AFTER LONG YEARS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 436, 11 January 1890, Page 4

AFTER LONG YEARS.

Poor Viola ! Her lot in life was indeed a hard one. All day long she roamed the seashore where her father was mending his nets, looking vainly for the man she loved. He was a young English painter, who, travelling along the picturesque coast, had been won by her face and had paid her father well for permission to have her for his model. These days had been the happiest in all her hard life, but now he was gone away never to return. But Viola had more trials in 3tore for herself. Her father, the fisherman, died and she was alone in the hut by the sands, when a philantrophic English lady offered to take her away to England, Viola was glad to go where she might forget her troubles. Six years passed away. Two young men were seated in a study of an old English mansion, talking earnestly together. The younger of the two, Sir Elmo Stewart, is congratulating his friend upon his approaching nuptials to a fair American girl, with whose name he has grown familiar, through Mark’s frequent letters. ‘ Thanks, Elmo, old fellow ; I only wish I could return your good wishes. By the way, how is it that you, with your brilliant prospects —your position and wealth not to say anything of fame—have never mar ried ?’ Sir Elmo hesitated a moment, then rising, he opened the door of an adjoining studio. ‘lf you will not laugh at me, or call me a romantic fool, I’ll show you something,’ he said. ‘ Certainly I won’t laugh,’ Mark answered, as he followed his friend into the room; ‘ and as to thinking you a fool —l’m too far gone in the tender passion myself to look upon any of its phases in that light.’ Drawing the drapery from before an easel upon which rests a large picture, Elmo stands aside and waits silently for the exclamation he knows will come. He is not disappointed. *By Jove ! what exquisite beauty ! And how like ’ Pausing abruptly, Mark turns an inquiring gaze upon his friend. • There is some mystery connected with this. Will you tell it to me?’ ‘There is but little to tell,’ Elmo replies; ‘ but that little will explain my seeming indifference to fair sex which the has puzzled you and the rest of my friends so much. I met that lovely being in Italy, saw her first by accident and obtained permission to put her face into the picture I was then contemplating painting. My work done, it was necessary for me to return to England at once. I did so. The girl was very young. I never once thought that insensibly a tenderness had stolen into my heart for her, by far stronger than mere friendship. The look that filled her guileless eyes at my farewell, lingered in my mind —1 could not drive it from me, and at length I saw that, though poor and uneducated, my little Italian model had made for herself an abiding place in my affections. I was rich snd my own master, and I determined then and there to seek her, and win and marry her if I could, and then repair to some foreign city, where my girl-wife could have every advantage with which love and wealth could surround her. Already I imagined the thrill of pride I should feel when later I should present her as my wife to my friends, and should hear their enraptured comments upon her beauty and grace. But the cottage upon the Italian sands was empty: the brilliant bird that had occupied the humble nest had flown. I have never seen or heard aught of her since ; but I have not forgotten her. With this always by me, how would it have been possible ?’ There is no smile of sarcasm or derision in Mark’s eyes as he presses his friend’s hand. 4 1 do not wonder at your infatuation —it % is a face one could die for !’

With a promise to accompany him a week later to a drawing-room to be held at the bouse of a friend, Sir Elmo parts with his guest. Mrs Tremont’s great mansion is like a scene from fairyland, when arm-in-arm Mark Blair and Sir Elmo Stewart traverse the long saloon to present themselves to their hostess. ‘ Her daughter receives with her,’ Mark has just time to whisper, as the two ladies turn to greet their advancing guests. Like one in a dream Elmo performs his part in the formality custom requires ; then retires to allow others to approach. *ls she not like your picture, Elmo ? I was curious to see if you would notice the resemblance.’ ‘ Notice it—as if I could help it! I shall not be able to rest until I see more of her.’ The months flit by, and at last, unable to restrain himself any longer, Sir Elmo tells the tale of his love. ‘ Into the listener’s face steals a radiant glow which absolutely dazzles her lover, then it grows grave again, a 3 she answers' in her low, musical voice: ‘ I will not say, Sir Elmo, that your words are heard with indifference by me, for while you have known me but three short months, I havecherished your memory for long years. Stay ’ —as he was about to SDeak—‘ for it may be that when you hear what I am about to say you will not care to lay your heart at the feet of one who, whatever she may be now, was once poor and Ignorant. Sir Elmo, you once painted a picture of a young Italian fisher-girl standing in an open door framed with roses. Strange though it may seem, before you in Mrs Tremont’s adopted daughter you see that girl 1 Now, do you still wish me for your wife—the one woman you would choose from all the world to share your destiny ?’ Opening his arms, Sir Elmo holds them towards her with an eager gesture. ‘ Darling,’ he says, ‘ did you imagine that love can be blinded?’ Then, as she looks up, questioningly : ‘ I have never been deceived. I have known you from the first as the Viola who though she was but a mere girl, crept into my heart with her wondrous beauty, never to leave it empty again.’ So, though the world knew it not, in the marriage of Sir Elmo Stewart to Mrs Tremont’s adopted daughter—a peer of England to an Italian fisher-maiden—there is added one more to the long list of proofs of love’s skill in levelling barriers at the touch of his magic wand.