"Light And Shade."

staggered onward for a few puces , and then foil moaning to thc ground . Seeing that although speechless , he was trying to loosen his cravat . 1 knelt down and quietly assisted him . This appeared to do him good , for he gave a dee ]) sigh and his face grew calmer . I ran to the lake and Idled my cap with water , which I sprinkled on his face and head , and wiped the foam from his lips . This revived him , for he opened his eyes and sat up . " "Bertie . " said he , '' J am faint , the heat of thc sun has caused this . I a-u better now . AVe will rest nt the inn yonder for a little while . "

"He then got up and we stayed in the cool pleasant sninnier-hoiisc of the inn and had some refreshment . Hy tic time we I . 'ft . papa hud regained his spirit- . and dial ted quite cheerfully all the way hoine . . last before entering the li . i - . iie he hade me not t ¦> tell you that he had fainted away , as he said it would alarm you . 1 feel that 1 have done wrong by disobeying him . " " Your scrupl- 's do you credit , my dear boy , " said his mother warmly ; "but

by your telling m of his sudden illness , I shall be able , without , betraying your coiilidence . to ta ' .: e steps to get medical advice upon tho matter . Doctor Cameron , among other friends , will dine here to morrow at the celebration of your father ' s birthday , and I will consult him privately . " "Are you making this pretty thing for papa" asked Bertie , taking up tho elegantly embroidered cap from the vrovk-basket . "

" Yes , my love ; and as I intend it as a pleasant surprise for bun to morrow , I must ask you not to say anything about it . " The lady then arose , and having locked up the birthday gift which she . had been secretly preparing for some time past , she took her son by the hand and entered thc grounds . It was a lovely afternoon in the early days of July , and the goddess Flora reigned supremo . The garden was literally one mass of Howcrs , the roses in particular were in full bloom , and their delicious perfume liTlcd the air .

Placing her finger on her lips to warn Rertie from speaking , his mother , before traversing that part of the plantations where the arbour was situated , forsook the gravel path and stole noiselessly on tho velvet-like sward , and stood within the cover of a clump of laurels . From her place of concealment she saw her husband seated in front of his easel , upon which was placed a nearly finished landscape . He was not at that moment working . His palette and brushes were on a low stool by his side , and ho was evidently indulging in a day-dream .

He was a dark and strikingly handsome man of about : 3 o years ot age . Quietly uppproaehing him , his wife playfully placed her hands over his eyes for a second or two and imprinted a kiss on his forehead . "Thou idler , " she cried ; "why 1 declare yon have scarcely used your brush since I saw you an hour ago . If you do not make haste you will not finish your picture in time for the Academy . How nice it will bo to read in the catalogue 'Ripley Meads in Surrey , by Albert Truccy . ' "

" Ah , Mabel , cheerful and sanguine as ever , " remarked her husband . ' However there are many weary months to puss before sending-in day comes . 1 hope that for your sake and his yonder , " pointing towards the boy who was amusing himself by chasing a butterfly , " that my effort will be thought worthy of acceptance next year by the Committee . I sometimes fear that 1 shall be amongst the great majority of those fellows whose works arc rejected , not on account of their want of merit , but because the artists are unknown , many of them without friends , without influence , and without resources to render themselves prominent in the artistic and social world of London . "

" But why not take a more sanguine view of the matter , " she returned . '" I ' m arc not without friends ? Sir Martin Slice , the President of the Academy , is no stranger to you . " Then assuming a dramatic attitude , she continued , " 1 will for tho nonco pose as the ancient Priestess of Delphi , and thus I deliver my augury . The picture upon which you have bestowed so much labour will bo accepted , bo well hung , and eventually be bought by some rich patron of the arts . He will be

so pleased with his purchase as to exnltingly exhibit it to his artistic friends as the production of a rising genius . They also become interested in your work , and would like to have similar pictures ; they are introduced to you , commissions How in , and in the course of a few years of brilliant successes , the quondam and obscure , though naturally gifted , Albert Truccy blossoms as an Associate of the Royal Academy . His fame being thus established , his society is everywhere courted , and his atelier is honoured by frequent visits from Royalty itself . "

As the young wife thus gaily rattled on , her intellectual lace lighted up with a sunny smile , her luminous eyes sparkled with pleasure , and in her enthusiasm she struck her hands together with almost childlike glee . Her husband in turn became infected by her merry mood , lie started to his feet , his countenance lost its sad expression , and . placing his arm around her yielding waist , he drew her towards him and kissed her again and again . "Well , Mabel , it shall be as you foretell , " he cried , "from small beginnings groat things shall grow . Are we not told ' That lowliness is young ambition ' s ladder , where the climber upward turns

his face' Wc will cast black despair to the winds and let the future be tinted by the rose-coloured hue of hope . To bo dillitlont of one ' s powers is the first step towards defeat . The man who believes that ho possesses talent , or genius , call it what you will , succeeds sooner or later in the career that he has chosen , lie throws his whole soul into his work , is buoyed up by the prospect of a successful future , and , thus inspired , ultimately reaches thc glorious goal of his uspiratious . " " My dear Albert , " remarked his wife , as they walked lovingly arin-iu-arm towards the cottage , " I declare vou are quite eloquent . 1 begin to think that

