With her talent, combin
ed with such youth and beauty, her success in the
world of art is assured. You should be a proud fath
er to possess such a daughter.”
“Well, Deveaux, you are quite complimentary
this morning,” answered Mr. Douglas, thoroughly
appeased. For he now felt that if what he said to
Christiana alone, he had no hesitancy in repeating
to her father in her presence, he could have had no
wrong motive in his compliments. It put Christiana
more at ease, too. And Deveaux had a feeling of
great relief that he had not betrayed himself.
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr. Deveaux’s last impulsive act was a les
son to him. He determined to be more deliber
ate in finding his way into Christiana’s heart.
Day by day he showed his affection for her so
by degrees, that none of the family realized
the familiarity he was attaining. It was so easy
for him to put his hand over hers in directing
a certain stroke of the brush or caress her
cheek or stroke her curls when correcting
some error in her work, as if to show no
impatience in pointing out her mistakes. Yet it
was as her teacher only that he aroused any scn«
timent within her heart. Rhe valued hia kindly
aommtnta) t'llt ihiwg by hh vepmufs, inaamu«h
The Golden Age for March 29, 1906.
By LLEWELYN ST EP HENS.
as they pertained to her work, but no more. Some
times he was provoked beyond self control almost.
He had been so accustomed to having whatever
he desired. He felt sure of Mr. Douglas’ friend
ship. He suddently resolved to open his heart to
him. He would offer his hand in marriage for
Christiana, and through her father’s love at last
gain her’s. He appointed an hour to call upon Mr.
Douglas. During all his years of public life, he
had never stood before an audience nor appeared
before a court of justice with such a feeling of
trepidation as now. As he sat before Mr. Doug
las he tried to frame his thoughts into words to
begin pleading his cause, but a nervous chill be
numbed him. He did not even speak a word of
greeting as he was met at the door.
Mr. Douglas noticed something unusual in his
manner. In a very solicitous tone, he said, “You
do not look well, Mr. Deveaux. I hope you are not
ill or in trouble?”
Deveaux raised his eyes with a very penetrating
look, as if trying to fathom his fate. His lips
partly opened, as if to speak, but suddenly closed
tightly together, with his peculiar compression of
the lower lip over the upper one. He sprang up
and walked across the room with long strides, stop
ping before Christiana’s portrait which was near
ing completion. Abruptly he turned again and
stopped before Mr. Douglas, who, in astonishment,
had also arisen. Mr. Deveaux held out his hand
and looked at him again in the same penetrating,
appealing way.
“Douglas, you ask if I am in trouble? Why
man, I fear I am going mad. Look at me, my
friend—for I believe you are my friend—tell me
really and truly, have you noticed anything about
me recently which led you to think that perhaps
I might be unbalanced? Is my face that of a
perfectly sane man or not?”
“Why, Julian, tell me at once what the trouble
is, for I am your friend, as truly as was Damon
to Pythias. You are in a highly nervous state,
but it is absurd for you to harbor for one moment
the idea that you are mentally unbalanced. Now,
tell me all about it at once. Sit right down and
compose l yourself. ’ ’
The two men sat down face to face. Mr. Deveaux
began talking very rapidly. “I never before knew
what trouble was. My philosophy has always been
that what we are and what we do is decreed by
fate, so it is useless to worry about what comes
or what does not come. We follow the instincts
of the nature worn within us, travel down the
road on which we were started at birth. Just so
I have always followed the bent of my inclina
tions, and no obstacle sufficient to impede my
progress has ever loomed up before me until now.
I acknowledge that in a material way fate has
been kind to me, and success seems to have crowned
my every effort. So well content have I been with
my free and easy life, I have scorned lhe ties
of home and marriage. The heart of many a fair
woman could have been mine for the asking, but
I always congratulated myself on my escape, as I
considered it. I appreciated affection lavished upon
me no more than a child does a toy of which he
soon tires, then asks for a new one. I have boasted
of my invulnerable heart. Finally, tiring of my
old life, and being overworked, too, I ran away
from it all, seeking to forget the past. And here
I am; but a thousand times more wretched than
in my old life. Would that I could awake some
morning and find mvself in my New York apart
ments, and realize that this summer was only a
dream. Tell me, Douglas, did anything ever oc
cur in your life to tear your very soul from your
body? Tell me, tell me.”
Mr. Douglas listened with deep concern, still not
having the slightest idea of what was coming. He
«aid with rising emotion, “Yes, my heart has been
-hvnkeii, Jullii!]. positively bveketi. yet t have lived
on, and sm quite onntent to day?’
Mr. Douglas told him the story of his love, of the
one year of perfect happiness which was so sud
denly cut short by the reaper, Death, le.aving the
little Christiana to bind up his broken heart. Since
then she had been his very life. Thus far he had
been content to live in seclusion with her and his
art. But now he felt it his duty to place her where
she could obtain the advantages she deserved.
Abruptly changing the subject, he said, “Pardon
me, Julian, I have wandered from the subject. You
still have not confided to me the cause of your trou
ble. If it be within my power to help you, you
know you have but to speak the word.”
“Swear that to me, Douglas; swear it to me, will
you?” exclaimed Mr. Deveaux, with vehemence,
holding out his hand to him.
Returning his grasp, Mr. Douglas replied,
“Here’s my hand upon it. Make the request.”
“Ah, man, your word is as good as your bond,
but how little you realize what you have done. Have
you any idea what you have granted me?”
“I have granted you my friendship, my confi
dence, opened to you the door of my home, and
trusted you with my daughter. Therefore I have
no fear about the nature of any request to which
you would bind me upon my word and honor.”
Deveaux drew back with almost a gasp, threw
his hand upon his heart as if he had been struck
there. Then recovering himself, he placed his hand
upon Mr. Douglas’ shoulder. “Douglas you have
sacredly loved. For the first time that holy pas
sion has seized my whole soul. It came to me so
unexpectedly and with such absorbing power, I no
longer have any peace. And she whom I love is so
beautiful, so pure, so far above me, I feel un
worthy to kiss even the hem of her mantle. And,
Douglas, her name is Christiana. I offer you and
your family the best that is in my unworthy self,
and my home, my wealth, my all. If there be
aught else I can say or do, command me. The only
request I beg you to grant me is your consent to
allow me to try to win her.”
“My God! Deveaux,” Mr. Douglas exclaimed,
thensank info a chair as if paralysis had taken hold
upon him. The blow had struck like a bullet. He
became oblivious of everything save Christiana, his
little girl, his idol. He had never pictured to him
self the time when this question would be asked
him. Could it be possible that it had come so soon?
Surely not. Would that he had listened to his sis
ter’s first warnings, and this terrible blow would
not have come so soon.
Deveaux again laid his hand upon his shoulder
and said, “Douglas, my friend, I trust my life
in your hands. Return in thought to the days of
your only love, and feel for me. I shall not press
you to speak now. Good night.”
(Continued on next page.)
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