Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.) Capable Canvassers Wanted Good terms to the competent. Address with references. The Golden What $2 Will Do. Put The Golden Age in your home from date to June Ist, 1907, 62 numbers, of the cleanest, best weekly paper published in the South, and get a new wall map of Georgia, showing the new counties, and new railroads. Where can you invest two dollars so well? Send P. 0. Order to MS GQIdDEK AGE, Atlanta,