"Light And Shade."

you have mistaken your profession , and would have shone better had you renounced the artists' pencil for the author ' s pen . Xow that yon are once more . vour cheerv self , tell me what caused vou to be so dull and listless this

afternoon . " I have in secret i to conceal , Mabel , " he replied ; " I . was thinking when yon surprised me just now how foolish it was of me to invest all my money in mining shares . If thc anticipations of the promoters of the company arc not realised we shall be ruined /'

¦¦ Bat why assume such a . contingency ? " she asked . "The shares at 2 'resenfc stand well in tho financial market , and tho last dividend declared was at the rate of seven per cent . " "That is so , " he said . "Well , well , I will not cloud your happiness , my darling . I will strive to look more cheerfully upon mundane matters , and , having thc support and love of one of thc best of women , I ought to succeed . "

I he following afternoon a number of friends came to thc cottage to celebrate ihe artist ' s natal day . Mrs . Tracey and her son wore in high spirits . It was delightful weather . Everything conspired to vender the anniversary a happy one . Albert Tracey was apparently in the best of health , and had entirely thrown off the gloom that had oppressed him on the preceding day . He chatted merrily

with his guests , and at their urgent request he delighted them by his brilliant playing on the pianoforte . Later on , and to the accompaniment of his wife , ho had snug with artistic effect several morceaux of the best composers . It being a calm , balmy evening , the company after that diversion left the house and wandered in the extensive grounds .

It was about eight o ' clock , and the artist having temporarily left his friends and family to their own devices , was alone in the room overlooking the lawn . Presently his wife and boy came sauntering idly down one of the garden paths , and for a few moments turned westward to watch tho glorious effects of the beautiful sunset . Tho mother ' s arm was placed affectionately on tho lad ' s shoulder . Albert Tracey , as he stood unobserved within the

shadow of thc apartment , thought what an admirable contrast they presented . She with her fair hair , blonde conplcxion , and eyes of azure hue , and the boy with his dark , clustering locks , crimson cheeks , and glittering brown orbs . The rich golden rays of the sun brought out in strong relief the floral surroundings , and flooded as with a halo the place where the mother aud sou stood , thus completing a perfect picture of natural grace and beauty .

" Oh , my beloved ones , " sighed thc artist , " may thy future be as bright as the li ' jht that now shines upon thee . May yc never experience thc cold frown of the world , nor be overtaken by the shade of grief and despair . " As he murmured those words the sun went down in a blaze of glory , and the

gloom which succeeded was so startling in its suddenness that the speaker involuntarily shuddered , and a strange feeling of coining evil took possession of him . His wife , son , unci friends came in soon after , and they noticed tho alteration in his demeanour , but did not press for an explanation . Thus passed the last day and night of happiness that the devoted family were destined to enjoy .

CHAPTKR 11 . "Can storied urn , or animated bust , Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath , Can honour ' s voice provoke the silent dust , Or flattery soothe the dull cold ear of doath ?"

Towards the dose of a chilly afternoon in the November following thc events last narrated , Mrs . Tracey was seated within a clingy houso situated in a , back street near Fitzroy-sipture , London , a neighbourhood once greatly patronised by disciples of the brush mulpalette . In a chair by a window was her son . He waB alternately glancing over a book and gazing listlessly at tho few passers by in the thoroughfare below . The room was meanly ami scantily furnished , yet a few

ornaments and pieces of daintily executed handiwork placed bore and thcro showed that tlie occupants were persons of taste . Near one of tho tall windows was nn easel , and on it was an unlinished picture . AVlint a contrast the apartment and its surroundings presented to the hijoit Surrey collage nnd its luxnrious and artistic appointments . The liyht hud indeed forsaken that once happy home , and u dark shade had fallen upon the lives and fortunes of the refined , talented Tracey and his family . Thc enterprise in which he had invested nil his capital

lulled , and to complete his ruin a bill for a large sum that he hud accepted to oblige u friend was not honoured . To meet his liabilities tho effects in his pleasant country residence were sold , and ho had to work hard with his brush to keep body and soul together . The very picture upon which he had bestowed so much labour and talent , and cm the success of which his good wife hud built up so delightful and ambitious u future went with the rest of his possessions , and it being the work of a comparatively unknown artist realised but little .

" Bertie , my dear , said Mrs . Tracey , " can you see pupa coming ? He promised to be home by four o ' clock , " The boy peered eagerly out of the window into the darkening street , and answered in the negative . An hour passed , and the painter had not returned .

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